By MADDY VITALE
When Lola DeMarco was crowned Miss Ocean City 2024 on Saturday night, she thought of one person, someone who was the guiding light in her life, her mom, Kim.
“My mom always pushed me to do my best and she loved watching me perform and dance,” Lola, of Ocean City, recalled in an interview Sunday.
Kim, a businesswoman and entrepreneur, lost a long, courageous battle against cancer in July 2022. She was 49.
On Saturday, Lola danced before a crowd at the Ocean City Music Pier to a song dedicated to her mom.
Here are a few lyrics from the song titled “Let Her Go” by Passenger:
You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day, you’ll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies
But you only need the light when it’s burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
The first runner-up was Natalie Argento, second runner-up was Ella Quintin and third runner-up was Kathie Worchel.
The 2023 Miss Ocean City Grace Oves crowned Lola DeMarco. Grace, like Lola, 17, was entering her senior year at Ocean City High School when she became Miss Ocean City.
“It’s been such an incredible year representing Ocean City,” Grace said of her reign. “I’m super-excited to begin my next chapter at Penn State.”
And like Grace, Lola is looking forward to her future. In addition to going to school, Lola works at Wild Phoenix Boutique at 409 E. Eighth Street in Ocean City. Her mom opened the boutique in 2020. Although her mom knew then that she didn’t have much longer to live, she did it to leave something special for her children to carry on.
“I’m really excited for this coming year to represent this town because this is where I was raised and this will forever be my home,” Lola said.
In addition to Lola, Kim had three other children with her husband Jamie DeMarco, son Kai, and daughters Keely, 21, and Shea, 19.
Jamie said the family is so proud of Lola for her accomplishments and they know Kim was watching over Lola as she danced on stage and captured the title of Miss Ocean City 2024.
Lola was in other Ocean City pageants, including Little Miss Ocean City and was a runner-up.
Shortly before the Miss Ocean City pageant began, Jamie texted Lola the photo of her with her mom, after she won runner-up in the Little Miss Ocean City pageant. They both had big smiles.
The win Saturday means a lot to Lola and to the entire family.
Jamie, who recently retired, plans to be with his daughter at all of her Miss Ocean City events and duties.
“It’s so good for Lola. Lola had the toughest year of her life last year and to go from that to this year, it will be an amazing year for her. Kim was always so proud of Lola. Lola is the friendliest child, always outgoing. She is the perfect person to be Miss Ocean City.”
Next Friday, Aug. 18, is the Little Miss Ocean City pageant at 7 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier. And on Saturday, Aug. 19, also at 7 p.m., is the Junior Miss Ocean City pageant. Some of Lola’s early duties as the new reigning queen will be to perform in both of the pageants.
To watch the video highlights for the Miss Ocean City Pageant, courtesy of Martin Fiedler, Just Right TV Productions, click the link https://youtu.be/8Hl-R3EfOrw
