Every year, Morgan State University selects the new Miss and Mister Morgan State for the next academic year. These two individuals become crowned and are given new responsibilities, and a chance to lead like kings and queens.
One person, however, was crowned for something different. On Sunday, Apr. 6, Ivy Harrington, an alumnus of Morgan State and a former member of the women’s basketball team, won the Miss Jersey USA 2025 pageant.
“It’s like I’m going at full speed, but also I’m taking my time and savoring the moment,” said Harrington after her victory.
Her victory marks a six-year journey in the world of pageantry. Filled with highs, lows, and the in-betweens.
She became interested in the pageant scene after seeing Deshauna Barber and Kara McCollough, who were Miss DC of 2016 and 2017, respectively, win the Miss USA competition in their respective years.
Harrington said, “The dreams and goals that we have are in our hearts are there for a reason. It really just spoke to how unconventional and random it was for me.”
Her first competition was the 2020 Miss New Jersey pageant, where she placed in the top 21 out of 150 women.
Her journey did have its struggles; she sadly lost her father in September of 2019, and in early 2020 came the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“It was confusing, it was overwhelming, and it was something that I never expected to go through so early in my life,” said Harrington.
Harrington spent some time trying to get through grief and decided not to compete in 2021.
She got back to pursuing the crown in 2022, where she placed top 5 and was a great reminder that she was on the right path.
After a few years of working, adapting, and grinding with her pageant coach, Ciera Nicole Butts, she was finally able to earn the crown in 2025.
“I always thought about how I would react to me winning. It was a wave of emotions. I just could not believe that everything that led to this moment paid off,” said Harrington
Harrington’s origins begin in her hometown of Neptune, New Jersey, where she graduated from Neptune Township High School in 2013. Harrington played basketball since the sixth grade and pursued her goal of competing in college. She decided to enroll at Morgan State on an athletic scholarship, focusing on basketball.
“During one of my unofficial visits, once I passed the library and Hurt Gymnasium, I knew that this was where I wanted to be. Not too long after I made my verbal commitment to go to Morgan,” said Harrington
During her time at Morgan State, she was the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president and majored in broadcast journalism because of her love of speaking and writing, which was before the department made the move to the multimedia degree.
Harrington was also Miss Senior of Morgan State University for the 2016-2017 academic year. She credited her parents for her willingness to be active on campus and be multifaceted.
Dr. Kevin Banks, Vice President of Student Affairs at Morgan State University, always knew Harrington had the potential in her to be successful. Banks also didn’t even know she was competing.
“When I saw that she won, I was so excited! I’m so proud of her, seeing her grow from a freshman to now. She always carried herself with poise and dignity,” said Banks.
She began her pageant career in 2019 and believes that if it wasn’t for her time at Morgan State, she wouldn’t have been where she is now.
“Every single experience I had [At Morgan] paved the way for my work ethic. It taught me a certain amount of grit and understanding how to navigate the world and to advocate for myself,” said Harrington.
Harrington hopes her win not only inspires African American women everywhere to chase something higher than themselves, but for everyone to keep moving forward even when times are rough.
“If you have the dream and the goal, make the plan and put it into action, and things will unfold that will prepare you for your destiny and calling,” said Harrington.
