Kaitlyn Schoeffel, 23, of Egg Harbor Township, accomplished her dream of becoming Miss New Jersey at the Ocean City Music Pier on Saturday night, after five previous attempts at the crown.
Kaitlyn Schoeffel from Egg Harbor Township will now represent her state at the Miss America 2018 to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September10, 2017. The event will be broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Miss America 2017 from Arkansas, Savvy Shields will officially crown her successor.
Schoeffel was born in Atlantic City. She bested 27 other contestants to win the crown. Schoeffel’s platform is called “Operation Empowerment,” a movement to provide disadvantaged children exposure to the arts.
She will work to raise money for scholarships, so that kids can take dance lessons, voice lessons and acting lessons. After a few lessons, the children will use their talents and perform in areas around the community. She also hopes to raise money to take the children to see live theater shows.
In the previous five years, Schoeffel finished as first runner-up, second runner-up, fourth runner-up, she was also placed in the top 10 and left out of the top 10. And in the year 2017, she finally won the coveted crown of Miss New Jersey 2017.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Schoeffel said. “I remember watching Miss America last year. I dreamed that I would be there one day, but I never really thought that it would happen.”