PAGEANT Circle

Derby Chukwudi was named Miss New Jersey USA 2023 on Sunday, March 19 at the Hilton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. The 25-year-old Hoboken resident hails from Nigeria. She is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics. Christine Pierre, Rashmi Naik, Katarina Lengyel, and Vritti Patel rounded out the Top 5 finalists. Derby was crowned by her predecessor Alexandra Lakhman and she will now prepare to represent New Jersey at Miss USA 2023 national final in Reno, Nevada. This is her second attempt at the state pageant. She previously joined in 2021 but unfortunately failed to make it to the semifinals. Hosted by former Miss Earth USA and Miss New York USA Andreia Gibau, the event also culminated with another winner — Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava. The Indian-Mexican teenager succeeded Isabella Galan and she will now proceed to compete in Miss Teen USA 2023 pageant. Meet the new Miss New Jersey US

Ann Pennington of New Jersey won the Mrs USA Earth 2023 national pageant on Saturday, January 7 at the Linda Chapin Theater of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The sustainability advocate, fashionista, and businesswoman from Rumson was crowned by her predecessor Mrs USA Earth 2022 Christine Rich of Delaware. Her elemental court winners include Liz Bernard Clark of Kentucky, Amy Keed of Nevada, Lindsay Shockey of Georgia, and Jayne Black of Wisconsin. They were named Mrs USA Air, Water, Fire, and Eco, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 were District of Columbia, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, New Hampshire, and North Carolina while the rest of the top 15 were New England, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. "Can't wait to get home and put my crown to work. I'm beyond honored and excited," the new Mrs USA Earth shared on her social media. No stranger to pageantry, Ann previously won the United States of America's Mrs 2021 national title