OCEAN CITY- Kaitlyn Schoeffel, of Egg Harbor Township, broke into a tearful surrender of joyful release when she was crowned Miss New Jersey 2017 Saturday night at the Ocean City Music Pier.
After her sixth year competing in the pageant as Miss Eastern Shore, Schoeffel will move on to represent New Jersey in the Miss America Pageant on Sept. 10 in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
"I'm just so incredibly thankful," Schoeffel said after her win. "And I'm so ready to be Miss New Jersey and am so excited to get started."
During her year as Miss New Jersey, the 23-year-old Schoeffel said her main goal will be to spread her platform, Operation Empowerment, which helps to expose underprivileged youth to the arts throughout the state of New Jersey. Schoeffel represented her platform while performing her talent as she danced to the song, "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon.
"I think that it's so important that you can see the good that comes from a [platform like this]," said Sally Johnston, executive director of Miss New Jersey. "You have something like this which has a goal to get something done."
Johnston also went on to say how she was impressed with this year's competitors and how she is hopeful that Schoeffel will go on to succeed in Miss America.
As Schoeffel prepares for the Miss America Pageant, the rest of her fellow competitors will be looking to integrate the skills they made into the real world.
The first runner-up, Olivia Micheal, said she plans to get a full-time job after her last year in the pageant.
"Competing and working with the people whom I've met through this organization has made me a better person," Micheal said. "And it's made me want to do bigger things, but in terms of my career it's going to give me skills that I need."
Also making an appearance at the event was New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno who praised those competing the pageant for their tenacity, or as she calls it, "Jersey girl guts."
"This isn't just a pageant, this is a competition, Guadagno said. "And this is a competition that is going to give women something valuable whether they become Miss New Jersey this year or not."
Saturday night also marked the 40-year anniversary since Mary D'Arcy won the Miss New Jersey title in 1977. D'Arcy was the second runner-up in the Miss America Pageant in 1977 and has starred in several films since then. D'Arcy was honored at the event with an award and slideshow showcasing her winning the Miss New Jersey title and her career accomplishments after her win at the pageant. After receiving her award, D'Arcy expanded upon what Guadagno said during a speech, owing most of the important relationships in her life to the Miss New Jersey Program.
"One of the most important things I've gained from being a part of this program are my friends," D'Arcy said. "So many of us have stayed friends for over forty years."
D'Arcy later went on to talk about how proud she is of the girls in this year's competition and how the pageant has changed over the years.
A collection of awards and scholarships were given out to the finalists and non-finalists before the winners were announced.
First runner up to Miss New Jersey was Miss Columbus Day, Olivia Michael, of Bergenfield; Second runner up was Miss Seashoreline, Amanda Rae Ross, of Galloway; Third runner up was Miss South Jersey, Jamie Gialloreto, of Woolwich Township; and fourth runner up was Miss Atlantic Shores, Natalie Ragazzo, of Ocean City.
Other finalists included Miss Ocean County Area, Olivia Suarez, of Mullica Hill; Miss Monmouth County, Jessica Milne, of New Milford; Miss South Shore, Madison Welsh, of Westville; Miss Atlantic County, Jacquline Algarra, of Marlton; Miss Cape Shores, Sandra Hilla, of Williamstown and Miss Costal Shores, Krystle Tomlinson, of Scotch Plains.
Justin Decker may be reached at jdecker@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Justin Decker on Twitter @Justin_A_Decker. Find NJ.com on Facebook.