By Donald Wittkowski
Ever since she was just 2 years old, Charlotte Erickson wanted to emulate her big sister, Julia, who was a winner of both the Little Miss Ocean City and the Junior Miss Ocean City pageants.
Now 10, Charlotte realized half of her dream Friday night when she was crowned Little Miss Ocean City 2017 amid a crowded field of 23 contestants ranging in age from 8 to 11.
“I’ve always looked up to my sister. I think this is one thing we can share,” Charlotte said of winning the same title Julia did in 2010.
Julia, now 18, went on to be crowned Junior Miss Ocean City in 2015. Perhaps Charlotte can pursue that title too in a few years, but for now she said she is content with being Little Miss Ocean City 2017.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I love performing on stage. I’ve been doing this since I was very little. I’ve loved the feeling of excitement along the way.”
Charlotte said she wasn’t the least bit nervous during the pageant. Contestants are judged on scholarship, talent, poise and a question-and-answer segment with the judges.
For the talent portion, Charlotte performed a jazz dance accompanied by the song “Party Girl.” She combined gymnastics-like moves with ballet and contemporary dance steps, winning cheers and thunderous applause from the audience.
Charlotte hopes to become a professional dancer and choreographer when she grows up.
Charlotte, who will enter fifth grade this fall, lives in Yardley, Pa. Her parents, Caroline and Tom Erickson, are summer residents in Ocean City on 43rd Street.
Caroline Erickson said her family is so enamored with Ocean City that they may move here full time.
“We want to move here if we can,” she said. “Everyone is so nice. It’s a wonderful city.”
Charlotte’s pageant duties in the next 12 months will likely keep the Erickson family in Ocean City quite a bit. Little Miss Ocean City joins with Junior Miss Ocean City and Miss Ocean City in parades and other promotional events for the town.
The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant has been sponsored by the city’s Recreation Department for the past 27 years. This year’s pageant included an Olympics theme in tribute to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“This may not be Rio, but I think tonight’s pageant deserves an all-around gold medal,” said Kristie Fenton, the pageant’s executive director.
Fenton also said that all of the contestants deserved gold medals.
Grabbing first runner-up honors was Erin Coughlin, 10. Lola DeMarco, 10, was second runner-up, Annie Jarrell, 9, was third runner-up and Camryn Schultheis, 10, was fourth runner-up.
Little Miss Ocean City 2016 Sarah Rodriguez was honored Friday in her last night as pageant queen. She was given an honorary key to the city and a proclamation by Mayor Jay Gillian.
“She truly exemplifies a perfect Little Miss Ocean City,” Mistress of Ceremonies Maribeth Neall said of Sarah.
In her farewell remarks, Sarah described her reign as “an amazing year that I’ll never forget.”
Mark Soifer, the city’s longtime public relations director who is retiring this year, also was honored by the pageant. Fenton choked back tears while thanking Soifer for his contributions.
“Mark, you will truly be missed,” she said.
