Miss Perseverance - CMCH Woman Wins Miss NJ Pageant on 6th Try

Alyssa Sullivan, the newly crowned Miss New Jersey, has some experience in the competition. This year's Miss New Jersey pageant was her sixth time competing for the crown.

Sullivan, who is from Cape May Court House and is a 2014 graduate of Middle Township High School, competed this year as Miss Seashore Line. She was crowned Miss New Jersey late Saturday in Atlantic City during the competition at Resorts Casino Hotel.

Sullivan won the on stage interview preliminary award as well as the talent preliminary competition for singing the song "Gimme Gimme" from the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie".

Commenting about her six-year journey to become Miss New Jersey, Alyssa posted on Facebook that her time in the Miss NJ organization has been a period of growth.

If I've learned one thing, it’s that the Miss New Jersey that I would’ve been 6 years ago is not nearly half the Miss New Jersey I am today and that is a testament to what this organization can do for women.

If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. The real Alyssa could only take shape when I learned what it truly meant to follow my heart in every decision I made and throw away my doubt and fear of failure.

Now Sullivan, who works part time at WPHL-17 TV in Philadelphia as a production coordinator and fill-in talent, will focus on representing New Jersey in the 100th Miss America Pageant, which will be held in December at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Tomorrow the work begins as I wake up to begin serving my state and prepare to represent us on the Miss America stage for the organizations 100th anniversary. New Jersey, I love you. I am SO honored and incredibly humbled to be your new Miss New Jersey!!