Miss New Jersey Teen USA
The Miss New Jersey Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Jersey in the Miss Teen USA pageant.
| Formation | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Newark |
| Location | |
Membership | Miss Teen USA |
Official language | English |
Key people | Deborah Miller Cindy Provost |
| Website | Official website |
New Jersey has had a moderated success at Miss Teen USA, with ten placements. In the first twenty years of the competition, New Jersey only recorded three placements; from 2003 they placed in four of five years. New Jersey's first top five placement came in 2003 when Jacklyn Pezzotta placed fourth runner-up, and this was bettered in 2007 when Alyssa Campanella placed 1st runner up.
Three New Jersey teens (2001, 2006, and 2008) have held the Miss New Jersey USA title and competed at Miss USA. Alyssa Campanella, Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007, competed twice for Miss New Jersey USA, but relocated to California and won Miss California USA and won the title of Miss USA 2011, the first former Miss New Jersey Teen USA titleholder to win Miss USA, regardless of the representing state.
JaeLynn Polanco of Newark was crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2020 on November 24, 2019 at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. She represented New Jersey for the title of Miss Teen USA 2020 on November 2020 and placed in the Top 16.
Results summary
Placements
- 1st runners-up: Alyssa Campanella (2007)
- 4th runners-up: Jacklyn Pezzotta (2003), Valentina Sanchez (2014)
- Top 10: Rosalie Cuzo (1986), Michelle Knipfelberg (1988), Rachael Carrollo (2004), Julianna White (2006)
- Top 12: Kelli Paarz (1994)
- Top 15/16: Savannah Schechter (2011), Christina Thompson (2013), JaeLynn Polanco (2020)
New Jersey holds a record of 11 placements at Miss Teen USA.
Awards
- Miss Photogenic: Jacklyn Pezzotta (2003), Briahna Reinstein (2017), Ava Tortorici (2019)
- Miss Congeniality: Savannah Schechter (2011), Dominique D'Angelo (2013)
Winners
- Color key
- Declared as Winner
- Ended as runner-up
- Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age1 | Placement at Miss Teen USA | Special awards at Miss Teen USA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | JaeLynn Polanco | Bergenfield | 16 | Top 16 | ||
| 2019 | Ava Tortorici | Montclair | 18 | |||
| 2018 | Diana Smerina | Freehold | 16 | |||
| 2017 | Briahna Reinstein | Englishtown | 16 | Miss Photogenic | ||
| 2016 | Gina Mellish | Oceanport | 16 | Later Miss New Jersey USA 2020, finished Top 10 at Miss USA 2020 | ||
| 2015 | Jacqueline Giancola | East Brunswick | 17 | |||
| 2014 | Valentina Sanchez | Spring Lake Heights | 18 | 4th runner-up | Previously Miss Teen Model Venezuela 2011; later competed Miss Venezuela 2020 represented Nueva Esparta, finished in Top 5 | |
| 2013 | Christina Thompson | Holmdel | 16 | Top 16 | ||
| 2012 | Kendal Barrett | Montclair | 15 | |||
| 2011 | Savannah Schechter[1] | Far Hills | 17 | Top 15 | Miss Congeniality | |
| 2010 | Erica Szymanski | Mt. Laurel | 17 | |||
| 2009 | Alexa Brunetti | Brigantine | 18 | |||
| 2008 | Michelle Leonardo | Tinton Falls | 17 | Miss Teen United States - World 2009; Later Miss New Jersey USA 2012 and top 10 at Miss USA 2012 | ||
| 2007 | Alyssa Campanella | Manalapan | 17 | 1st runner-up | Later Miss California USA 2011 and Miss USA 2011 | |
| 2006 | Julianna White | Haddon Township | 17 | Top 10 | Later Miss New Jersey USA 2011 | |
| 2005 | Regina Villano | Tabernacle | 18 | Host of Solo Generation & Linerocket Live. Actress on All my Children & Guiding Light, Appeared on Reality Show " True Beauty " season 2 | ||
| 2004 | Rachael Carrollo | Wantage | 17 | Top 10 | ||
| 2003 | Jacklyn Pezzotta | Little Egg Harbor | 17 | 4th runner-up | Miss Photogenic | 2nd runner-up to Miss New Jersey USA 2007 & 2008 |
| 2002 | Sheri Drach | National Park | 15 | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 | ||
| 2001 | Erin Abrahamson | Essex Fells | 17 | 1st runner-up at Miss New Jersey USA 2007, later crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2007 & Mrs. New Jersey 2015 | ||
| 2000 | Ulrica Udani | Marmora | 18 | |||
| 1999 | Nicole Marie Golas | Deptford Township | 19 | |||
| 1998 | Melissa Dungao | Princeton | 17 | |||
| 1997 | Lauren Petty | Point Pleasant | 19 | |||
| 1996 | Jessica Ponzo | Williamstown | 15 | Youngest Contestant at Miss Teen USA 1996 | ||
| 1995 | Joyce Houseknecht | Deptford | 18 | Actress Katrina Law | ||
| 1994 | Kelli Paarz | Linwood | 18 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Kerri Paarz, Miss New Jersey Teen USA 1991, later Miss New Jersey USA 1998 | |
| 1993 | Heather Brenner | Absecon | 19 | |||
| 1992 | Lori Schmidt | Haledon | 16 | |||
| 1991 | Kerri Paarz | Linwood | 17 | Sister of Kelli Paarz, Miss New Jersey Teen USA 1994 | ||
| 1990 | Jennifer Giordano | Bedminster | 17 | |||
| 1989 | Yvonne Christiano | Parsippany | 18 | |||
| 1988 | Michelle Knipfelberg | Edison | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1987 | Tara Eldridge | Voorhees | 18 | |||
| 1986 | Rosalie Cuzo | Colts Neck | 17 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1985 | Sharon Turner | Beachwood | 17 | |||
| 1984 | Tracy Grennon | Wyckoff | 18 | |||
| 1983 | Sheri Drummond | Lake Hiawatha | 18 |
1 Age at the time of the Miss Teen USA pageant
References
- Karas, David (October 3, 2010). "TCNJ senior crowned Miss New Jersey". NJ.com. Retrieved October 5, 2010.