Alyssa Campanella

Campanella during her year as Miss New Jersey Teen USA

In October 2006, Campanella was crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and represented her state at Miss Teen USA 2007, broadcast live from Pasadena, California on August 24, 2007, placing first runner up to eventual winner, Hilary Cruz of Colorado.[4] She is currently the highest placing New Jersey teen state titleholder in the Miss Teen USA competition. She is the most successful contestant from New Jersey - having placed 1st runner up at Miss Teen USA and later winning Miss USA (even though she represented California).

Campanella competed in the Miss New Jersey USA pageant twice, placing first runner-up in 2009, losing to Kaity Rodriguez[5] and in the top fifteen in 2010.[6]

On November 21, 2010, she competed in the Miss California USA pageant and won the title and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Nicole Johnson. She was the first Miss Teen USA state delegate to represent California at Miss USA since Shauna Gambill in 1998.[7] She was heavily favored by oddsmakers to win the title of Miss USA.[8]

On June 19, 2011, she won the Miss USA title in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is the second redhead (although she is naturally blonde) and the first Miss Teen USA first runner up to win the Miss USA title. After winning Miss USA, Campanella crowned Miss Teen USA 2006 titleholder Katie Blair as her Miss California USA successor; pageant protocol states that the two titles cannot be held conterminously as her new Miss USA duties would have interfered with her duties as Miss California USA. Her sister titleholders were Danielle Doty of Texas and Leila Lopes of Angola.

In July 2011, Campanella attended the Miss Teen USA 2011 competition in the Bahamas.[9] She also traveled to Los Angeles, California to attend the premiere of Captain America: The First Avenger.[10]

In October 2011, Campanella traveled to Chicago on behalf of the USO for their Star Spangled Banner Salute Gala. She also traveled to Boston to promote breast cancer awareness month with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.[11]

In November 2011, Campanella traveled to the Bahamas to attend the Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball competition with several state titleholders about to compete at Miss USA 2012. In December 2011, Campanella traveled to Pensacola, Florida before traveling to Cannes and Monaco for the Five Star Diamond Awards. She traveled back to Los Angeles to attend the First Annual American Giving Awards on NBC.[12] She then traveled to North Carolina to make an appearance at Tribute to the Troops.[13]

Alyssa Campanella arriving at Tao in Las Vegas on May 28, 2012

In January 2012, Campanella traveled to Palm Springs, California to attend the Miss California USA 2012 pageant. She also attended the Miss Nevada USA 2012 pageant in Las Vegas later that month, where she was a special guest at the grand opening of 1Oak at The Mirage.

In March 2012, Campanella traveled to Germany with her sister titleholders for a week-long USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour on March 9–14, 2012. In May 2012, Campanella traveled to Orlando, Florida to cohost the Runway for Hope fashion show with Mario Lopez [14] before traveling to Las Vegas to pass on her crown. On June 3, 2012, Campanella crowned Olivia Culpo as her successor in Las Vegas, who ultimately went on to win the title of Miss Universe.

During her reign she traveled numerous trips across the United States and made many appearances throughout New York City. She also traveled to Cannes, Monaco, Brazil, Germany, Canada, and The Bahamas.

As Miss USA 2011, she went on to compete at Miss Universe 2011 in São Paulo, Brazil,[15] from August 19–September 12, 2011 and placed in the top 16.[16][17]