She is the first to also win Little Miss Ocean City and Junior Miss Ocean city
OCEAN CITY — Antonella DiAntonio did what no one had ever done before Saturday night at the Music Pier. Upon being named Miss Ocean City 2026, the 17-year-old became the first ever to win all three crowns bestowed by the city.
In its 57-year history, no contestant before had ever won all three titles: Little Miss Ocean City, Junior Miss Ocean City and Miss Ocean City.
“I feel so honored and so blessed,” she said just moments after being crowned by Miss Ocean City 2025 Taylor Mulford. “Ever since I started, it’s been my dream to win Miss Ocean City.”
Antonella has been competing in Ocean City pageants for five years. She was crowned Little Miss Ocean City 2020 and Junior Miss Ocean City 2023.
“She’s the first to win all three crowns, but I hope there’s a million more,” said the teen’s mother, Angela DiAntonio. “The pageants are just beautiful, and the girls give so much back to the community.”
Antonella won the Talent Award for her dance to “All Eyes on Me.” She also won the Poise Award for her walk and on-stage question.
After five pageants, Antonella has improved most in her public speaking, according to her father Anthony DiAntonio.
“The change from Little Miss to Miss Ocean City has been drastic,” Anthony said. “And all her work inspires the younger contestants, not just with her dancing, but her academics as well.”
Antonella, a Sea Isle City resident, is looking forward to her senior year at Ocean City High School.
She is a captain of the school’s competitive dance team. She also dances for Pro Dance Academy in Northfield, Atlantic County.
“I’m excited to see who my Little Miss and Junior Miss are,” Antonella said. “I know what a sisterhood it is, and I know this year is going to fly by.”
Asked about her biggest supporter along the way, Antonella said “my little sister is my best friend and my biggest role model. She’s also my biggest cheerleader.”
The sister in question, Arianna DiAntonio, won Little Miss Ocean City 2021. Arianna is looking forward to competing in this year’s Junior Miss Ocean City pageant this weekend.
Mayor Jay Gillian attended Saturday’s pageant and presented a piece of the boardwalk to Mulford.
“I just love the family tradition,” Gillian said. “This has been going on as long as I can remember, and they’re always such bright, smart young ladies. It’s all about education.”
First runner-up Georgia Little won the interview and the Swimsuit Award. She performed a jazz routine from Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge.” Second runner-up Khushbu Pandya won the Academic Excellence Award and performed “Serenade in the Moonlight” on piano.
The other competitors were Amelia Allegretto, Sarah Avellino, Suzy Bautista, Jordan Dezeeuw-Yager, Melody Kuchler and Braden Roberts.
The pageant was directed by Aggie Becker. The night’s emcees were Miss Ocean City 1986 Gwen Fritsch and Miss Ocean City 2016 Shannon Wallace. Little Miss Ocean City Taegen Vivarelli and Junior Miss Ocean City Sarah Smith performed with Mulford and assisted the pageant.
The panel of judges included professional dancer and director Tim Chester, Miss New Jersey 2018 Jaime Gialoretto, physical therapist Kyle Kammerle and occupational therapist Pamela Traflet.
Miss Ocean City took home a $3,000 award from pageant supporters and an array of other prizes. First-runner up Georgia Little won a $1,400 award and second runner-up Khushbu Pandya won a $1,200 award. They and the other contestants won additional awards through various phases of competition.
Awards
Most Ad Book Sales: Jordan Dezeeuw-Yager
Miss Congeniality: Suzy Bautista
Leadership and Service Award: Sarah Avellino
Academic Excellence Award: Khushbu Pandya
People’s Choice: Braden Roberts
The Eileen Parks Hostess Award: Melody Kuchler
Poise Award: Antonella DiAntonio
Swimsuit Award: Georgia Little
Talent Award: Antonella DiAntonio
Interview Award: Georgia Little
Second Runner-Up: Khushbu Pandya
First Runner-Up: Georgia Little
Miss Ocean City 2026: Antonella DiAntonio
– STORY by CHARLIE COSTAL/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by CRAIG MATTHEWS/For the Sentinel
