Miss Hampton Beach 2023 crowned: Lexi Taylor of Rochester wins title

Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald

Updated August 1, 2023 at 10:10 PM·4 min read

HAMPTON — Lexi Taylor showed that persistence and perseverance pay off, earning herself the 2023 Miss Hampton Beach title.

The 21-year-old from Rochester took the top honor Sunday at the 77th Miss Hampton Beach Pageant. Taylor, who donned a yellow one-piece bathing suit, also scored highest in the swimsuit competition.

“I’m feeling very overwhelmed and overjoyed, but very grateful,” she said.

Miss Hampton Beach 2023 Lexi Taylor, of Rochester, is crowned by 2022 Miss Hampton Beach Hannah Ritchie at the 77th Miss Hampton Beach Pageant.

Eleven contestants from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island competed in this year’s pageant, ranging in age from 16 to 24. The contestants were interviewed by the judges prior to the swimsuit and evening gown competitions in the afternoon.

Miss Hampton Beach is the second oldest pageant in the state. Stephanie Lussier, the pageant director who has been organizing the event for the past 27 years, was Miss Hampton Beach in 1995.

Taylor said her first pageant was the Junior Miss Hampton Beach contest about a decade ago. She would compete five more times after that, and although she never won, Taylor said she always made it to the top five.

Lexi Taylor, 21, of Rochester, reacts as she is crowned the 2023 Miss Hampton Beach on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

Taylor said she competed in other pageants and was crowned Miss New Hampshire U.S.A. Ambassador Teen before she stopped competing to focus on college.

It was a phone call from Lussier that made Taylor return to the pageant world.

“I kinda needed that extra boost of confidence,” she said. “At first I (hesitated), but then I decided to do it to prove to myself I could still do it, and I did.”

During the evening gown competition, Taylor wore an iridescent sequin dress with a plunging neckline. After making it into the top five, her on-stage interview question was: What quality should the next Miss Hampton Beach have?

“As a little girl, I’ve always been taught to be confident and kind to others,” she answered. “The next Miss Hampton Beach should carry that on and promote young women to be confident, kind and bold.”

Miss Hampton Beach 2021 Lauren Brophy, who emceed the event, said the biggest thing she took away from the competition two years ago was gaining confidence.

Miss Hampton Beach 2022: Miss Hampton Beach 2022: Seabrook’s Hannah Ritchie reflects on year with crown

“I would not be emceeing this event if I had not done this pageant,” said Brophy, who is also part of the Air National Guard in Portsmouth. “I was very shy.

Taylor said her favorite part of competing this year was the people.

“I think all the girls here are very kind-hearted and loving,” she said. “One of the other competitors (Faith Brody) was like my fairy godmother today. She was just constantly reminding me that life is beautiful, and I should enjoy and have fun and be confident.”

The Miss Hampton Beaches: 1995 Stephanie Lussier, 2021 Lauren Brophy, 2023 Lexi Taylor, 2022 Hannah Ritchie, 2020 Anna-Marie Alukonis and 2017 Emily Durant.

The other contestants in the top five were first runner-up Brodi, second runner-up Amber Page, third runner-up Justine Blake and fourth runner-up Madison Burns.

Page received the highest score for the on-stage interview part of the competition, while Brodi was voted Miss Congeniality by other contestants.

Brodi donned a yellow one-piece during the swimsuit competition to match her bubbly personality. Her evening gown was a bold strapless red ball gown with gold embroidery on the bodice and hem.

“I feel confident in this dress (although) it’s a risk,” she said. “This is my last year competing – I age out after this – so I like to wear the dress I feel the best and go out with a bang and whatever happens, I feel good about it.”

Faith Brodi, 24, of Windham, walks on stage wearing a red dress in the evening gown competition at the 77th Miss Hampton Beach Pageant.

The 24-year-old from Billerica, Massachusetts, said her parents have frequented Hampton Beach since she was 9-years-old. She is pursuing a master's in creative writing through the Harvard Extension School.

“It's not summer unless we come to Hampton Beach,” said Brodi.

As the reigning Miss Hampton Beach, Taylor said she's looking forward most to meeting the community members and helping those in need. She is a senior at the University of New Hampshire pursuing a nursing degree.

“Originally, I went to school to be a physician assistant, but I don’t think it was the right fit for me,” she said. “I’ve always been caring for others and helping them out the best I can – nursing is perfect.”

Water Safety Day: What Hampton Beach lifeguards want you to know

In her free time, Taylor likes to read, hang out with friends and go to Fenway Park, where she cheers for the Boston Red Sox. With her decade-long experience in the pageant world, Taylor attested that pageants are more than what people think they are.

“I think anything could have a negative stereotype, doesn’t matter what it is,” she said. “For me, pageants are about empowering young women and about building them up and not tearing them down. It teaches young girls interview skills, it teaches people about gaining confidence and believing in themselves, and honestly, it’s just about having fun as well.”