By Nanette LoBiondo Galloway
Jade Glab of Belmar was crowned Miss New Jersey 2019 Saturday night at the competition’s new home at Resorts Superstar Theater in Atlantic City.
Twenty-eight candidates competed and Glab was selected to be the 84th woman and the first Asian-American woman to represent New Jersey in the Miss America competition.
First runner-up was Alyssa Sullivan, 23, of Cape May Courthouse, who competed as Miss Atlantic Shores. She won the on-stage question during preliminaries but failed to answer a question about euthanasia during the final competition.
Miss Central Jersey Kyra Seeley was second runner-up and Miss Eastern Shores Natalie Ragazzo of Ocean City finished as third runner-up. Miss South Shore Jessica Indio of Hammonton came in fourth.
Glab said the experience of winning the pageant was “surreal.”
“I woke up today with pharyngitis and a fever, and now this,” she said at the after-party held in the ballroom across from the theater.
That didn’t stop her from performing a flawless vocal of “O Mio Babbino Caro,” from the Puccini opera, “Gianni Schicchi.”
Glab was the winner of the talent competition on the first night of preliminaries.
“The one thing I want people to know, especially young women, is that I started competing at age 14 and it took eight tries before I ever won a competition,” she said. “Being involved in this organization has taught me so much about myself and has given me a voice to help make an impact and inspire other women to never give up on their dreams,” she said.
He dad, Ron Glab said his daughter winning the crown was the best Father’s Day he could ever receive.
“It’s better than standing over a hot grill flipping hamburgers,” he said.
Glab, who competed as Miss Central Jersey Beaches, attended Brookdale Community College and is headed to University of Virginia where she will major in finance.
During her on-stage question, Glab said there are not enough women in prominent positions in the world of finance, and that she will work to promote women in the field.
“I want to start out in investment banking and eventually open my own healthy fast-food drive-through,” she said.
During her reign, she will promote her social impact statement: “Healthy Children, Strong America.”
She was inspired to select her platform after being diagnosed with high cholesterol at age 11. Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid contracting diseases later in life, she said.
Glab was awarded a $16,000 in scholarship, and in-kind undergraduate scholarships from Rowan and Stockton universities.
Miss New Jersey 2018 Jamie Gialloreto took her final walk on the runway before crowning the new Miss New Jersey. She thanked all the people who helped her during her year as Miss New Jersey, including Sally Johnson, who was honored for her 53 years as pageant director for the state.
Johnson retired last year, and her replacement was Ventnor artist and gallery owner David Holtzman, who has painted portraits of the last five title holders.
It was the first year the scholarship competition was held in Atlantic City after making Ocean City its home for 22 years.
