Christina Del Rosso is crowned winner of the Miss Hampton Beach title on Sunday at the new Seashell Stage. [Cheryl Senter photo]

HAMPTON — Wearing a white gown shimmering with sequins and floral embroidery, Christina Del Rosso was crowned 2012 Miss Hampton Beach on Sunday afternoon during the first pageant to be held on the new Seashell Stage.

All the benches were full of spectators who cheered for 19 contestants, despite the cloudy skies and rather chilly temperature.

The rain did hold off, though, just as pageant director Stephanie Lussier predicted it would.

Del Rosso, 16, of Haverhill, Mass., was the youngest contestant in the 66th annual event.

"I did some research on the Miss Hampton Beach Pageant," Del Rosso said during the interview portion of the competition. "The last time someone brought (the crown) home to Haverhill, Massachusetts, was in 1971. So I think it's time we take the crown back to my hometown of Haverhill."

The judges agreed.

Del Rosso, who will be entering her junior year at Haverhill High School, said she was "a little shocked" that she won.

The oldest of three siblings, Del Rosso said she learned at a young age to have confidence and to fight for what she wanted. She was diagnosed and treated for neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor, when she was just 2 years old.

"I'm very involved with Relay for Life," she said, referring to the American Cancer Society's annual event held in many cities and towns across the country to raise awareness and fund research for cancer.

Del Rosso was crowned National American Miss Massachusetts Junior Teen 2010, and said she hopes her experience as Miss Hampton Beach will prepare her for future pageant events to earn scholarship money.

She is planning on a future career in broadcast journalism, setting her sights on E! Entertainment Television. Her favorite subjects are English and literature.

Del Rosso is a lifeguard at the Haverhill Country Club and at Jefferson Estates, also in Haverhill.

"I'm also a varsity cheerleader at Haverhill High," she said after the pageant. "They will all probably cheer for me."

The pageant queen and her court [Cheryl Senter photo]

The contestants were narrowed down to five finalists after an interview with the judges held Sunday morning at the Purple Urchin Seaside Café on Hampton Beach. All 19 competed in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions during the afternoon pageant, and the five finalists were asked questions about why they entered the contest and what they liked best about Hampton Beach.

Contestant Lauren Small of Seabrook was named Miss Congeniality by her peers. Aria Rich of Dracut, Mass., garnered the most points in the swimsuit competition, and Ali Barros received the most points for the interview portion.

Del Rosso received $500 as the winner. First runner-up was Rebecca Scalera of Manchester. There was a tie for second runner-up, split between Barros and Brittany Dube of Hampton. Fourth runner-up was Rich.

On Saturday, Emily Croteau, 13, of Merrimac, Mass., was crowned Junior Miss Hampton Beach. Maeve Hess, 9, of Bradford, Mass., was crowned Little Miss Hampton Beach.

The two will often accompany Del Rosso in her duties as Miss Hampton Beach that include appearances at Hampton events such as the Penguin Plunge, the Children's Festival and the Christmas Parade.