Alyssa Campanella

Alyssa Marie Campanella (born March 21, 1990) is an American model, blogger and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2011. Having previously been crowned Miss California USA 2011, Campanella was the sixth woman representing California to win the Miss USA title. As Miss USA, Campanella represented the United States at Miss Universe 2011, where she placed in the top sixteen. A native of New Jersey, Campanella was also crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and placed as the first runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007. Since completing her reign as Miss USA, Campanella has launched her travel blog The A List, where she writes about trips and vacations to various destinations. Early life and education Campanella was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and was raised in nearby Manalapan Township, New Jersey. She is of mixed Italian, Danish, and Lithuanian descent; her father's family originates in Naples, while her maternal grandfather emigrated from Espergærde in Denmark to the United States in the 1950s. Campanella attended Freehold Township High School in Freehold Township, New Jersey, graduating in 2008. At age 17, she took classes at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and also later attended the Institute of Culinary Education, both in New York City.