Teen winners, former Little Miss contestants, finally get chance to walk runway as queens
OCEAN CITY — During the Miss Cape May County and Miss Cape Resort pageant, two of the four crowns ended up on the heads of former Little Miss Ocean City competitors. They didn’t have the chance to walk the Ocean City Music Pier runway as little girls, but they did join their “big sisters” as winners on stage Saturday night.
Strathmere’s Camryn Schultheis was crowned Miss Cape Resort Teen 2025 and Ocean City summer resident Taylor Schneider was crowned Miss Cape May County Teen 2025. They are the crown sisters of new Miss Cape May County 2025 Abby Dell Aglio and Miss Cape Resort 2025 Emily Cooney.
“It feels amazing. Shocked. I don’t know what to say. I grew up doing pageants in the Music Pier,” Schultheis said. “Ever since I was little I competed in Little Mis Ocean City. My dream was to win in the Music Pier. Now it has finally come true. I just feel excited and I feel grateful.”
She competed in Little Miss Ocean City for three years.
“I was always in the top five, but I was never crowned here so coming back tonight was nostalgic for me because this is where I grew up,” Schultheis said. “I grew up doing competitions here and I looked up to Miss America and I got to win a local title in the Miss America Organization here, which is just crazy.”
Schultheis is in her first year attending Hofstra University, but is technically a sophomore because she entered the university with 64 college credits. She is studying broadcast journalism and minoring in political science.
“I love it. It’s been busy. It’s been a lot, but I really love my major,” Schultheis said. “All the creative things I’ve been able to do are exciting.”
The new Miss Cape Resort Teen said she was “very nervous” in Saturday evening’s competition.
“I wasn’t going to actually come today. I didn’t know if I wanted to compete again because I’m going to school and it would be a lot and it has been so busy,” she said, noting she has been trying to make the most of her college experience and get involved as much as possible.
“I didn’t know if I could juggle all of it, but I knew I had to come back because it’s my last year competing at states for Miss New Jersey Teen so I felt I would regret it if I didn’t come back and see what could happen. That’s why I did it,” she said. “I guess everything happens for a reason. I’m going back to states. That’s exciting. It’s going to be a lot with school but I can do it.”
Schneider, who lives in Ocean City during the summer and in Williamstown the rest of the year, said she was at a loss for words after being crowned Miss Cape May County Teen.
“I’m so excited I can’t even describe how I’m feeling,” she said.
“I competed in Little Miss Ocean City and Junior Miss Ocean City when I was younger. I didn’t win but I had a great time competing, so the Music Pier has always been part of my childhood,” Schneider said.
“It’s a crazy experience because competing with the Ocean City organization is completely different than competing in the Miss America Organization. Earning a title in the Miss America Organization is a dream,” she said. “I am so excited to go back to states. Last year was amazing and so much fun. I connected with so many of the girls and I can’t wait for the experience again.”
Schneider is a junior at Paul VI High School, where she is on the dance team and golf team.
Miss Cape Resort
Not unlike the teen winners, new Miss Cape Resort Emily Cooney has been competing in pageants since she was young.
“I’ve been competing in this organization since I was 8, so I’m very excited,” Cooney said. “This will be my fourth year going back to Miss New Jersey. My community service initiative is ‘Serving Those Who Serve.’ It’s all about helping our veterans and active duty military so it’s a pleasure and honor to be going back.”
She is from Mantua Township in Gloucester County. Cooney graduated in May from Saint Joseph’s University and is now back full-time working as the women’s basketball sales representative.
She said winning the title felt “absolutely incredible. As I said, I’ve been in this organization for so long that it’s just the best feeling in the world to be with the most amazing women on this stage. It’s a great feeling. I can’t lie.”
Miss Cape May County
After years of near misses, new Miss Cape May County Abby Dell Aglio is finally a title-holder.
“Oh my gosh, this is amazing to win this title. My journey to the crown over the years has never been easy,” she said. “I’ve runnered-up a total of 18 times. And in my talent I talked about a wardrobe malfunction I had on stage. (Her dress split up the back.) It has never been an easy journey but I’ve loved every minute of it and it’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
Dell Aglio traveled a distance to compete and it brought back fond memories.
“I’m actually from north Jersey. I’m from Bergen County in Waldwick and I get stuck in George Washington Bridge traffic on my way to work. I am far north,” she said.
“I have been part of this organization for a long time and I used to watch Miss New Jersey take place here at the Music Pier. And a huge reason I signed up for this local is that I needed to be like all those big girls that came before me. I needed to walk on the catwalk. I needed to see the lights,” Dell Aglio said.
“I went to Stockton (University) for my undergrad so I do love south Jersey. I used to come here and watch the sunrise with my roommates, so this holds a very special place in my heart.”
Dell Aglio is getting her master’s degree in social work and has an internship in Secaucus where she works with students on the autism spectrum. “We do job coaching and help them get involved in the work force,” she said.
She isn’t sure what she wants do with with her graduate degree, but “loves working with children. I really have found a calling working with individuals in the community of special needs, so maybe a special needs school, a special education school, a school social worker or maybe something entirely different,” Dell Aglio said. “I don’t have any eggs in any baskets yet.”
The combined pageants had six teen contestants and the 12 contestants for the two Miss New Jersey local titles. All of the contestants took part in all phases of the on-stage competition, which included Fitness, Art Expression Talent, On-Stage Question and CSI (Community Service Initiative) Pitch, and Red Carpet Walk in evening gowns. The interview portion was done prior to the evening.
Miss Cape May County Teen and Miss Cape Resort Teen
Fitness Preliminary Award: Camryn Schultheis
Talent Preliminary Award: Camryn Schultheis
Red Carpet Preliminary Award: Taylor Schneider and Camryn Schultheis
First runner-up: Tori Veigel
Miss Cape May County Teen: Taylor Schneider
Miss Cape Resort Teen: Camryn Schultheis
Miss Cape May County, Miss Cape Resort
Fitness Preliminary Award: Abby Dell Aglio
Talent Preliminary Award: Justine Murray
Red Carpet Preliminary Award: Emily Cooney
Third runner-up: Madison Kennelly
Second runner-up: Justine Murray
First runner-up: Emily Lynd
Miss Cape May County: Abby Dell Aglio
Miss Cape Resort: Emily Cooney
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
