Before That Night

Let’s go back 7 months prior to when I won my state title of Miss California USA. This wasn’t my first time competing for a Miss title. I had competed at Miss New Jersey USA for two years before moving to California for work and to be closer to my dad. After living with my dad just outside of San Francisco for a few months, I had saved up enough to move to Los Angeles and begin work with my new modeling agency. I applied to compete at Miss California USA a bit last minute, with just over one month until the event. Normally women enter early and start their prep as soon as possible, but I heard there were going to be over 200 women competing (the largest Miss USA state pageant in history at the time). Since this was my first time competing in a new state, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to compete against that many women. Eventually I decided to try so I could get some experience competing at one of the biggest state pageants in the country and be more prepared for the following year, which I already knew I wanted to participate in. 

The pageant weekend was so busy that most of it is still a blur. I vaguely remember doing my hair and makeup in a small hallway. I vaguely remember my interview which was only 90 seconds due to the large number of contestants, and I spent it talking about the latest history book I was reading at the time. I don’t remember the preliminary competition, but I do remember a lot about the final night while onstage. I was shocked to make Top 5 on my first attempt in California, and I don’t remember my final question or answer, but I do remember being in the final 2. They announced the first runner up first, and it wasn’t me. The outgoing titleholder came towards me with the new state crown and she asked me if I wanted it. I said yes, and she placed the crown on my head. I was now Miss California USA 2011, and my whirlwind adventure was only just beginning.

As Miss California USA, the preparation for Miss USA began right away. I had two state directors, with one of them being extremely hands-on from the beginning and taking me under her wing like a daughter. I’ll call her S. S set up my photo shoots, some with some pretty well known photographers, hooked me up with incredible designers, and she took me shopping to make sure I looked every inch a Miss USA (she completely covered my interview dress for Miss USA which was by Herve Leger). We would text a lot, and I was often at her home in Los Angeles, which wasn’t too far from mine, practicing for interviews, practicing my hair and makeup, and getting style tips. S really believed I could win Miss USA if I just put in the work, and so I did. I trekked from my apartment in Sherman Oaks to Santa Monica every other day in rush hour traffic to attend my sponsored Pilates classes with her (anyone who lives in Los Angeles knows what rush hour traffic is like and would understand the level of this commitment!), and I tried to attend as many events as possible to prepare me for what could be a busy year as Miss USA. The Miss California USA team consisted of two state directors, a media assistant, and a PR agency on retainer. Every week, they would send me a list of events happening in Los Angeles and let me choose which ones I wanted to attend. I got to attend some pretty incredible events during my 7-month reign as Miss California USA, including the Writer’s Guild of America Awards which happened the same week as the Golden Globes, and other red carpet events. I also got the opportunity to read to young students at several elementary schools. All of this was just a glimpse of the year I would have if I was to become Miss USA. 

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. I didn’t get along with the other state director, especially after they horrendously bullied me and shamed me alongside my modeling agent when I became extremely sick with norovirus during a job for a major retailer. Shortly after that, my undiagnosed anxiety disorder was triggered, and I began to suffer from extreme, severe bouts of anxiety. I had also been struggling with depression, which notably began a year earlier after being sexually assaulted in my relationship at the time. I was not in a good place mentally. My new boyfriend (Tor) and S saw I was not well, and so S did me a huge favor and arranged for me to see a therapist about a month before I was scheduled to leave to compete for Miss USA. In that session, I realized I was troubled. At least S was aware and truly cared, and she was taking it extremely seriously. It was comforting to know she had my back, but I was still scared. I continued my prep for Miss USA, and even on days where I completely broke down thinking I wasn’t good enough, she assured me that I was. I started to feel like I wasn’t going to win Miss USA. “Maybe this isn’t my time,” I thought. Instead of flying to Las Vegas like every other contestant, I chose to drive there thinking I would be returning to Los Angeles afterwards, hopefully as a runner-up. I looked at the downtown skyline from the freeway as I drove east towards Las Vegas, thinking I would see the same view again in just 3 weeks.

What it was like to compete at Miss USA

Miss USA 2011 was scheduled for June 19, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with all activities, events, and rehearsals beginning around June 5. This meant two weeks in Las Vegas, which was the norm for Miss USA back then, but half of the contestants were invited a few days earlier to participate in a multi-day photo shoot and video shoot for the pageant’s major hair care sponsor. I was included in that group, and so I arrived in Las Vegas on June 1 prepared to spend nearly 3 weeks at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. For the first 4 days, we were busy in hair and makeup as well as filming on set for the brand’s media advertising and what would also air as commercials during the televised pageant. We were able to check into our Miss USA hotel rooms early as well, and I was able to spend extra time with my roommate (Kentucky) who was also invited to the photo shoot.

When all filming wrapped, it was time to begin registration for Miss USA. The entire Miss Universe Organization had arrived in Las Vegas to begin the entire event, and all the remaining contestants began to arrive. Registration is always fun, even if it is a bit grueling for 3 days. At registration, this is where we got to take our official headshots with Fadil Berisha as well as our official photos in swimsuits and evening gowns. I wore a decoy gown for my photo shoot, as I wanted to keep my evening gown onstage as a surprise. For 3 days, we filmed cute videos with the media team for the Miss USA website and social media, took a lot of behind the scenes photos, sat with the production team to go over our bios, had our evening gowns evaluated for any last minute alterations for television approval, selected our competition swimsuits and opening number dresses, selected our competition shoes, was gifted a lot of gifts from several sponsors such as makeup and hair care, and had an elegant welcome dinner.

After those initial 3 days, the fun began. This is where the early call times started, but we were so excited to get things going. We were at Miss USA! By now I had been in Las Vegas for almost a week, and I had already made some incredible friends with the fellow 50 contestants representing each state. Over the next week, we had events every morning and every evening. From walking in fashion shows to pool parties to glamorous restaurants to fun nightclubs (always just before actual business hours so as not to disturb other patrons), our itineraries were always FULL. We even filmed for Food Network’s Cupcake Wars at the Bellagio one evening, where the winner had supplied all the cupcakes for the event (I remember the cupcakes – dark chocolate cupcakes baked inside orange peels!). From waking up at 5 am to get hair and makeup ready and then going to bed at 11 pm, we were short on sleep but running purely on adrenaline. Everywhere we went throughout Las Vegas, fans were lined up to snap our photos and say hi to their favorite contestants. It was thrilling just getting to experience that.

By the end of the first official week, we started rehearsals for the preliminary show, which was to take place a few days before the final telecast. The preliminary show is where everyone competes in swimsuit and evening gown, and the final telecast’s Top 16 are chosen from the performances at the preliminary show. Rehearsals would take place during the day and events that we would attend occurred in the evening. I remember beginning to feel the exhaustion of it all at this point, but every single one of us was having “pinch me” moments because we were competing for the title of Miss USA. Did I still feel like I was going to win? No, but I don’t half-ass anything. If I’m in it, I’m in it to win it. As the date for Miss USA got closer, I became a little more scared. The thought of winning was starting to feel a little terrifying, as the title and role of Miss USA is a big responsibility and you would be thrust into the celebrity world literally overnight.

After two weeks in Las Vegas, it was time for the real competition to begin. Despite making 50 new friends, at the end of the day we were all competing for the same thing and only one of us was going to take it. Our preliminary interviews were scheduled the day before the preliminary stage show, and this is where the judges get to spend 5 minutes with each contestant asking them questions about themselves as well as any light current event topics. Two girls would go in at once, with one girl going to one panel with half of the judges and the other girl going to the other panel. After 2.5 minutes, you switch panels. I don’t remember what was asked during my interview, but I do remember loving my Miss USA interview experience and laughing a lot with the judges. 

For the preliminary show, our theater was the theater at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The stage and theater are huge. It was both exciting and overwhelming to be on that massive stage and look out into the audience, which can seat 7000 people. I remember seeing the stage for the first time, with the Miss USA 2011 logo on all the screens in the theater and onstage. It was another one of those “pinch me” and “this can’t be real but it is” moments. Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe it for someone who had been watching Miss USA since 2006, and now I was about to walk across that stage 5 years later representing California. I remember looking at the logo, which said Miss USA 2011 in bold font, and I wondered who that logo was talking about? Who will become Miss USA 2011? Someone is destined for that title, and they don’t even know it yet. 

Preparing for the show was absolute chaos and mayhem, but I loved it. All of the contestants had their dressing rooms in a giant white tent outside behind the theater (thankfully it was heavily air conditioned because it was June in Nevada), but all the professional hair and makeup teams were set up immediately behind the stage curtains. You could elect to do your makeup yourself or have the teams do it. I was pretty confident about doing my own makeup, but I knew I needed professional help with my hair (I still do! I am no whiz at hair styling). Unfortunately, my hair stylist for the preliminary show went a bit rogue and decided to do mermaid hair on me (something I did NOT ask for – I wanted bouncy curls). Their reasoning was because I had red hair, they wanted me to look like The Little Mermaid. I was not thrilled but there was nothing I could do – it was less than 20 minutes before showtime. 

Besides the hair drama, the preliminary show was a lot of fun. The audience was lively and all of us could feel the energy. Since we had been in rehearsals practically nonstop every day, the preliminary show felt like another rehearsal to me. It didn’t really occur to me that this was the night that would determine who would make Top 16. I was so happy to be onstage, a place I have always felt extremely comfortable, and I finally got to reveal the green custom gown that was made exclusively for me. I had actually designed a different dress with my evening gown sponsor – a navy, off the shoulder gown with a dramatic couture bottom half – but S and the designer ended up designing something completely different without my knowledge. When I first saw the green gown in person about a month before I left for Las Vegas, I hated it. I was worried I was going to look like a Christmas tree in a green gown with my red hair. It took S A LOT of convincing to get me to wear the green gown. Eventually I gave in and I felt like a queen in it onstage when I wore it, especially since no one had a gown that was even remotely similar in style or color. 

After the preliminary show, we went back to rehearsals immediately the next day from sunrise to beyond sunset to prepare for the telecast in a few days. Everything was timed and had to be perfect to fit the number of commercials during the televised event on NBC, which meant we needed to rehearse it so much as if it became a part of our blood. Besides the opening dance number, swimsuit dance, and evening gown parade, we also needed to make sure we had the choreography memorized for when you were called into the Top 15, Top 10, or Top 5. My year was a bit different than other years because we had a Top 16, Top 8, and Top 4, and we were eliminated by groups instead of one-by-one. Since this was an entirely new format for Miss USA, we needed to make sure we understood everything like it was second nature.

The Night of Miss USA 2011

After all those long rehearsals, frequent visits to the buffet that we kinda got tired of after a while, and after nearly 3 weeks in Las Vegas, it was finally June 18, 2011. This was the night before the final telecast. All contestants were instructed to pack all their bags and label them with your state name because if you win, a staff member comes to your hotel room to remove all your belongings and bring them to the new Miss USA’s suite as you do your first press conference. I remember packing all my toiletries in the bathroom and having this gut feeling that the next time I would see my bags would be somewhere else. Of course, every woman there was hoping for the same thing. What I felt was no different to anyone else, but after initially feeling like I would be returning to California as a runner up, I was now having a feeling of premonition that that wouldn’t be the case. It was actually a bit terrifying for me, and I began to have a small anxiety attack on the bathroom floor. Was I ready for this responsibility? I wanted it, but was I good enough? Was I ready for what could be one of the biggest life changing moments I would ever experience up at that point?

The following night was the final telecast. June 19, 2011. For the final show, I decided to start the base of my makeup but I would wait for one of my favorite makeup artists to be available backstage to do the final touches. She was busy with other contestants and slotted me in as the last contestant she would touch-up, so I played Angry Birds on my iPad in the meantime to release some pre-pageant nerves and stress. I’ll be honest, it definitely helped! I also went to a different hairstylist for the final show to give me the bouncy curls I initially wanted for the preliminary show. With my makeup done professionally, and my hair looking how I wanted it to, I felt more than ready to take the stage.

A lot of my family and friends had flown in from New Jersey and California, and they were all excited to come to the final show. As we all gathered in the wings of the stage about 20 minutes before showtime, we could hear the audience and their excitement. It was a sold out show, and all the cameras were in place to air the pageant live on television. People from all over the US as well as internationally were preparing to watch one of the most watched pageants in the world (at least 7.8 million tuned in for the 2011 event). We could hear them announce to the audience for everyone to take their seats, as it was less than one minute to showtime. 45 seconds. 30 seconds. 15 seconds. 10 seconds. And then we heard our opening number song begin to play (“On The Floor” by J. Lo and Pitbull). 

I remember stepping out onto the stage, the lights brighter than I ever remembered from our hundreds of rehearsals of the opening number, and I could see absolutely nothing. We could hear the ROAR of the thousands of people in the audience but I could not see a single person until I got up to the microphone to proudly say, “Alyssa Campanella, 21, Los Angeles, California.” Even then, I could only see about the first 10 rows, but my priorities were the judges and the cameras. After the opening number, we all went to our designated places for the announcement of the Top 16 during commercial break. The announcement of the Top 16 felt like it went on forever. It’s definitely not easy to be standing there, with everyone looking at you either from the in-house audience or on TV, in 6 inch heels, eager to hear your name called. And your name isn’t called. But you still clap for the ones who do get announced and you are genuinely happy for them (at least I was), however you can’t help but count down in your head how many spaces are left. By the time they reached spot 12 and I still had not been called, I felt like maybe this wasn’t my year after all. There were only 4 spots left and a lot of extremely beautiful and qualified ladies remained to hear their name called as well.  “Was it my terrible preliminary hair? Was it my little slip in my evening gown during preliminaries? Did I say something wrong in my interview? Oh god, what are the pageant forums going to say about this?” Already I began wondering what caused me to not advance to the top 16. And then suddenly…. “California!” Phew! I couldn’t help but cheer a little cheer as a bit of a stress reliever when I walked down the steps towards the center of the stage. Spot 14 had gone to me. Okay, I was still in the game. 

The first round was the swimsuit competition. Being at the end of the lineup meant I had a bit more time to get any last minute nerves out of my system. With our song being “Blow” by Kesha, it was very easy to dance out the nerves. When it was finally my turn to compete, I remember telling myself, “Just have fun with it.” I do remember having a lot of fun during that round. I still remember whipping my sarong off with one hand while walking down the steps, and I remember thinking, “Ahhhh don’t fall! Don’t fall!” I rarely looked at the audience. My priorities were still the cameras and the judges on each side of the runway. We had a camera follow us onstage during swimsuit, so I made sure to look there, because I knew the judges were looking at what the cameras were capturing on the little screens at their panel. When I got to the end of the runway, I looked at each judge (although very quickly) and tried to make eye contact with each one as if to say, “Hey, look at me, I’m your Miss USA.”

After swimsuit, we were gathered into groups for the next elimination round to determine who was making Top 8. 51 women to 16 women to 8 women. We were organized into 4 groups of 4, and only 2 groups were going to be advancing to the evening gown competition. It was a bizarre format for my year, and honestly a bit confusing, so I can see why they nixed it for the following year. One group was already eliminated and another group was advancing, which meant one out of the two groups left were going to be eliminated as well. When I saw one particular contestant, who I thought had nailed her swimsuit performance in the other group, I had a sinking feeling that my group was about to be eliminated. My heart was racing. To my shock, our group was selected to advance over the other group, and I did not hesitate to hide my emotions about it. Needless to say, I was elated to be advancing. 

I love the evening gown competition. It’s my favorite part of the competition, with the interview a close second. I will make any excuse to wear a gown, and I was particularly excited to show off my green gown again. I remember my state director telling me to “be bold” during the evening gown competition, so I took her advice seriously. I did a dramatic pose in the door frame for our onstage decor and then confidently walked down the stairs and down the runway. Our evening gown song was “Written In The Stars” by Tinie Tempah, which was a very upbeat, modern choice for an evening gown song. Tinie Tempah was even on stage performing as we competed, but unfortunately I barely remember him being there. I just remember the piano I posed on at the end. 

After the evening gown competition, it was time to cut to the Top 4. These group eliminations were so stressful, but here we were again, organized into two groups of 4 for the final group elimination. 3 girls in the other group advanced to the top 4, which meant only one girl from my group was going to be advancing. After what felt like an hour, they finally revealed “California!” as the contestant moving forward into the Top 4. I don’t have a poker face, so my face showed pure shock and joy. The game wasn’t over yet for me, but with only 4 girls remaining for the crown, the prospect of winning was even more possible. The thought was thrilling and scary.

In the Top 4, it was time for the final question. This is the part that is most well known because someone’s answer usually goes viral. A lot of pressure is put on this part of the competition because it feels like they are trying to catch you off-guard. In reality, the judges just want to hear you speak and how you sound when speaking as everyone is watching you. There will be a lot of public speaking during your reign as Miss USA and a lot of media interviews where you will not know the questions being asked of you. I don’t agree with the heavy political questions asked at Miss USA (seriously, if our global leaders can’t solve a major issue in 30 seconds, how are we pageant contestants expected to?), but I do like getting to know a contestant through her final answer. Also I will give you one of my interview/final question secrets: it’s okay to admit if you don’t know something or don’t have much knowledge of something, but to pivot towards something you do know more about. 

I was asked about legalizing marijuana in my final question. I hate what I gave as my answer, and I would answer my question completely differently if I was asked it today. At that moment, I remember walking back to my spot after answering my final question and thinking, “Was that good enough?” I worried that I didn’t sound convincing enough or that I didn’t sound strong and confident. I felt like I needed to really use the upcoming final look to really convince the judges to pick me. During the final look of the Top 4, I made sure to look at the camera because that’s what the judges were looking at. In my head, I kept saying, “I am Miss USA. I am Miss USA. It’s me.” I wanted the judges to feel the same way. Everything I had done up until this point was either enough to convince the judges to pick me or not – it wasn’t in my hands anymore. I was either fated to win Miss USA or not. Either way, the decision wasn’t mine. And now the Top 4 nervously awaited the results as we approached the big finale. As Miss USA 2010 took her final walk, I remember thinking, “Someone is about to wear that sash. Someone will be making this same final walk next year.”

Then, it was time. First was the announcement of the 3rd runner up. It wasn’t me. In fact, it was a contestant that I thought should have placed much higher or even beat me. When she was announced as the 3rd runner up, I was shocked and if you watch the crowning moment, you can see the shock on my face. It was really anyone’s game now. Then the 2nd runner up was announced. It wasn’t me, again. There was a lot of relief that came over me as I grabbed A, the remaining contestant from the Top 4 with me, for a big hug. I had grown quite close with A over the last 3 weeks in Las Vegas, especially with our rooms being right next door to each other, and I was elated to be in the final 2 with her. I was no stranger to being in the final 2 and placing as 1st runner up. At Miss Teen USA 2007, I placed as 1st runner up and at Miss New Jersey USA 2009, I placed as 1st runner up. At this point, if I had heard my name called as 1st runner up, it’s a position that I was already familiar with. Being in the final 2 is a big honor but it’s also slightly frightening. One of you is about to win. The other one comes so close to winning but doesn’t, and it’s not an easy feeling to have. I held A’s hands tight as we both nervously awaited the hosts to announce who the winner was. Someone’s life was completely about to change. Just as I was telling A I loved her, the host announced, “Miss USA 2011 is…. California!”

After the Crowning

Me. It was me. They chose me. The first emotion I felt was shock. I was shocked it was me. My jaw fell to the floor as then I began to feel disbelief. Me? They chose me? The next emotion was fear. What just happened to me? What is going on? The last emotion was pure joy. I had started competing in pageants in 2005, with my first pageant being Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2006. The first Miss Universe pageant I followed was Miss Universe 2005 (Natalie Glebova of Canada won that year), and the first Miss USA pageant I watched live on TV was Miss USA 2006 (won by my future good friend Tara Conner of Kentucky). Every year for six years, either live in person or live on TV, I had watched Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA, and I got to witness one lucky woman be crowned during each of them. I had followed all of their reigns. I had watched their wins over and over (thanks TiVo and Youtube!). Now, the big moment was happening to me. This couldn’t be real. But it was. Millions of people were watching the stunning Miss USA crown be placed upon my head and the iconic Miss USA sash being draped across my chest. I was the woman who woke up that morning unaware of the fate that would come to pass just twelve hours later. I was the woman who would now represent the US at Miss Universe. I was now Miss USA. My reign had officially started.

I wish the first thoughts that went through my mind as they placed the crown on my head was something sweet or emotional, but no. The first thought that went through my mind was, “Oh shit, my car is in valet and I’m off to New York tomorrow!” Remember, I thought I was not going to win so I drove to Los Angeles ALONE with my car. I did not have a backup plan for if I was to win the crown. In hindsight, I certainly should have had a backup plan! Luckily the day after I won, my dad cancelled his flight back to San Francisco and offered to drive my car for 9 hours back to his home instead. But as I was onstage taking my first walk as Miss USA, I didn’t know that! 

Hearing the host announce that I would get to go on to compete at Miss Universe later that year in Brazil sent chills down my spine. I was going to Miss Universe. In Brazil. It then dawned on me that I was about to spend the next twelve months traveling around the world, something I had always dreamed of doing. It just didn’t feel real at all. I found my parents in the audience as I reached the end of the runway, awkwardly standing there waving to the crowd as I still felt incredible shock and delight. The telecast was over, and there was one winner in the end. Me. What the f*ck. This was really happening. 

I turned back around and walked towards all the other 50 contestants that surrounded me and reached out their arms for hugs. I couldn’t stop crying. Someone kept wiping away my tears. Many hands reached out to rub my arm or to give me a squeeze. Before I knew it, a woman named E arrived almost out of nowhere, took my hand, and escorted me to the wings of the stage to have a moment of peace. My life had just completely changed, and I began to hyperventilate. THE Miss USA crown was on my head. It was surreal but overwhelming. E reminded me to breathe, and she said all of this with the most reassuring smile. Suddenly a team of hair and makeup artists arrived to touch up my hair and makeup, which I desperately needed due to mascara running down my cheeks. Another staff member of the Miss Universe Organization arrived at this point while on the phone with an airline to confirm all the details of my full name and birth date for my airplane ticket tomorrow. Yes, that’s what happened when you won Miss USA back in my day – you moved to New York City THE VERY NEXT DAY. There was no going back home first because your new address was New York, New York.

With my hair and makeup touched up, and with E holding a water bottle with a straw to keep me hydrated during all this, I was brought back out on stage in front of all sorts of cameras – video cameras for behind the scenes media and photo cameras for the onstage photos. It’s all still a rushing whirlwind at this point. Everyone is looking at you. It’s customary for the new Miss USA to take photos with the judges after her crowning, but since my win was during the 60th anniversary of Miss USA, the Miss Universe Organization had brought in almost every single former Miss USA as a special guest. We all posed for a large group photo, and this is where it really began to feel like a dream. I, Alyssa Campanella, had just joined the Miss USA sisterhood. I was now one of them. Is this real? After taking photos with the former Miss USAs, the organization brought my immediate family and Tor onstage to say hi to me as well as take photos with them. The first thing I said to Tor was, “I’m so sorry,” because I genuinely didn’t expect to win and now we were going to be separated for twelve months. He lived in Vancouver at the time, and I was now moving to New York in 12 hours.

After a few minutes with my family, I was being escorted by E to my first on-camera interview. I had only been the reigning Miss USA for 20 minutes but I was being rushed to my first interview with Bravo! at the back of the theater. It wasn’t a long interview, and I don’t remember much about it at all except for the insane bright lights. As soon as the interview was over, it was time to move again. This time, a woman named P joined me in my walk out of the theater along with my own security detail. As I walked through Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, my security flanked me as people lined up to take pictures of and say hi to the new Miss USA. It’s a really crazy experience. To go from nobody to somebody in under 2 hours, with everyone wanting to know everything about you and get a picture with you, is so surreal that it really is hard to describe. It’s mind boggling, exhilarating, and terrifying. 

I was brought upstairs to the post-Miss USA press conference, where all the major media outlets awaited their chance to speak to the new Miss USA. P spoke a few words thanking everyone before introducing the new Miss USA – Alyssa Campanella of California. After answering a bunch of questions for the media (this is where being prepped for interview and final question really comes in handy), I was finally reunited with S. Photographers snapped photos of us before the media was able to get some solo shots that would run in the newspapers, magazines, and online articles. 

Suddenly, I heard a loud, “Thank you very much!” and before I knew it, E was escorting me to the next destination. I was rushed to my new suite, which was originally the contestants’ hospitality suite/private lounge for our 3 weeks in Las Vegas, where my family, Tor, and my luggage were all waiting for me. E came in with me, as she helped me go through my wardrobe because I needed to wear something for the coronation party. I had not planned on a look for the coronation party, which was being held next door at the Paris Las Vegas hotel, but we found a silver long sleeved mini dress that E thought would photograph well. After a super quick change out of my green evening gown and into my after-party dress, E escorted me and Tor to the coronation party. All the contestants, state directors, friends and family, fans, and more were waiting for us on the rooftop of the outdoor party. This after-party is a complete blur to me. I only remember that I was briefly introduced onstage at the party thanks to photos that exist of it. After my brief appearance at the party, E brought us to the Paris hotel’s candy shop with several media outlets for Tor and I to have a media appearance picking out our own candy. Bizarre, and awkward, but hey it happened. 

At this point, I was still completely overwhelmed by everything that was happening. All I wanted to do was take my heels off, take off my makeup, and put on pajamas. Both Tor and E sensed that, and since I had to be up early for my flight to New York City the next morning, E and my security team brought me back to my suite where my family was still hanging out. E told me that the pageant was actually airing on the west coast at this time (west coast USA telecast was always delayed on NBC). I didn’t want to watch it but I also wanted to watch it, if you get what I’m saying. After finally taking off my heels and putting on the hotel robe, we all gathered around the living room TV to watch the last half of the pageant. I was also reunited with my phone (the good old days of Blackberry) where it had been unsurprisingly blowing up with texts and calls. Even my ex, the abuser, tried to call me several times. I happily declined those calls. 

Watching my crowning moment for the first time definitely made me cry. It wasn’t even the crowning moment itself – it was seeing my parents’ reaction, particularly my dad’s, that was caught on camera. Both of my parents had jumped up with excitement, but my dad’s VERY proud little cheer and smile always makes me emotional even to this day fourteen years later. Their daughter was now Miss USA. 

By midnight, I wanted to try to get some sleep. Tor had his own hotel room that we had booked for a few extra days (again thinking I wasn’t going to win), but I wanted him to stay with me that night since it was going to be our last night together for a long while. I did not get much sleep thanks to all the excitement and everything going on in my head. My phone kept going off too, so I had to just turn it off. The next morning, the team at the Miss Universe Organization was back in my room helping me gather all of my belongings before they escorted me downstairs to the limousine that would be taking me to the airport. After saying a tearful goodbye to Tor and my parents, I hopped inside the limo. Kamie and Ximena, the reigning Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe, were already in the car. P and E joined us as well. As the limo drove off to the airport, I still felt incredible disbelief that I was now Miss USA. I was in the car with Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe. I was their new sister queen. For someone who was continuously bullied as a child and told to her face in fifth grade that she wasn’t cool enough to be included, it just did not feel real that I was now a part of an organization I had hoped to be a part of but didn’t think I had what it took. 

The plane took off from Las Vegas, and off we went to New York. X flew off elsewhere for some time off, but me, E, K, P, members of the Miss Universe Organization, and MUO media team all took the same flight to New York. I had arrived in Las Vegas three weeks earlier as Alyssa Campanella, Miss California USA 2011. Now, I was flying to New York as Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011. Was I nervous? Hell yes. Was I happy? Hell yes. Was I aware of what the next year would bring me? Hell no. 

After we landed in New York, E and I took the designated Miss Universe Organization car (driven by M – I miss him!) from JFK to the Miss Universe apartment near Central Park. As Miss USA, I would be spending most of my year in New York City where the organization’s office headquarters were. The apartment was in a luxury building directly across the street from the office, and P had an apartment in the same building as the titleholders. It was extremely comforting to know she was close by. As we arrived at the apartment building, the MUO media team began filming my arrival. It was after midnight, and I was still overwhelmed, but being Miss USA meant always being camera ready. E introduced me to the doormen of our building as the new Miss USA before bringing me upstairs to my home for the next year. 

I was shown the Miss USA bedroom, which had been decorated for me and displayed my Miss USA tiara on the bed (winners would get to keep their tiara – the official crown belonged to MUO). After giving me a tour of the 3-bedroom apartment that I would be sharing with X, E gave me a copy of my schedule for the following day. This would become the routine – I would always receive an official itinerary the evening before every single day, even if the next day was a Sunday or I had the day off. The schedule said I needed to be up in 4 hours for hair and makeup that would be coming to the apartment to get me ready for a full day of media interviews and appearances. I was going to have to quickly unpack the essentials and get ready for bed. Thankfully, I wasn’t going to be alone that night. MUO had brought the lovely SD to spend the next few nights with me to make sure I had everything I needed and to keep me company. Becoming Miss USA was a big deal, and MUO was making sure their new queen felt accepted and welcomed. They understood that the new winner was going to feel all sorts of emotions – excitement, nerves, and a general sense of being overwhelmed. For them, this was just another young woman joining the family. For me, it was an absolutely game-changing life experience. 

As I laid my head down on the bed that would be mine for the next year, I listened to the midnight sounds of NYC below me as a sort of white noise. But I could not sleep. Despite only getting about 4 hours of sleep total in the last 2 days, I was running on pure adrenaline at this point. I was Miss USA. This was really happening. This was my life now. And this was just the very beginning.

Stay tuned for part 2 – What Life Was Like As Miss USA 2011.