Miss New Jersey pageant returns to Ocean City, kicks things off with a boardwalk parade
OCEAN CITY – The Miss New Pageant made a very public return to America’s Greatest Family Resort with a boardwalk parade the evening of June 17.
Playing off what started when the Miss America Pageant was in Atlantic City and featured its own parade, Ocean City’s parade kicked off with special kicks – a “Show Us Your Shoes” parade.
The 22 contestants vying for the title of Miss New Jersey 2026 were decked out in special costumes, some extremely elaborate, with some pretty fancy shoes. They, along with Miss New Jersey teen contestants similarly dressed up, rode along the boardwalk starting at Sixth Street then past the Ocean City Music Pier starting at 7 p.m.
There were additional floats, two carrying Miss New Jersey 2025 Belle Nicholas and Miss New Jersey Teen 2025 Delaney Higgins with supporting Honey Bees.
Preliminary Miss New Jersey competitions are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 18 and 19, at the Ocean City Music Pier, where finals will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 20. The Miss New Jersey Teen pageant starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
