TCNJ’s “Miss New Jersey” hopes to become the state’s first Miss USA
After being crowned Miss NJ last fall, Julianna White ’11 is busy preparing for the next step — competing for the title of Miss USA.
Julianna White (foreground) was crowned Miss New Jersey in October and will compete for the title of Miss USA this spring.
Although it’s been several months since she was crowned Miss New Jersey USA, Julianna White ’11 hasn’t had much time to relax and celebrate. The senior communication studies student has been too busy preparing herself for the next step—competing for the title of Miss USA.
“I’ve been meeting with personal trainers, dentists, interview coaches, and stylists and traveling all over the state making appearances for the past couple of months to prepare,” White explained about her schedule these days. “Basically, I’m fine-tuning everything that I had to do to win the state title.”
White has been competing in pageants since 2005, when she entered the Miss NJ Teen USA competition. “I grew up an athlete with an older sister who went on to play Division I soccer, so I always thought I was expected to follow along that path,” White said in explaining her motives for entering the competition. “When I entered the [Miss NJ Teen USA] pageant, I was trying to set myself apart and begin my own unique path.”
It wasn’t long before White made her mark. She captured the Miss NJ Teen USA crown in 2006 at the age of 16 and has been competing in pageants ever since.
“Pageants are nothing like I expected [them to be] before I became involved,” she said. “They can sometimes be a whirlwind with gowns, hairspray, and rhinestones, but overall I just make the most of the time I have with the girls who are interested in the same things I am.”
Away from the glitz and glamour of the pageant world, White finds fulfillment performing charity work. Inspired by her mother, who is a five-year breast cancer survivor, White has helped raise thousands of dollars for breast cancer research over the last few years. The Zeta Tau Alpha sister and member of All College Theatre also volunteers with The Arc, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Miss USA pageant will be White’s biggest competition to date, but her previous pageant experience should give her an idea of what to expect.
“The judges usually look for the girl who knows who she is and exudes the most confidence and class that it takes to wear the crown,” she said. Her many statewide appearances, which White said have improved her interpersonal skills and helped her to become more poised as a titleholder, could help the TCNJ student capture a first for state participants in the national competition.
“New Jersey has never won Miss USA, so that is my ultimate goal,” White said.
The Miss USA pageant is scheduled to take place this spring. No date or time has been announced yet.
Posted on February 25, 2011
