11-year-old says it is a dream come true
OCEAN CITY – For 11-year-old Lyla Clark, her lifelong dream came true Friday night at the Ocean City Music Pier as she was crowned Little Miss Ocean City 2023.
“It feels amazing. It’s been my dream forever and I’m just so happy,” she said, tears still welling in her eyes as fellow contestants and friends hugged her on the stage after the competition.
It wasn’t anticlimactic that Lyla would become the next Little Miss as she racked up wins in three of the four competition categories, but it gave a preview of what was to come.
“I was excited,” she said when getting the awards, including those for talent, interview and poise and composure. “I had a good feeling.”
The rising seventh-grader at Ocean City Intermediate School was chosen from among 16 contestants. She is a daughter of Raymond and Sara Clark of Ocean City. Her older sister, Faelyn, was there to celebrate Lyla’s win. As the new school year is about to begin, Lyla noted she likes math. “It’s my best subject,” she said.
This was Lyla’s third year of competing in the Little Miss Ocean City competition, which is open to girls ages 8 to 11. After being part of the queen’s court last year, she worked hard to prepare for the competition this year.
“I practiced my dance every single day and I practiced walking in my dress all the time,” she said. “The first year it was (hard walking in the dress) because I wasn’t really used to it, but now I can walk in it perfectly.”
“I’m looking forward to making great memories with Miss Ocean City and the new Junior Miss,” she said. Lyla is already looking forward to next year’s Night in Venice “because you get to be on the boat with your pretty dress and I think it’s going to be the greatest thing ever.”
As one of the ambassadors for the resort, Lyla will be going to scores of events over the next year, including the silly summer Wacky Wednesday activities that include taffy sculpting and pie-eating.
“I’m going to have so much fun,” she said. “I already know.”
“She just worked really hard for this,” her mom, Sara, said. “She really wanted it and was so excited. This has been her dream for as long as I can remember. This is her third year competing and was her last before she ages out so she put everything into it.”
The former Sara Jamison grew up in Ocean City and graduated from Ocean City High School in 1998, but never competed in the pageants. “I was more of a sports kid,” she said. She was on the diving team, ran track and was a cheerleader. “We would do handsprings all down the track,” she said of cheering in front of the crowd during football games at Carey Stadium. As a family now, they go snowboarding every winter. In spite of her lack of a dance background, she and the family supported Lyla.
“We’ve been helping her practice her dance, which is kind of out of my wheelhouse, to be honest,” her mother added. “She’s taken the lead and whatever she needs we’re here for her.”
“I’m actually speechless and I’m usually not,” said her dad, Raymond, an Ocean City firefighter. “Sitting in the audience I was just full of nerves and it didn’t even sink in as I heard her winning the awards that it was her.”
“When they finally called her (as Little Miss), it hit me,” he said.
“I don’t know how much it’s going to change, he said about having a household with the Little Miss winner in it. “Lyla keeps us pretty busy and her sister Faelyn keeps us pretty busy so it’s going to be interesting to see, adding more events. I know Lyla is dedicated to it and will be excited going to the events. Living in town, she’ll be able to ride her bike to them. I think it’s pretty cool.”
Lyla was crowned by Little Miss Ocean City 2022 Arianna DiAntonio with help from Junior Miss Ocean City 2022 Makenna Fleming and recently crowned Miss Ocean City 2023 Grace Oves.
Members of Lyla’s court are first runner-up Harper Juelg, second runner-up Stella Fleming, third runner-up Francesca Schaffer and fourth runner-up Sophia Neal. The other contestants included Meadow Ottinger, Quinn Dorr, Lynnie Becker, Kippin Halliday, Mila DeLanzo, Lucia Schaffer, Alice Bickings, Rose Bickings, Alexa Rosetti, Nora Dinsmore and Giselle Ardelean.
The Mistress of Ceremonies was Natalie Ragazzo, the Little Miss Ocean City 2008 who is now the reigning Miss New Jersey Volunteer. Kristie Fenton is the executive director of the pageant.
Little Miss Ocean City 2023 awards
Golf, Third Place, Giselle Ardelean
Golf, Second Place, Harper Juelg
Golf, First Place, Lucia Schaffer
Essay, Third Runner-up, Nora Dinsmore
Essay, Second Runner-up, Stella Fleming
Essay, First Runner-up, Lyla Clark
Essay Winner, Meadow Ottinger
Recognition Awards
Miss Congeniality, Stella Fleming
Miss Photogenic, Lynnie Becker
Spirit Award, Quinn Door
Hostess Award, Alice Bickings
Originality Award, Nora Dinsmore
Compassion Award, Kippin Halliday
Talent Recognition, Lucia Schaffer
Interview Recognition, Alice Bickings
Scholastic Recognition, Lyla Clark
Poise Recognition, Nora Dinsmore
Special Awards
Talent Winner, Lyla Clark
Interview Winner, Lyla Clark
Scholastic Winner, Alice Bickings
Poise Winner, Lyla Clark
Fourth Runner-up, Sophia Neal
Third Runner-up, Francesca Schaffer
Second Runner-up, Stella Fleming
First Runner-up, Harper Juelg
Winner, Lyla Clark
STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff