Her grandmother, retired OCHS art teacher Ginny Mulford, won the crown in 1971
OCEAN CITY – The Miss Ocean City Pageant witnessed a first Saturday night. Virginia (Cox) Mulford, who won the title in 1971, two years after the pageant began, watched as her granddaughter, Taylor Mulford, was crowned the newest – Miss Ocean City 2025.
“Just wow. It’s so crazy. It feels like a dream,” Taylor said minutes after confetti rained down on her as outgoing Miss Ocean City 2024 Lola DeMarco placed the crowned on her head. “It’s so wonderful. It’s so exciting.”
She is among the youngest winners crowned; girls have to be 16 to compete. 16th Her birthday was June 21.
The Upper Township resident, entering her junior year at Ocean City High School, said she looks up to her grandmother.
“I cannot wait to inspire people the way she inspired people,” Taylor said of the retired OCHS art teacher. “It’s so exciting to think about. I get to help little girls be who they want to be. I want to be like my grandma. She’s done great things.”
Taylor’s mother, Shawna Mulford, said she feels “blessed. I’m trying to soak it all in. I was proud to hear my mother’s name called (during an introduction of past winners) and then to hear my daughter’s name called, it’s come around full circle.
“Being that this is her hometown and she is third generation Ocean City, I think it is something important to her,” she said. “She’s come to the pageants so many years and watched so many amazing women on the stage and when it’s finally her turn, coming out and doing it her first try it’s beyond an honor. We’re so amazed and so excited for her year.”
Standing nearby, little sister Vivian, 9, added, “I was so proud of her.” Does she want to try this herself one day? “Maybe,” she said, smiling.
“It’s beyond a thrill,” Taylor’s grandmother said. “She just really earned it. I’m going to cry just thinking about it. I’ve been calling people to tell them she won.”
Thinking back on her own win in 1971, she remembers “laughing and having a wonderful time, interacting with the city officials and being with the people.
“She’ll do so well with that,” she said of her granddaughter. “That’s her forte. She’s been that way her whole life. My husband calls it the ‘it factor.’”
Ginny Mulford has the same crown as her granddaughter.
“Every one of us has the same crown. It’s because of me,” she said. “They wanted me to take off my crown and give it to the next girl, but I said, ‘Oh no, no, no, no, no. That’s mine. You get another one for her.’ And from then on they made sure that every Miss Ocean City has the same one.”
“It feels great right now,” said Taylor’s dad, Rocco Doran. “All the practicing of the song, the walking around the house paid off. I’m so proud for her. She’s so excited.”
Since he has Ginny Mulford, Miss Ocean City 1971 in the family, “Every Halloween I like to wear a sash that says ‘Miss Ocean City,’” he said, laughing. “Now I have to get a new one. But I’m totally proud and excited. It’s an awesome feeling.”
Although Taylor has been in some shore pageants, it was her first time competing in an Ocean City pageant. In addition to Miss Ocean City, there is Junior Miss Ocean City and Little Miss Ocean City.
Asked why she decided to compete, she said, “The scholarships are pretty good and I heard the experience is really fun and it really was. I learned a lot coming out of this pageant.”
Outside of school she works with her mother at Let’s Party Events, often portraying princesses and other characters, she is involved with the Avalon Players theater company (she just portrayed the witch in “Into the Woods”), and the Drama Guild at OCHS.
She is looking forward to “all the new experiences.”
She won the talent competition, singing “They Just Keep Moving the Line,” by Megan Hilty, who starred in the TV show “Smash.” She also won the poise competition.
“I think it is just an impactful song. You get a million nos and one yes when you’re in theater and honestly everywhere when you’re performing, even in pageants. I think it really shows that.”
As for her future, she not entirely sure, “But my dream is to be on Broadway. That’s far, far away. But I hope to get there someday.”
First runner-up Suzy Bautista won the interview, People’s Choice,
Miss Congeniality and Leadership and Service Awards. Second runner-up Georgia Little won the swimsuit award. The other competitors were Kalla Tocci-Rogers, Jordan Deseeuw-Yager and Angelina Anderson.
The Miss Ocean City Pageant was directed by Aggie Becker. Miss Ocean City 2015 Kendall Coughlin and Miss Ocean City 2023 Mary Grace Jamison were the hosts. Little Miss Ocean City 2024 Stella Fleming and Junior Miss Ocean City Sarah Avellino performed with DeMarco and provided support.
Judges were Miss Ocean City 2004 Katie (Hope) Lane, Miss New Jersey 2024 Elizabeth Mendel, Miss New Jersey first runner-up Amanda Peacock, choir director Matthew Guerrasio and ballet dancer and teacher Valerie Amiss.
Miss Ocean City won a $3,000 award from pageant supporters and a host of other awards. First runner-up Suzy Bautista won a $1,400 award and second runner-up Georgia Little won a $1,200 award. They and other contestants received addition awards and prizes through the various categories.
Awards
Program Book: Jordan Deseeuw-Yager
Miss Congeniality: Suzy Bautista
Leadership and Service Award: Suzy Bautista
Academic Excellence: Jordan Deseeuw-Yager
People’s Choice Award: Suzy Bautista
Eileen Parks Hostess Award: Angelina Anderson
Poise Award: Taylor Mulford
Swimsuit Award: Georgia Little
Talent Award: Taylor Mulford
Interview Award: Suzy Bautista
Second Runner-up: George Little
First Runner-up: Suzy Bautista
Miss Ocean City 2025: Taylor Mulford
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
