The Miss New Jersey USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Jersey in the Miss USA pageant. It is produced by D&D Productions.
New Jersey has yet to win the Miss USA title, although from 1989 to 1991 they had two 2nd runners-up and one 1st runner-up in a row. Two years later, another Miss New Jersey USA placed in the finals, and in 2008, Tiffany Andrade finished as 2nd runner up, one of three Miss New Jersey USAs to place third at Miss USA. In the year 2017, 1st runner-up placement was achieved by Miss New Jersey USA 2017, Chhavi Verg. The most recent placement was Ivy Harrington in 2025, placing as 1st runners-up.
Five Miss New Jersey USA titleholders have held the Miss New Jersey Teen USA title and two have competed at Miss America.
Katarina Lengyel of Middletown was crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2026 on July 26, 2026 at the Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany-Troy Hills. She will represent New Jersey at Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Placements 1st runners-up: Charlotte Ray (1991), Chhavi Verg (2017), Ivy Harrington (2025) 2nd runners-up: Deborah Lee Husti (1989), Karin Hartz (1990), Tiffany Andrade (2008) Top 6: Amy Fissel (1993) Top 10/12: Ruth Jane Hampton (1952), Cathy Russell (1975), Juanita McCarty (1977), Jennifer Makris (1997), Michelle Leonardo (2012), Alexa Noone (2018), Gina Mellish (2020) Top 15/20: Evelyn Orowitz (1954), Dolores Winfield (1956), Sandra "Sandy" Chudy (1960), Diane Gierson (1961), Barbara Richartz (1964), Emily Shah (2014), Derby Chukwudi (2023)
New Jersey holds a record of 21 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Lisa Summeroury-Perry (1986), Charlotte Ray (1991)
Winners Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Katarina Lengyel Middletown 25 Miss Middletown 2025 Ivy Harrington Neptune 30 Miss Neptune 1st runner-up 2024 Jabili Kandula Hoboken 24 Miss Hoboken 2023 Derby Chukwudi Hoboken 25 Miss Hudson Top 20 2022 Alexandra Lakhman Hoboken 26 2021 Celinda Ortega Fair Lawn 26 2020 Gina Mellish Oceanport 20 Top 10 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2016 Longest reigning Miss New Jersey USA ()2019Manya SaaraswatMorganville21 Born in India Miss World America Pennsylvania 2020 2nd runner-up at Miss World America 20202018Alexa NooneBayonne23Top 10 2017 Chhavi Verg Edison 19 1st runner-up Born in India 2016 Jessielyn Palumbo Wayne 23 2015 Vanessa Oriolo Colts Neck 21 2014 Emily Shah Edison 18 Top 20 Previously Miss Teen India 2011 and first runner up at Miss Teen World 2011. Opened Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey. 2013 Duran Keasbey 22 Born in Dominican Republic Previously Miss Comunidad Dominicana en Estados Unidos 2010 and 3rd Runner-Up at Miss Dominican Republic 2010 2012 Michelle Leonardo Tinton Falls 20 Top 10 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2008 2011 Julianna "Julie" White Haddon Township 21 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2006 2010 Chenoa Greene Atco 24 2009Kaity RodriguezClifton 24 2008 Tiffany Andrade Linden 22 2nd runner-up2007 Erin Abrahamson Essex Fells 23 Originally first runner-up, assumed the title after Ashley Harder's resignation Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2001 Later Mrs. New Jersey 2015 Ashley Harder Marlton 20 colspan="2" Resigned in January 2007 due to pregnancy and failing to follow pageant rules 2006 Jessica Boyington Sicklerville 20 Former NBC 10 and 6 ABC Philadelphia morning traffic reporter. Currently unemployed. 2005 Sylvia Pogorzelski East Hanover 20 YouTube personality Grace Helbig placed 7th in this competition 2004 Janaye Ingram Cherry Hill 25 2003 Vanessa Baker Marlton 23 2002 Robin Williams Lawrenceville 2001 Jeannette Josue Jersey City 2000 Michelle Graci Jamesburg 1999 Melissa McLaughlin Cinnaminson 1998 Kelli Paarz Linwood Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 1994, top 12 in Miss Teen USA 1994 1997 Jennifer Makris Cranbury 23 Top 10 Previously Miss New Jersey 1994, 2nd runner up at Miss America 1995 1996 Christina Augustyn Woodbridge 24 1995 Christy Joy Pittner Ventnor 1994 Rosa Velez Newark 1993 Amy Fissel Ocean City 25 Top 6 Previously Miss New Jersey 1991 1992 Kathy Kasprak Edison 1991 Charlotte Ray Voorhees 24 1st runner-up Miss Congeniality Semi-finalist at Miss World 1991 1990 Karin Hartz Voorhees 24 2nd runner-up 1989 Deborah Lee Husti Rockaway 21 2nd runner-up Semifinalist at Miss International 1989 as Miss USA 1988 Colleen Carlone Parsippany 1987 Stacey Fox East Brunswick 19 1986 Lisa Summeroury-Perry Egg Harbor Township Miss Congeniality Represented New Jersey in Miss Oktoberfest 1987, did not place 1985 Francie Knapp Linwood 1984 Diane Everett Qualter Englewood 1983 Ann Marie Brucato Bloomfield Miss Bloomfield 1982 Janice Lynn Straub Cherry Hill Miss Camden County 1981 Christy Garthwaite Tuckerton 1980 Joni Peifer Franklinville 1979 Robin Senatore Jackson 1978 Sheryl Ann Hoehn Clark 1977 Juanita McCarty Pemberton 18 Semi-finalist 1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1976 as Miss Pennsylvania, 1st runner-up at Mrs America 1988 1976 Ginger Hagaman Weekstown 1975 Cathy Russell Cranford 19 Semi-finalist 1974 Patricia Sims Jackson 1973 Patricia Everett Runnemede 1972 Leila DeSantis Point Pleasant 1971 Brenda Joyce White Delair 1970 Ellen Cream Pennsauken 1969 Nancy Fromel Washington 1968 Linda Papa Secaucus 1967 Jean Galata Union City 1966 Jo Ann Franchi Camden 1965 Kay Franzen Bridgeton 1964 Barbara Joan Richartz Stratford 19 Semi-finalist 1963 Judy Kay Ayars Salem 1962 Joyce Claire Thomson Bellmar 1961 Diane Gierson Red Bank 19 Semi-finalist 1960 Sandra Mary "Sandy" Chudy Bound Brook 20 Top 15 First runner-up in Miss New Jersey 1959 Later participated in the National Sweetheart 1961 pageant as Miss Louisiana 1959 Geraldine Binder Irvington 1958 Faye Hasenauer Menlo Park Terrace 1957 Jeanne Lewis Kearny 1956 Dolores Winfield Cranford 21 Semi-finalist 1955 Beverly Rogers Maywood 1954 Evelyn Orowitz Collingswood 20 Semi-finalist Sister of Actor Michael Landon 1953 Susan Ruth Harris Haddonfield 1952 Ruth Jane Hampton Merchantville 20Top 10 Note
References
External links Official Website