By Donald Wittkowski
Stella Schwartz, a 15-year-old high school sophomore who envisions herself performing on Broadway one day, was crowned Junior Miss Ocean City 2017 on Saturday night.
Schwartz captured the pageant's talent portion with a powerful vocal rendition of "Vanilla Ice Cream" that prompted shouts of "Stella, Stella" from the audience.
She beat out 14 other contestants to win the 11th edition of the Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant. In addition to taking the talent contest, she was also the winner in the judges' interview portion of the competition.
"To be able to hold the crown on my head and represent Ocean City is indescribable," she said.
Schwartz waves to the audience at the William and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School.
A 10th grader at Ocean City High School, Schwartz is the daughter of Greta and Jeffrey Schwartz of Seaville. Her parents joined her on stage at the high school's William and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center moments after she won the title.
"I'm ecstatic and relieved," Greta Schwartz said. "There was a lot of stress. I'm very proud of her."
Schwartz's career ambitions include becoming a professional performer. She dreams of singing on a Broadway stage some day.
"Every since I was a little girl, Broadway was my No. 1 goal," she said. "Broadway is my No. 1 goal in life."
Selected as the pageant's first runner-up was Maddyn Randazzo, 14. Second runner-up was Mary Grace Jamison, 14. Third runner-up was Avery Fritsch, 12, and fourth runner-up was Grace Webber, 15.
Fifteen contestants vied for the crown of Junior Miss Ocean City 2017.
Junior Miss Ocean City was the city’s third and final pageant this year. McKayla Perry was crowned Miss Ocean City 2017 and Charlotte Erickson won the Little Miss Ocean City 2017 title over the summer.
The Junior Miss pageant is open to girls between the ages of 12 and 15. They compete in the categories of talent, poise and composure, the judges' interview and an on-stage question. Contestants vied for more than $3,400 in scholarship money and awards.
Schwartz was crowned by Junior Miss Ocean City 2016 Paige Aita. A retrospective slide and video show of Aita's one-year reign was part of the pageant ceremonies Saturday night. In her farewell appearance, Aita was awarded an honorary key to the city.
As the newly crowned Junior Miss Ocean City, Schwartz will now take on the duties of ambassador for the city. Along with the other pageant winners, she will make publicity appearances at parades, contests and other special events.
"In essence, they're a valuable form of promotion for us," said Mark Soifer, the city's public relations director. "They have two purposes: They help us run the events and they help us promote the events."
Soifer, 84, who is retiring at year's end after a 45-year career as Ocean City's publicity chief, was honored during the pageant Saturday night.
Miss Ocean City McKayla Perry, Little Miss Ocean City Charlotte Erickson and newly crowned Junior Miss Ocean City Stella Schwartz celebrate together.
