As Miss Gloucester County’s Outstanding Teen Rachel Kiel held hands with Miss Stars & Stripes’ Outstanding Teen Maria Lynn Sooy, she turned to the audience with a wide smile on her face.
“We’re both Irish dancers,” she screamed moments before Alyssa Sullivan, Miss New Jersey 2021, announced who would be the next Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen.
Moments later, Sooy was crowned, ending the 881-day reign of Isabella Freund, who has held the title since Jan. 25, 2020. Just over a month after Freund was crowned, the coronavirus pandemic hit — forcing her year of service into a two-year, five-month marathon.
Friday night, 23 contestants took to the stage of the Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City with the hopes to replace Freund and become the next Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen.
The competition started off with talent that included Irish dancing by both Kiel and Sooy, the karate skills of Miss Coastal Shore’s Outstanding Teen Kylie Wright, who took home the talent award, and Miss North Jersey’s Outstanding Teen Rylee Howerton, who displayed her strength by spoken word and by lifting weights.
The talent displays were followed by a lifestyle and fitness competition, and then evening wear and onstage questions.
Before the top five finalists were announced, a farewell video was played as Freud stepped onto the stage alone. Clearly choked up, she watched her past two-plus years as New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen pass before her eyes in just a few minutes.
In the video Freud said, “This job, this title was everything I’ve ever wanted since I was six years old. So I guess it’s fitting I got to spend so much extra time with it.”
“For the next New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen, you are in for one heck of a ride,” she added. “So hold on.”
Taking that ride will be Sooy, who was mobbed by her Outstanding Teen sisters after walking the stage and acknowledging the crowd that gave her a standing ovation.
By becoming Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen 2022, Sooy will receive an $8,000 scholarship and will compete for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen this summer in Dallas, Texas.
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Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com.
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