Arianna DiAntonio crowned; first time sisters have been successive winners
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – In the history of the Little Miss Ocean City Pageant, there have been multiple sets of sisters who have worn the crown. In the past 15 years winners have included Julia and Charlotte Erickson (2007 and 2011), Sarah and Sadie Ford (2010 and 2017) and Paige and Hope Aita (2013 and 2015).
Until Friday night, no outgoing queen crowned her sister as her successor.
At the end of the evening with the competition finished, emcee Natalie Ragazzo (Little Miss 2008) was announcing the long list of awards as the 13 contestants stood on the Ocean City Music Pier stage in their sparkling gowns, holding flowers, anticipation on their faces.
When the winner’s name was called, Little Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio, who had just wrapped up her two-year reign, burst into tears because Ragazzo announced Arianna DiAntonio, Antonella’s little sister, as Little Miss Ocean City 2022.
“I really have no words,” Antonella said about how it felt to crown her younger sister. “There are no words to describe this. No words.”
Asked what she was thinking as Ragazzo was announcing the award winners’ names, she said, “I was really anxious and my excitement was through the roof.”
“It’s just always been a dream to me,” Arianna said about winning and following her sister to wear the crown. “I’ve always looked up to her and she’s my idol.”
Arianna knows exactly what’s ahead.
“My sister actually did all the events and I had to come with her,” she laughed. “And I just really loved seeing her with all the little kids and I just wanted to do it.” Arianna said she is most looking forward to next year’s Night In Venice and the Wacky Wednesday events at which the pageant queens often act as judges.
Arianna, 11, is going into sixth grade at Ocean City Intermediate School. She and Antonella, 13, are the daughters of Anthony and Angelina DiAntonio of Sea Isle City. The Little Miss pageant is open to gives who live in Ocean City or one of the school’s district’s sending districts, including Sea Isle City, Upper Township and Longport, or whose parents own property in those towns. (That makes summer residents eligible as well.)
Arianna won the talent award in the competition for her dance performance. Dance occupies much of her free time. “I do dance at Pro Dance Academy and I just love it,” she said. Her favorite subject in school is math.
Asked a silly question, whether she would rather serve one year and not have to deal with a pandemic, or have a pandemic and get to serve two years like her sister, Arianna looked like she needed to give that some thought. “Well that’s very hard to decide because I would definitely like to have the two years, but I don’t really like the pandemic part,” she laughed.
“I am so ready,” her mother, Angelina said. “She worked so hard for this and it’s from the bottom of her heart that she wanted this so I am so excited. I am really, really happy. And I think it’s wonderful that sister got to crown sister. Has that ever been done before? That’s exciting.”
“Everything she does comes from her heart,” said her father, Anthony. “The whole family has been praying and she deserves it because she’s such a giving person. She gives and she gives and she puts herself out there for not only herself, but for everybody.”
Reminded that he is going into his third consecutive year as a pageant dad – after daughter Antonella’s reign was extended a year because of the pandemic, he laughed. “Well hopefully COVID isn’t taking over this year.”
First runner-up was Lyla Clark, second runner-up was Gia Ermilio, third runner-up was Stella Fleming and fourth runner-up was Sarah Smith. Also competing were Mila Delanzo, Brooke Delanzo, Giselle Ardelan, Grace Kane, Megan Buck, Amelia Hay, Tierney Kane and Kippin Halliday.
Little Miss Ocean City
2022 Awards
Mini golf third place: Lyla Clark;
Mini golf second place: Giselle Ardelean;
Mini golf first place: Grace Kane;
Essay award third runner-up: Lyla Clark;
Essay ward second runner-up: Gia Ermilio
Essay award first runner-up: Sarah Smith
Essay award winner: Brooke Delanzo;
Miss Congeniality: Grace Kane;
Miss Photogenic: Tierney Kane;
Tracy White Spirit Award: Sarah Smith;
Hostess Award: Mila Delanzo;
Talent Recognition Award: Brooke Delanzo;
Interview Recognition Award: Mila Delanzo;
Scholastic Recognition Award: Tierney Kane;
Poise and Composure Recognition Award: Megan Buck;
Talent Award Winner: Arianna DiAntonio;
Interview Award Winner: Gia Ermilio;
Scholastic Award Winner: Brooke Delanzo;
Pose and Composure Award Winner: Lyla Clark;
Fourth runner-up: Sarah Smith;
Third runner-up: Stella Fleming;
Second runner-up: Gia Ermilio;
First runner-up: Lyla Clark;
Little Miss Ocean City 2022: Arianna DiAntonio