Ivy Harrington, a Morgan State University alumna and former standout on the women’s basketball team, has taken her talents from the court to the crown.
On Sunday, April 6, Harrington was officially crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2025 during a ceremony in Parsippany, New Jersey, earning her a coveted spot at the upcoming 74th Miss USA pageant.
A proud graduate of the historically Black Morgan State University, Harrington’s journey reflects the power of perseverance, identity, and HBCU pride.
A 5-foot-7 guard from Neptune Township, New Jersey, she played four seasons for the Lady Bears from 2013 to 2017, appearing in 114 games and racking up 457 career points, 261 rebounds, 101 steals, and 185 made field goals. Her freshman season was her breakout year, averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
But Harrington’s legacy stretches far beyond the box score.
She also held the title of Miss Senior 2016–2017 at Morgan State and graduated with a degree in journalism. After the sudden passing of her father and navigating personal grief during the global pandemic, she turned to the world of pageantry in 2021. Though the transition came with challenges, Harrington remained undeterred.
“The pageant world is such a niche space,” she told NJ Advance Media. “You have to be mentally tough to open yourself up to be critiqued and judged.”
It took four years of perseverance, but in 2025, that toughness paid off. Harrington now serves as a social media manager for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District and leads a mentorship initiative she founded called MVP – Most Valuable Pivot, which empowers young women in sports to embrace their identities beyond athletics.
“I want to teach female athletes to become the architects of their identity outside their athletic jersey,” she said.
Harrington is showcasing her own resilience amd shining a national spotlight on the excellence cultivated at HBCUs.
