Contestants dance and sing their way across the Music Pier stage Saturday night
OCEAN CITY – Grace Oves, a rising senior at Ocean City High School, was crowned as Miss Ocean City 2023 Saturday night at the Ocean City Music Pier.
The nine contestants showcased their talent by singing and dancing their way across the Music Pier stage, competing in swimsuit, evening gown and on-stage question, and were interviewed by the judges before the pageant. The judges chose Oves, daughter of Alex and Donna Oves of Ocean City, as the newest ambassador for America’s Greatest Family Resort.
“It is unreal. I still can’t believe it. I’m still in shock,” Oves said as family, fellow contestants and friends swarmed around her, giving her hugs and posing for photographs. “I’m excited for my year ahead. It’s my senior year so I can’t imagine a better year.”
Oves, 17, tap-danced through the talent competition. Although she also plays piano, she chose dance for the competition, she said, because she has been dancing her whole life and “I’m definitely more confident with dancing. I think it’s so much fun to dance on stage. It shows my personality.” Her favorite style of dance is jazz.
As she heads into her final year at OCHS, she has been looking at colleges “but there isn’t one I have my heart set on.” She is considering majoring in architecture. At OCHS she is on the dance team and is in clubs including Key Club and class council.
Oves said she is looking forward to “going to all the events and just enjoying the town of Ocean City that I’ll represent.” In the audience along with her parents were big brothers AJ and Matthew, both lifeguards on the Ocean City Beach Patrol who row crew for Saint Joseph’s University. There also was a huge contingent of extended family cheering for Oves.
The audience at the Music Pier showed support for all of the contestants, clapping and cheering as they went through the competitions.
Natalie Argento was the first runner-up, Jordan Fritsch was the second runner-up and Jessica Wriggins was the third runner-up. Argento and Wriggins sang during the talent competition and Fritsch did a tap dance.
Former Miss Ocean City Devon (Vanderslice) DeVries was the emcee for the evening, which featured performances by outgoing Miss Ocean City 2022 Maddyn Randazzo, Junior Miss Ocean City Makenna Fleming and Little Miss Ocean City Arianna DiAntonio. Fleming and DiAntonio will crown their successors next weekend at the Little Miss Ocean City pageant on Friday and Junior Miss Ocean City pageant Saturday. Michael Allegretto presented Randazzo with a piece of the boardwalk to thank her for her service over the past year.
Samantha Heckler directed the pageant, which included contestants Callie Bellwoar, Summer Castro, Gabrielle Waid, Brielle McDowell and Ella Curtin.
The new Miss Ocean City received $3,000 and a host of gifts, including her crown and sash; the first-runner up received $1,400; the second runner-up, $1,200; and third runner-up, $1,000. The runners-up also received other gifts, as did all the contestants, many donated by local merchants.
Awards
Ad Book Sales Award – Callie Bellwoar
Miss Congeniality – Grace Oves
Leadership and Service Award – Jordan Fritsch
Academic Excellence Award – Callie Bellwoar
People’s Choice Award – Grace Oves
Eileen Parks Hostess Award – Jessica Wriggins
Poise Award – Grace Oves
Swimsuit Award – Natalie Argento
Talent Award – Brielle McDowell
Interview Award – Grace Oves
Third runner-up – Jessica Wriggins
Second runner-up – Jordan Fritsch
First runner-up – Natalie Argento
Winner – Grace Oves
STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
