Lindsey Petrosh Crowned Miss New Jersey

Little Egg Harbor’s Lindsey Petrosh was crowned Miss New Jersey on Saturday night at the Ocean City Music Pier.

Petrosh wins a $10,000 scholarship and  will now represent New Jersey in the Miss America pageant reports the Patch of Galloway. The first runner-up was Kaitlyn Schoeffel of Egg Harbor Township, who won a $4,000 scholarship.  Second runner-up went to Courtney Charatsaris of Totowa, who took home a $3,000 scholarship.

The win caps off a long weekend that included the traditional boardwalk parade and the preliminary round.

Petrosh is a graduate of Rowan University. During the interview portion of the pageant, she was asked whether it is better to be liked or respected. “I believe that if you’re a good person and a kind person, and you live by the golden rule…to treat others the way you want to be treated, you will be liked and respected,” she answered. The 23-year-old  sang a rousing version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” in the talent competition.

Petrosh succeeds Katharyn Nicolle as Miss New Jersey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.