Nova Gaffney of Milford wins Miss Delaware 2024 title
Nova Gaffney, a 24-year-old professional ballerina from Milford, emerged victorious at the 2024 Miss Delaware competition June 22.
As competition winner, Gaffney earned more than $12,000 in scholarships from the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization. Succeeding Miss Delaware 2023, Emily Beale of Ocean View, Gaffney will spend her year as Miss Delaware advocating for her community service initiative to promote domestic violence awareness.
Kaylynn Pride placed as first runner-up, earning $3,000.
In all, 11 contestants representing various areas and towns in Delaware participated. These women showcased their unique strengths and skills in four rounds of onstage competition – a fitness showcase, an onstage question segment that related to the contestant's community service initiatives, a talent performance and an evening gown presentation – before the four finalists were announced. Gaffney and Pride were followed in the final rankings by second runner-up Mia Jones and third runner-up McKenzie Hegarty.
The four finalists faced an additional question about their goals as Miss Delaware. Gaffney discussed her plans for growing participation in the organization.
The Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization offered more than $29,950 in scholarship assistance during the weekend’s competitions.
Additional awards and recipients for the Miss Delaware competition are: Overall Talent, Nova Gaffney; Overall Interview, Mia Jones; Non-finalist Talent, Sabrina Shultz; Non-finalist Interview, Rebecca Bristow; Debi Wilson Community Service, Rebecca Bristow; Carol Maclary Excellence in Education, Sabrina Shultz (first place), Samantha Mason and Alyssa Blake (tied for second place) and Kaylynn Pride (third place); and Congeniality, Rebecca Bristow.
