Ocean City — Lindsey Petrosh, 23, of Egg Harbor City, left the Ocean City Music Pier Saturday night with a new crown and new title: Miss New Jersey 2012.

Petrosh, competing as Miss Atlantic County, bested the other 24 contestants who competed over three nights, concluding with Saturday’s finale.

“I was shocked. I am shocked. I still can’t believe it,” Petrosh said shortly after her win, struggling to put what she was feeling into words.

Petrosh is no stranger to the Music Pier stage or the spotlight that a crown brings. In 2005, she was named Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen on the very same stage, at the age of 16.

Photo: Mary Rudloff

Katharyn Nicolle crowns Lindsey Petrosh the new Miss New Jersey.

Now 23, she sees her win as a “chance to redeem myself, and represent myself and my state at the national level,” she explained between posing for hundreds of post-crowning photographs.

In fact, the Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen title had a strong presence in this weekend’s competition.

As the field narrowed to two, Petrosh found herself standing with Miss Avalon Kaitlyn Schoeffel, of Egg Harbor Township. In 2006, Petrosh crowned Schoeffel as her successor in the Outstanding Teen pageant.

“It was so wonderful to be competing with my Outstanding Teen sister out there,” Petrosh said of Schoeffel. “When it came down to the two of us, it was surreal. I was happy for her, I was happy for me. I was just so shocked to hear my name called.”

Keeping the Outstanding Teen theme alive, Petrosh was crowned by 2011 Miss New Jersey Kathryn Nicholle ... who was the 2007 state Outstanding Teen and was crowned by Schoeffel.

But it was her poise, talent and style that won Petrosh the 2012 Miss New Jersey title. She delivered a stirring rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in the talent competition. She also stole the spotlight in her red two-piece swimsuit and was eye-catching in her white gown with heavily beaded sheer top and high slit.

In Wednesday’s night nursery-themed parade, the crowds got to see her more whimsical side as “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary,” whose garden was helped along by the light rain that fell.

Showing her strength in all areas of pageant competition, Petrosh won the title without winning a single preliminary Thursday or Friday night. She also competed in the Miss New Jersey Pageant, also as Miss Atlantic County, in 2010, where she had a top-ten finish. Petrosh wins a $10,000 scholarship. She also won the Miss Photogenic award.

Petrosh will represent New Jersey in the Miss America 2013 Pageant, to be held at the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas January 11-14, 2013.

Schoeffel, 18, was first runner-up. She was the talent preliminary Thursday night, and tied for the evening gown preliminary Friday night.

Second runner-up was Miss Cape Shores Courtney Charatsaris, 23, of Totowa. She won the eveningwear preliminary Thursday night.

Miss Columbus Day Venessa Baez, 22, of Bloomfield, was third runner-up.

Fourth runner-up was Miss Seashore Line Angelica Nardi, 22, of Millville. She won the swimsuit preliminary Thursday night and the People’s Choice Award, voted on by those attending the pageant.

Other top ten finalists:

– Miss Coastal Shore Anna Negron, of Vineland, who won the swimsuit preliminary Friday.

– Miss Northern Lakes Cierra Kaler-Jones, of Galloway, who won Thursday’s talent preliminary.

– Miss Bergen County Krysten Moore of Mahwah. She won the Miss America Organization community service award.

– Miss Gloucester County Lindsey Giannini, of Hammonton. She won the preliminary community service award Thursday night. She also won the parade award, for Wednesday’s “Nursery Rhyme” themed parade.

– Miss Gateway Ellen Chu of Park Ridge. She won the preliminary interview award.

Also competing:

Miss Atlantic Shore Breanne Ray of Williamstown.

Miss Camden County Madison Alterman of Voorhees.

Miss Cape May County Jennifer Taylor of Millville.

Miss Central Coast Hillary Levin of Freehold.

Miss Cumberland County Samantha Mason of Vineland.

Miss Eastern Shores Nychole Hunt of Scotch Plains. She won the non-finalist talent award.

Miss Liberty Lauren Talvacchio of Sewell.

Miss Middlesex County Kayla Collymore of New Brunswick.

Miss Monmouth County Christine Skorenko of Eatontown. She was second runner-up in the parade contest (which does not go toward winning the title), and won the Children’s Miracle Network award and Miss America Organization academic award.

Miss Salem County Chrystina Lewis of Pennsville. She won the Miss Congeniality Award.

Miss South Jersey Olivia Jennings of Carney’s Point.

Miss South Shore Area Courtney Fairfield of Egg Harbor Township.

Miss Stars & Stripes Olivia Michael of Bergenfield.

Miss Tri-County Carissa Palumbo of Wayne. Palumbo tied for the win in the evening gown preliminary Friday night and won the National Hostess Club award and state Community Service award. She also won the non-finalist evening gown award.

Miss Union County Nicole Washington of Scotch Plains. She won the non-finalist interview award.