Brick Native Wins State Pageant Title After 13 Years of Perseverance
BRICK, NJ — After more than a decade of competing in pageants, Lauren Zycband has achieved a longtime dream, earning the title of 2026 National American Miss New Jersey.
Zycband, a Brick native and 2022 graduate of Brick Township Memorial High School, won the state title on August 16 during a competition at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. She began participating in pageants at just 9 years old, making the victory a milestone 13 years in the making.
The competition featured three main components: evening gown, personal introduction and an interview. For Zycband, however, pageantry has always been about more than earning a crown. She credits the experience with strengthening her confidence, developing her public-speaking skills and teaching her the importance of perseverance.
After finishing as a runner-up in previous competitions, Zycband said winning the state title was an emotional and almost unbelievable moment.
Beyond pageantry, Zycband has built a career in media production. She graduated magna cum laude from High Point University in North Carolina with a degree in media production and now works as a camera operator for the Banana Ball Broadcast team. Her interest in cinematography began in high school, where a television production class helped spark her passion for operating cameras and drone cinematography.
Zycband also gives back to the community through Lauren’s Lunches, an initiative she started in 2021. With help from family and friends, she prepares bagged lunches for people experiencing homelessness, including donations to the Market Street Mission in Asbury Park.
Her pageant journey has also received support from numerous local businesses, several of which have sponsored her for years.
Now, Zycband is preparing for her next challenge. She has been invited to compete against other state titleholders at the
National American Miss national pageant in Orlando, Florida, scheduled for November 22–29 during Thanksgiving week.
For aspiring pageant participants, Zycband encourages them to take chances, step outside their comfort zones and keep pursuing their goals, even when success takes time.
Her state victory marks not only a personal achievement but also the culmination of years of dedication, growth and determination.
