Cherry Hill’s Jessica Boyington transitions from pageant winner to television news.
Jessica Boyington got her start as a pageant queen—Miss New Jersey USA 2006 to be exact—and is now an on-air traffic reporter at NBC10. She’s also been a guest co-host on 96.5’s The Chio in the Morning Show, Sirius Satellite Radio’s The Morning Mash-Up, Q102 Philadelphia’s The Booker Show, and even appeared on NBC’s Deal or No Deal, holding one of those iconic silver briefcases. The 29-year-old Cherry Hill native and Rowan University alumna sounds on her pageant roots, her animal advocacy and just how she gets up so early each morning.
Her run for Miss New Jersey…
When I was a teenager I modeled for Seventeen magazine, and someone I came across in the business suggested that I run for a pageant. So I did, and the rest is history! I actually won on my sixth attempt. All of the losses were emotionally draining and exhausting, but it really changed me. It was very humbling to experience the losses. I don’t know if I would have appreciated it for what it was without learning how to deal with defeat.
On being Miss New Jersey…
I was 20 years old at the time so it felt like a completely different world. One second I was oversleeping for my earliest college class, and the next I was in L.A. doing photo shoots and media tours. I had tons of personal appearance events, from walking the red carpet, to working with charities with different celebrities and media talent. But to be honest, my favorite events were where I could hang around and chat with children. Kids are the best. They are so excited, sweet and genuinely interested in so many things.
Her stint on Deal or No Deal…
That was another perk of competing in the Miss USA pageant. I was selected to hold case No. 11 on Deal or No Deal. Seeing that show from behind the scenes was interesting. They were very serious about organizing the cases and keeping the money amount that’s on the inside a secret. We were halfway through shooting the game and one of the cases fell over and opened up. A crew of people, including some lawyers, came running from backstage and gathered all of the cases. They then disappeared backstage for about two hours and reorganized everything. We had to start the game over again from the beginning.
Working in radio…
Radio is what got me interested in entertainment and news in the first place. I’ve co-hosted at quite a few stations for several different shows and that’s where I was really sucked in. To this day, I would still love to be on a morning radio show. Just add it right on top of my plate.
Making the jump to TV…
I have been working in Philadelphia as a traffic reporter on and off for a few years now. A position opened up at NBC10 and I was approached with a dream job. [I started in] April of this year. These last few months have been an absolute whirlwind. I still pinch myself sometimes.
A normal day…
We go on the air at 4 a.m., so needless to say, I am up early. Perhaps because of my pageant background, I can get full makeup and hair ready in about 25 minutes. So I wake up at 2:45 a.m., I’m at work by 3:10 a.m., on the air and ready to go by 4 a.m. … I’m not a morning person, but a great pretender.
The best part about the job…
The team I get to work with every day are some of the most inspiring, intelligent, friendly people I have ever met. It’s such a plus and so rare to truly adore your coworkers.
What the future holds…
If you asked me five years ago to tell you where I see myself today, I would have had it completely wrong. Even if you asked me a few months ago for that matter. Looking back at my career I know now that I couldn’t possibly predict it. As for my personal life, I would hope to be married and on my way to eventually starting a family.
Favorite South Jersey haunts…
I’m really in love with the Collingswood [and] Haddonfield area and all the restaurants and small businesses around it. There is so much personality behind those towns.
Animal lover…
I am a huge advocate for animal welfare. I have worked for a few life-saving organizations in the past and have even fostered some animals. I love them all of course, but I do have a soft spot for dogs. I have two Jack Russell Terriers of my own, Rocky and Taz. Everyone must remember to always adopt, don’t shop.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 5 (August, 2015).
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