Talented dancer is the only one to hold all three city pageant titles
OCEAN CITY — Antonella DiAntonio has the exceptional ability to combine her physical strength and body control with her artistic expression. Local audiences have seen that in her performances that helped lead her to the Little Miss Ocean City title, the Junior Miss Ocean City title and then to be crowned Miss Ocean City 2026 last August.
An 18-year-old from Sea Isle City who graduated in June from Ocean City High School, Antonella is the only contestant to have won all three titles.
Dance has been her talent throughout the competitions and it will be part of her final performance before she crowns her successor Saturday night at the Ocean City Music Pier.
“I feel like when I’m performing or on stage, I can be my truest self,” she said. “I’ve always loved performing since a young age, and I just feel like it’s made me who I am today.”
Antonella began dancing at age 2 and prefers jazz “because you can show your personality.” She will be taking those talents this fall to the University of Delaware, where she earned a spot on the university’s dance team, which competes in the D1A division — the top in collegiate dance.
“I’m extremely excited to be a Blue Hen. Dance recruitment is definitely something that’s super stressful and that no one could have warned me about, but it all comes together in the end. You just have to trust the process and everything works out the way it’s supposed to,” she said.
She plans to major in elementary and middle school education.
“I kind of always knew what I wanted to do because I’ve always loved school,” Antonella said. “Growing up through the Ocean City school system, my most impressionable years of learning were when I was in primary and intermediate school. I truly thank the teachers that I had at those ages because they had a profound impact on me.”
Winning the trifecta of Ocean City pageant titles “was something I’d dreamed about since I was Little Miss Ocean City,” she said. “Honestly, it’s been a huge honor and such a joy representing this town three years. I’m forever grateful for these opportunities.”
Daughter of Anthony and Angelina DiAntonio, Antonella had the added joy of serving as Miss Ocean City while her sister, Arianna, also a dancer, served as Junior Miss Ocean City. (Arianna crowns her successor the following week.)
“This year has been so special. Holding this title during my senior year has been so amazing and I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the title alongside my sister, Arianna, and our little (pageant) sister, Harper (Juelg). She completed us both because we watched her grow up in the Little Miss pageants and she’s always been such a joy to watch.
“We manifested holding the title together and we always wanted her to be a Little Miss, so it was truly a dream come true. I’m so happy to have shared this year with them,” she said.
Antonella encourages girls and young women to take part in the pageants because it helped teach her about herself, improved her public speaking and performing, and her poise.
“I would recommend it to a lot of young girls because I think it boosts their confidence.”
Antonella said what she will miss most about being Miss Ocean City is the people. “I’ve formed so many friendships through the years, and coming back here year after year, I’ve just grown so much appreciation for the process and for this program,” she said. “And I truly don’t think I would be the person I am today without everyone I’ve met through the Ocean City pageants.”
“Even though my reign is coming to an end this year, I just know I’m always going to be coming back to be part of the program and helping out,” Antonella said. “I love seeing all the contestants and the next generations of girls compete.”
The Miss Ocean City Pageant is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Ocean City Music Pier.
– STORY and PHOTO by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
