Former Morgan State Basketball Player Crowned Miss New Jersey 2025

Ivy Harrington is preparing to represent New Jersey in this year's Miss USA pageant

Ivy Harrington, who played basketball at Morgan State, as crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2025 at the Hotel Parsippany on April 6.

Harrington, 30, will go on to represent Jersey at the 74th edition of the Miss USA pageant, where she could potentially become the U.S. representative for the Miss Universe competition if she wins.

The 5’7” Harrington, who played guard at Morgan State, is originally from Neptune Township.

Just a few months after her dad died in 2019, Harrington watched two young Black women win pageant titles in Washington, and it caused her to pursue her pageant dreams.

“Our family dynamic changed drastically after my dad died,” she told NJ.com. “And trying to navigate the world during a global pandemic while grieving made it that much harder.”

Harrington began officially competing in 2021.

“The pageant world is such a niche space to be in. You have to be mentally tough to open yourself up to be critiqued and judged,” Harrington said. “It can leave you very vulnerable and question things about yourself that you would never have thought of.”

The Miss New Jersey USA competition is not the only place where she’s found success. Harrington played four seasons at Morgan State, appearing in 114 games from 2013 to 2017 and scoring 457 career points.

Harrington currently works as a social media manager for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. She leads a mentorship program called MVP, Most Valuable Pivot, that’s focused on uplifting and guiding young women in sports.

“Whether it be on the local, collegiate, or professional level, I want to teach female athletes to become the architects of their identity outside their athletic jersey,” Harrington said.

“It is so great to see an alum of Neptune High School representing the state of New Jersey,” said Tom Decker, Harrington’s principal at Neptune High School. “Ivy is and has always been a great role model for others, and I know she will serve as an inspiration for those to chase their dreams. We are so proud to say that Ivy is a member of Flier Nation!”