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

  • Janaye Ingram, Miss New Jersey USA 2004
  • Kaity Rodriguez, Miss New Jersey USA 2009
  • Chenoa Greene, Miss New Jersey USA 2010
  • Julianna White, Miss New Jersey USA 2011
  • Derby Chukwudi, Miss New Jersey USA 2023

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

  • Declared as Winner
  • Ended as runner-up or finalist
  • Ended as one of the semifinalists
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2026Katarina LengyelMiddletown25Miss MiddletownTBA
2025Ivy HarringtonNeptune30Miss Neptune1st runner-up
2024Jabili KandulaHoboken24Miss Hoboken
2023Derby ChukwudiHoboken25Miss HudsonTop 20
2022Alexandra LakhmanHoboken26
2021Celinda OrtegaFair Lawn26
2020Gina MellishOceanport20Top 10Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2016 Longest reigning Miss New Jersey USA (1year, 8months, and 8days)
2019Manya SaaraswatMorganville21Born in India Miss World America Pennsylvania 2020 2nd runner-up at Miss World America 2020
2018Alexa NooneBayonne23Top 10
2017Chhavi VergEdison191st runner-upBorn in India
2016Jessielyn PalumboWayne23
2015Vanessa OrioloColts Neck21
2014Emily ShahEdison18Top 20Previously Miss Teen India 2011 and first runner up at Miss Teen World 2011. Opened Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.
2013Libell Duran[citation needed]Keasbey22Born in Dominican Republic Previously Miss Comunidad Dominicana en Estados Unidos 2010 and 3rd Runner-Up at Miss Dominican Republic 2010
2012Michelle LeonardoTinton Falls20Top 10Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2008
2011Julianna "Julie" WhiteHaddon Township21Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2006
2010Chenoa GreeneAtco24
2009Kaity RodriguezClifton24
2008Tiffany AndradeLinden222nd runner-up
2007Erin AbrahamsonEssex Fells23Originally first runner-up, assumed the title after Ashley Harder's resignation Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2001 Later Mrs. New Jersey 2015
Ashley HarderMarlton20did not competeResigned in January 2007 due to pregnancy and failing to follow pageant rules
2006Jessica BoyingtonSicklerville20Former NBC 10 and 6 ABC Philadelphia morning traffic reporter. Currently unemployed.
2005Sylvia PogorzelskiEast Hanover20YouTube personality Grace Helbig placed 7th in this competition
2004Janaye IngramCherry Hill25
2003Vanessa BakerMarlton23
2002Robin WilliamsLawrenceville
2001Jeannette JosueJersey City
2000Michelle GraciJamesburg
1999Melissa McLaughlinCinnaminson
1998Kelli PaarzLinwoodPreviously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 1994, top 12 in Miss Teen USA 1994
1997Jennifer MakrisCranbury23Top 10Previously Miss New Jersey 1994, 2nd runner up at Miss America 1995
1996Christina AugustynWoodbridge24
1995Christy Joy PittnerVentnor
1994Rosa VelezNewark
1993Amy FisselOcean City25Top 6Previously Miss New Jersey 1991
1992Kathy KasprakEdison
1991Charlotte RayVoorhees241st runner-upMiss CongenialitySemi-finalist at Miss World 1991
1990Karin HartzVoorhees242nd runner-up
1989Deborah Lee HustiRockaway212nd runner-upSemifinalist at Miss International 1989 as Miss USA
1988Colleen CarloneParsippany
1987Stacey FoxEast Brunswick19
1986Lisa Summeroury-PerryEgg Harbor TownshipMiss CongenialityRepresented New Jersey in Miss Oktoberfest 1987, did not place
1985Francie KnappLinwood
1984Diane Everett QualterEnglewood
1983Ann Marie BrucatoBloomfieldMiss Bloomfield
1982Janice Lynn StraubCherry HillMiss Camden County
1981Christy GarthwaiteTuckerton
1980Joni PeiferFranklinville
1979Robin SenatoreJackson
1978Sheryl Ann HoehnClark
1977Juanita McCartyPemberton18Semi-finalist1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1976 as Miss Pennsylvania, 1st runner-up at Mrs America 1988
1976Ginger HagamanWeekstown
1975Cathy RussellCranford19Semi-finalist
1974Patricia SimsJackson
1973Patricia EverettRunnemede
1972Leila DeSantisPoint Pleasant
1971Brenda Joyce WhiteDelair
1970Ellen CreamPennsauken
1969Nancy FromelWashington
1968Linda PapaSecaucus
1967Jean GalataUnion City
1966Jo Ann FranchiCamden
1965Kay FranzenBridgeton
1964Barbara Joan RichartzStratford19Semi-finalist
1963Judy Kay AyarsSalem
1962Joyce Claire ThomsonBellmar
1961Diane GiersonRed Bank19Semi-finalist
1960Sandra Mary "Sandy" ChudyBound Brook20Top 15First runner-up in Miss New Jersey 1959 Later participated in the National Sweetheart 1961 pageant as Miss Louisiana
1959Geraldine BinderIrvington
1958Faye HasenauerMenlo Park Terrace
1957Jeanne LewisKearny
1956Dolores WinfieldCranford21Semi-finalist
1955Beverly RogersMaywood
1954Evelyn OrowitzCollingswood20Semi-finalistSister of Actor Michael Landon
1953Susan Ruth HarrisHaddonfield
1952Ruth Jane HamptonMerchantville20Top 10

Note

External links