NEWARK — Nova Gaffney, a 24-year-old professional ballerina from Milford, was crowned the 2024 Miss Delaware Saturday.

Ms. Gaffney earned over $12,000 in scholarships from the competition. She will spend her year as Miss Delaware advocating for her community service initiative that discusses domestic violence awareness.

Kaylynn Pride placed as first-runner-up, earning $3,000.

Eleven contestants representing various areas and towns within the state of Delaware participated in the event. These women competed in four rounds — 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. Ms. Gaffney and Ms. Pride, who were followed in the final rankings by second and third runners-up, Mia Jones and McKenzie Hegarty, respectively.

The four finalists then faced an additional question about their goals as Miss Delaware. Ms. Gaffney discussed her plans for growing participation in the organization.

The Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization offered over $29,950 in scholarship assistance during the weekend’s competitions.

She succeeds Miss Delaware 2023, Emily Beale of Ocean View.

The 2024 Miss Delaware’s Teen pageant, which took place Friday night, crowned 17-year-old Gabrielle Morgan of Magnolia.

Additional awards received during the 2024 competitions:

• 1st Runner-Up to Miss Delaware’s Teen: Adria Windish
• 2nd Runner-Up to Miss Delaware’s Teen: Natalie Scott
• 3rd Runner-Up to Miss Delaware’s Teen: Carly Favoroso
• Overall Talent - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Adria Windish
• Overall Interview - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Gabrielle Morgan
• Non-finalist Talent - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Bryanna Rowe
• Non-finalist Interview - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Charlotte Scalora
• Community Service - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Carly Favoroso
• Excellence in Academic Life - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Charlotte Scalora
• Congeniality - Miss Delaware’s Teen: Charlotte Scalora
• Overall Talent - Miss Delaware: Nova Gaffney
• Overall Interview - Miss Delaware: Mia Jones
• Non-finalist Talent - Miss Delaware: Sabrina Shultz
• Non-finalist Interview - Miss Delaware: Rebecca Bristow
• Debi Wilson Community Service - Miss Delaware: Rebecca Bristow
• Carol Maclary Excellence in Education - Miss Delaware: Sabrina Shultz (1st place), Samantha Mason & Alyssa Blake (2nd place - tie), Kaylynn Pride (3rd place)
• Congeniality - Miss Delaware: Rebecca Bristow