When Ivy Harrington was crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2025, she didn’t just claim a title—she affirmed a journey. At 30 years old, Harrington made history as the oldest titleholder the state has ever crowned, and with it, she’s redefining the narrative around beauty, purpose, and perseverance.
But for Harrington, the victory is just one moment in a much longer story—one that spans basketball courts, personal loss, self-discovery, and ultimately, public service.
Born and raised in Neptune, New Jersey, Harrington spent her college years at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where she played Division I basketball on a full athletic scholarship while majoring in broadcast journalism. It was there, in the quiet of her dorm room, that she stumbled across the Miss USA competition on TV—and something clicked.
“I remember watching in 2016 and again in 2017 when two African-American women from D.C. won back-to-back,” she says. “It wasn’t even the idea of winning that drew me in—it was seeing someone who looked like me succeed in that space. It planted a seed.”
That spark of curiosity grew into research. She found that many women in media—Oprah, Diane Sawyer, Olivia Culpo—had pageantry in their backgrounds. So, she took a leap. By early 2018, she had connected with her pageant coach, Ciera Nicole of Crown Bound Pageant Consulting and began to train, balancing the intensity of the stage with the discipline she developed in sports.
Her first competition came in November 2019, just two months after the loss of her father. “It was chaotic. I was grieving. But pageantry gave me something constructive to focus on,” she shares.
That year, she didn’t win—but she didn’t stop. In 2022, she returned and placed in the top five. Then again in 2024. When the Miss Universe Organization lifted its age restrictions, allowing older contestants to compete, Harrington knew she had one last shot.
“I thought, ‘Do I need a grown-up hobby? Am I really still twirling at 30?’” she jokes. “But I couldn’t ignore that competitive fire in me. The only way I wasn’t going to win was if I didn’t show up.”
In 2025, she showed up—and won.
Alongside the crown, Harrington launched her mentorship program, MVP—Most Valuable Pivot. It’s built around one message: helping female student-athletes develop a personal identity beyond their sport. Through workshops, coaching, and school visits, she guides girls in seeing themselves as more than jersey numbers.
“Taking off that uniform can feel like losing part of who you are,” she notes. “I want them to understand their worth isn't tied to a scoreboard. They’re allowed to pivot. They’re allowed to start over.”
Pageantry, she says, shares a surprising amount with athletics: strategy, mental toughness, and physical endurance. It’s why she’s currently working on a campaign to bridge those two worlds—an idea to host an “MVP Pageant” with professional male athletes walking through the same competitions she does, from Q&As to stage presence.
“I want people to understand that this isn’t just about looking pretty,” she says. “It’s work. It’s grit. You’re literally putting yourself on a stage to be judged. That’s bravery.”
As she prepares for the national Miss USA competition later this year, Harrington feels focused—not frantic. “It’s funny. I’m not even nervous,” she explains. “I think that’s what happens when you finally know who you are.”
Her calm confidence has been supported by mentors, including Gina Mellish, Miss New Jersey USA 2020, who helped fine-tune everything from wardrobe to brand messaging. But Harrington’s most profound inspiration came from the late Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019.
“Cheslie was strong, athletic, intelligent—and real. She showed me the power of representation. But her tragic death also reminded me how important it is to protect your peace,” she shares. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
That sentiment grounds her reign. She’s clear that her goal isn’t fame—it’s service.
“I want people to feel seen when they meet me,” she notes. “To take what they need, to feel like they belong too. This is about empowering others to find their voice, to pivot into their own purpose.”
Ten years ago, in 2014, Harrington tweeted that she dreamed of being on a magazine cover. This fall, that dream comes true—backed not by luck, but by years of hard work, heartache, and resilience.
“There’s no expiration date on your goals,” she explains. “This journey has taught me that it’s never too late to try something new, to start over, or to chase what lights you up.”
She smiles and sums it up simply: “Pivot into your purpose.”
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“Taking off that uniform can feel like losing part of who you are, I want them to understand their worth isn't tied to a scoreboard. They’re allowed to pivot. They’re allowed to start over.” - Ivy Harrington