Sarah Smith credits competitions, year-long ambassadorship with personal growth
OCEAN CITY — Sarah Smith is one busy young woman.
When she was not fulfilling her duties as Junior Miss Ocean City 2025, Sarah was dancing or taking part in multiple clubs as a freshman at Ocean City High School.
“I’m actually in five clubs,” she explained. “I’m a part of the Drama Guild, Student Council, Key Club, Psychology Club and Literary Magazine.
“I love being active in all those clubs because in school it really brings a lot of communities together and I love getting to make new friends and meet new people through our combined interests,” she said.
“This year, I started competitive dance at Miss Margot’s Ensemble Arts in Egg Harbor Township. The pageant director, Aggie Becker, is actually the studio director, so it’s very cool that I get to work with her in and out of the pageant,” she added.
“I love the performing aspect of dance. I love how when I go on stage, I can leave all my worries behind and I can do what I love and show my emotion and get everything out, leave everything on the stage. And I love doing it with my best friends.”
Sarah, 15, is about to enter her sophomore year at OCHS. Since being crowned Junior Miss Ocean City last August, she has taken part in a whirlwind of activities with her crown sisters, Miss Ocean City 2025 Taylor Mulford and Little Miss Ocean City 2025 Taegen Vivarelli.
“I think the events that I enjoyed most about being Junior Miss Ocean City are definitely the parades,” she said. “I’ve been in the parades before for dance, but I loved getting viewed as a princess and waving to all the little kids and seeing their faces light up. More recently, I’ve started Wacky Wednesdays and I love getting to connect with (the kids) and help them out with the task, whether it’s taffy sculpting or the pie-eating contest.”
Sarah is the daughter of Jim Smith, who retired as chief of the Ocean City Fire Department, and Kate Smith, a teacher in Ventnor. She has an older sister, Ashley, and older brother, Brendan.
She and her parents live in Ocean City.
“The best thing about coming to Ocean City is how open it is to all ages. We’re a dry town, so things stay family-friendly and there’s so many different aspects that are open to all ages and that everyone can enjoy, especially with the Ocean City events,” she said, sounding like the ambassador to the city she has represented for the past year. “There’s something for everyone. If you’re down for a week, you can find a million things to do that appeal to you.”
She also enjoys the quieter seasons here.
“I think one of my favorite things about living in Ocean City is that I get to see the town year round and watch it go from a crazy season to calm and peaceful,” she said, smiling.
Sarah also has advice for any young women who would like to compete in one of Ocean City’s pageants.
“Whenever I’m trying to convince someone to do the pageants, I tell them about how much it has matured me and how when I started the pageants when I was very young, I was kind of finding my legs. I look back on videos from the (early) pageant, and I was staring at the stage in my talent and scared to look out to the audience,” she said.
“Through the pageants, I’ve blossomed. I’m now able to talk to whoever comes up to me, I can perform on stage very confidently and know my capabilities. And I really thank the pageants for maturing me and bringing me closer to the other contestants.
“I’ve been in the Ocean City pageants for many years, and I’m so grateful that I won this year because it helped me with my maturity and confidence.”
The 2026 Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Ocean City Music Pier.
This year’s contestants are Giselle Ardelean, Lynnie Becker, Elizabeth Canale, Tallulah Costal, Ariana DiAntonio, Waverly Dunn, Gianna Ganiel, Poppy Hudak, Madison Keenan, Kayla Magazzu, Maggie Morris, Sophia Neal, Randy Scarborough, Frankie Schaffer and Vera Schuh.
Sarah, not yet halfway through high school, already has her sights set on a future.
“My dream is to become a clinical or developmental therapist for teens or adolescents. I just want to help people the way I’ve been helped. You have a doctor for checkups,” she said. “Why wouldn’t you have a doctor to help with your mind and keep your mind clear?”
– STORY and PHOTO by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff