Miss New Jersey USA & Teen USA contestant commentary

Miss New Jersey USA and Teen USA contestant photos are posted here.  As is usual in New Jersey we have a really strong mix of past runners-up and newcomers in this year's competition - including some contestants who have competed more than five times in NJ or other states.

Miss

Returning runners-up from 2015 are Vanessa Contreras (first runner-up) and Alexandra Lakhman (fourth runner-up).  Alexandra is one of a number of past Teen runners-up in this year's competition: Chhavi Verg (4RU 2015), Rachel Mahalow (4RU 2014),  Juliette Gabriel (2RU 2013, 1RU 2012, 2RU 2011), Jessielyn Palumbo (3RU 2010, 1RU 2011; also a Miss runner-up in 2012 & 2013) and Samantha Levy (1RU 2010, 4RU 2011; also a Miss non-finalist the past two years).  Alana Lauro, a runner-up twice in Rhode Island, who last competed in 2012, is competing in New Jersey for the first time and her last shot at a Miss USA state title before she ages out.

2015 semi-finalists who are back this year are Angie Abdelrehim, AliciaMarie Blanks, Jessielynn Palumbo, Karina Ramirez, Jordan Rector, and Kendall Zoppa.

Alana is one of a number of contestants who have competed in other states.  The list also includes Jordan Rector (Iowa), Nikki Doerr (Maryland; but also a past NJ Teen semi-finalist), and Marissa Barkey, who was a semi-finalist in Vermont last year, New Jersey in 2012 and Illinois in 2011.

Anyone else disappointed that Katherine Gaal isn't competing this year?  

Fun fact: in NJ they haven't crowned a blonde since ... well forever!  At least since 2000 - Erin Abrahamson represented them at Miss USA 2007 but wasn't the original winner.  Will that change this year?  I'd say with Katherine not in the mix, Jordan Rector and Chey Forbes are the most likely candidates for a blonde win.

Contestants mentioned above & a few more who caught my eye | Vanessa Contreras, Alexandra Lakhman, Jessielynn Palumbo, Chhavi Verg, Rachel Mahalow, Juliette Gabriel, Samantha Levy, Alana Lauro, Angie Abdelrehim, AliciaMarie Blanks, Karina Ramirez, Jordan Rector, Kendall Zoppa, Marissa Barkey, Nikki Doerr, Devon Bry, Keliann DeCarlo, Cheyenne Forbes, Amanda Pierce, Michelle Torres

Teen

In addition to Chhavi Verg competing in the Miss competition this year, the other three Teen runners-up from last year are all competing again as well.  I'm particularly happy to see Lauren O'Brien back - after 2RU placements in both 2014 & 2015, can she take out the win for 2016?  The other runners-up - Shannon Thaler (1RU) and Gina Mellish (3RU) will give her some stiff competition though.

Returning semi-finalists are Chioma Ikpe, Micaela Semanchik and two-time Photogenic winner Isabelle Vargas.

Contestants mentioned above & a few more who caught my eye | Shannon Thaler, Lauren O'Brien, Gina Mellish, Chioma Ikpe, Micaela Semanchik, Isabelle Vargas, Brianna Handal, Madelyn Malik, Julianna Rankel, Leyla Rosario

​Past Top Fives

* denotes contestant is competing in MIss this year | ^ denotes contestant is competing in Teen

2015 Miss Top Five | Lea Manalo (2RU), Vanessa Contreras* (1RU), Vanessa Oriolo (Miss NJ USA), Carissa Palumbo (3RU), Alexandra Lakhman* (4RU)

2013 Miss Top Five | Kelly Zaygi (4RU), Jennifer De Cillis (1RU), Libell Duran (Miss NJ USA), Victoria Virgo (2RU), Jessielyn Palumbo* (3RU)

2015 Teen Top Five | Gina Mellish^ (3RU), Shannon Thaler^ (1RU), Jacqueline Giancola (Miss NJ Teen USA), Lauren O'Brien^ (2RU), Chhavi Verg* (4RU)

2014 Teen Top Five | Jacqueline Giancola (3RU), Alexandra Lakhman* (1RU), Valentina Sanchez (Miss NJ Teen USA), Lauren O'Brien^ (2RU), Rachel Mahalow* (4RU)

2011 Teen Top Five | Priscilla Oliveira (3RU), Jessielyn Palumbo* (1RU), Savannah Schechter (Miss NJ Teen USA), Juliette Gabriel* (2RU), Samantha Levy* (3RU)

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​Contestants

MISS NEW JERSEY USA (83)
​Angie Abdelrehim (SF 15, NF 13)
Zena Aldabagh
Jacqueline Algarra 
Razana Angel (NF 15)
Alexandra Badalamenti 
Marissa Barkey (SF VT USA 14, SF NJ USA 12, SF IL USA 11)
Samantha Barry (NF NJ TUSA 13)
Michelle Bischoff 
AliciaMarie Blanks (SF 15, NF 14, NF 13, NF NJ TUSA 09)
Devon Bry 
Vanita Budhan 
Stephany Cabrera
Nihara Chakrala (NF 14)
Natalie Chambers 
Kandice Chavous (NF 15)
Kaitlyn Chillari 
Vanessa Contreras (1RU 15)
Julia Contreras 
Daniella Daly 
Pranvera Dauti 
Courtney de Waal Malefyt 
Kelliann DeCarlo (NF 15)
Dorothy DelleDonna (NF 15)
Nikki Doerr (SF MD USA 15, SF NJ USA 11)
Kimberly Dzema
Deanna Flanagan 
Cheyenne Forbes 
Juliette Gabriel (2RU NJ USA 13, 1RU 12, 2RU 11)
Endolina Gerbeshi 
Jenna Griscom 
Jessica Guidetti 
Karolina Gujska 
Brittany Hansen 
Veronica Harwood 
Jaime Hickey
Tringa Hoti 
Carolyn Jacobus 
Rachel Kasztan (SF NJ TUSA 14)
Hillary Kayser 
Paulina Kopec 
Kimberly Kravitz
Alexandra Lakhman (4RU 15, 1RU NJ TUSA 14)
Samantha LaScala 
Alana Lauro (4RU RI USA 12, 2RU RI USA 11, SF RI USA 10, SF RI TUSA 07) 
Samantha Levy (NF 15, NF 14, 4RU NJ TUSA 11, 1RU 10, NF 09, NF 08)
Kristine Listwan 
Rachel Mahalow (4RU NJ TUSA 14)
Annelise Malgieri 
Meghan Manaut 
Maria Marinaro 
Krishna Martes 
Larissa Martinez (NF 15)
Hillary McDonald 
Karina Morel 
Camila Ochoteco 
Chelsea Orcutt 
Jessielyn Palumbo (SF 15, 3RU 13, 3RU 12, 1RU NJ TUSA 11, 3RU NJ TUSA 10)
Alexa Pantaleo 
Brittany Patane (NF 15)
Nicole Patel 
Amanda Pierce 
Karina Ramirez (SF 15)
Jordan Rector (SF 15, SF 14, NF IA USA 12, NF IA USA 10, NF 09) 
Cecily Ridgeway
Dayanara Rodriguez 
Christin Rossano 
Samantha Rossi 
Brittany Russo (NF NJ TUSA 12)
Amanda Saez (NF 15, NF NJ TUSA 14)
Ina San Buenaventura
Kayla Santiago 
Somya Sharma 
Suchitra Singh 
Zuleika Soler 
Ashley Spear 
Kathleen Torres 
Michelle Torres 
Giana Tucci 
Melinda Veillard 
Angelica Velez 
Chhavi Verg (4RU NJ TUSA 15)
Anna Yasuoka 
Kendall Zoppa (SF 15, SF 14)

MISS NEW JERSEY TEEN USA (82)
Alyssa Ariemma 
Grace Barnett 
Tasha Bethea 
Dayna Bier 
Jade Borges 
Danielle Breen 
Heather Briody 
Taylor Brisbane 
Sibel Cengiz 
Marisol Colin 
Kaitlin Crombie 
Jailene Cruz 
Aja' Davis 
Kristina de Mora (NF 14)
Anna-Maria de Oliveira (NF 15)
Mila DeGregorio 
Ashley Dias 
Samantha Eberle 
Mazzy Eckel (NF 15)
Shema'yah El 
Claudia Engelhardt 
Sarah Fedak (NF 15)
Christina Fuehrer 
Wideline Georges 
Brianna Handal 
Kathryn Hanson 
Sydney Harley 
Jenna Huelbig 
Chioma Ikpe (SF 15)
Elana Israeli 
Kayli James 
Imani Johnson 
Angel Jones (NF 15)
Samantha LaRochelle 
Nicole Lattarulo 
Brianna Lopez 
Angelina Lorenzo 
Samantha Lugo 
Madelyn Malik 
Erin McAleer 
Dajai' McClellan 
Gina Mellish (3RU 15)
Kristen Meyers 
Faith Morris 
Cassandra Mountney 
Sandra Mucha 
Lauren O'Brien (2RU 15, 2RU 14)
Melanie Oliva 
Carlye Paskow 
Neha Pasupuleti 
Bryana Payne 
Marie Pepe 
Lizmary Perez (NF 15, NF 14)
Jacqueline Pettit 
Alexandra Pollera 
Morgan Price 
Alyssa Prince 
Julianna Rankel 
Diana Ravelo 
Chyna Robinson 
Leyla Rosario 
Alexa Ruh 
Aileen Ruiz 
Vanessa Saiboo 
Gianna Scheskowsky 
Micaela Semanchik (SF 15)
Engy Shaaban 
Samantha Sheng 
Nina Sica 
Tatianna Sims 
Katie Sour 
Kayla Stabile 
Sarah Tavarez 
Shannon Thaler (1RU 15)
Harley Tice 
Ava Tortorici 
Caleigh VanDerVeer 
Isabelle Varga (SF 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Alexis Wack 
Khyia Ward 
Eddia Watts 
Jordan Worthy ​