Finalists shine at Miss Wantagh Pageant

The Miss Wantagh Pageant’s finalists showcase took place at Wantagh High School at 7:30 p.m. Friends and families of the girls filled the auditorium to show their support.

This year’s 65th annual pageant followed its traditional structure this year after the 2020 pageant was conducted virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pageant has traditionally been held in late June, right before the town’s Fourth of July parade. Since 1956, high school girls have been competing for the title and responsibilities of Miss Wantagh.

“This is not a beauty pageant,” said Ella Stevens, the pageant’s director. “This pageant showcases the beauty that lies within each of the girls that you will be seeing tonight and we do it for our community.”

After the pledge of allegiance and the presentation of the flags, Miss Wantagh 2019, Juliet Watstein, spoke about the purpose of Miss Wantagh and her role in the community.

“This organization prides itself on encouraging young women to let their beauty shine from within and share that beauty with the town,” Watstein said. “Miss Wantagh is someone that embodies the qualities of being a positive role model for others. She exudes a passion for getting involved and making an impactful difference in the community.”

Miss Wantagh dives into community events and helps wherever she is needed, said Watstein. Each Miss Wantagh and their runners-up must complete a service project which is dear to them and benefits Wantagh.

“For example,” Watstein said. “During my year, I implemented Wantagh Wellness Week, which had the goal to destigmatize seeking help for mental illness and mental health.”

This year, there were six judges, all Wantagh residents, who were tasked with the responsibility to score the girls on their performances.

Ella Stevens introduced the six girls as they walked to the stage. This year’s years 11th and 12th grade contestants included: Nicole Tobin, Angelina Maciak, Sara Jacobs, Caitlin Wiffler, Lilly Sloves and Erin Cunnane.

The current Miss Wantagh, Grace Massari, was brought to the stage to talk about all that she has done in the past year.

“This year was filled with ups and downs due to the pandemic but my incredible court and I managed to show our faces around town as much as possible,” Massari said. “With masks and all, we continued to work and help in local events with our representatives during this very challenging and different year.”

Each contestant was then individually introduced by a past contest winner Each girl walked out to a song they picked and introduced themselves and spoke about their accomplishments and hopes for the future. Following their speeches, they were asked three questions, one of them being what their service project would be if they were crowned.

The service projects were personal to the contestants. They ranged from implementing a penpal system for senior citizens, collecting backpacks and duffel bags for kids in foster homes, creating a relay to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, and more.

One special moment of the evening was the honoring of seven women as Women of Wantagh. They were chosen for their efforts and the roles they play in the community. Each woman was introduced and then brought on stage to be thanked and to be given flowers. The seven women were all members of the Wantagh community: Carole Banschback, Christine Bartilucci, Tara Cassidy, Judy Cunningham, Marilynne Rich, Carolyn Rochel and Lorraine Rhoads.

American Idol winner and Wantagh resident Adam Ezegelian closed out the event with a vocal performance.

After Stevens provided her final remarks, the crowd was ushered into the lobby to get signed autographs from the contestants and past Miss Wantagh winners.

Miss Wantagh was crowned at the end of the annual Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 3 at Wantagh Elementary school. The parade and results took place after the Herald went to press on Friday.