Allyssa’s initiative promotes nutrition education, increases access to healthy foods, and seeks to shift societal perspectives on what it truly means to be healthy. As a certified nutrition coach, personal trainer, bodybuilder, and GNC manager, Allyssa combines academic knowledge with real-world experience. She doesn’t just speak about health—she lives it. Her work focuses on helping people understand the vital link between nutrition, physical well-being, and mental health, especially for children and families who may not have consistent access to nutritious food.
Through E.A.T. to Live, the publishing of her eBook The You Project, raising over 6,000lbs of food for the food bank, presenting in schools and volunteering at various community events she is advocating daily for systemic changes to make healthy food more available.
The Roots of Resilience
Allyssa’s commitment to health and advocacy did not arise from comfort, it was born from necessity. Growing up in poverty, she and her family relied on food bank boxes and school lunches. These early struggles laid the foundation for her understanding of how socioeconomic status can deeply impact one’s relationship with food and health. These formative years instilled in her a powerful sense of empathy and a drive to ensure that all children grow up with the tools and knowledge they need to live a healthier life.
The journey to where she is now has not been without hardship. In the past year, Allyssa has endured the loss of three family members. Yet even in grief, she chose to press forward using her pain as fuel to deepen her purpose and keep striving toward her goals.
Achieving Milestones
Pageantry has been a transformative journey for Allyssa. She began her rise in the Miss America Organization as Miss City of Sunshine 2022, then went on to become Miss Majestic Lakes 2023, Miss Klamath County 2024, and now, Miss Southern Jewel 2025. With each title, her message and mission have grown in reach and impact.
Her ultimate dream? To be crowned Miss Oregon and represent her state on the Miss America stage. But for Allyssa, the crown isn't the end goal, it’s a means to continue advocating for community health, expand volunteer work, and impact countless lives. Through school visits, nonprofit events, and fitness workshops, she is already a force of positive change throughout Oregon.
Fueling Dreams Through Education
The Miss America Opportunity has not only given Allyssa a platform, it has given her a future. Thanks to scholarships earned through competition, she is currently attending Arizona State University Online debt-free, pursuing a degree in Applied Nutrition and Health. Education is at the heart of her mission, and the chance to earn a degree without financial burden has only further empowered her to give back more.
The classroom isn’t the only place she teaches. As a content creator, Allyssa shares daily wellness tips, motivational content, and nutrition advice through social media, engaging a wider audience with her energetic, informed approach. She meets people where they are—whether that’s online or at a local gym—and encourages them to take steps toward healthier living.
Giving Back, One Meal at a Time
Even with a full schedule of appearances, training, and study, Allyssa never forgets where she came from, prioritizing raising funds for the Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank, ensuring that meals are available for families in need. It’s a full-circle moment—someone who once relied on these services is now working to sustain and improve them for others.
In addition to her local efforts, Allyssa is currently raising funds for the Go Red for Women x Miss America campaign, benefiting the American Heart Association. Her goal is to raise $350, which will support heart health research, education, and scholarships for young women like herself who dream of making a difference. Heart health, much like nutrition, is an often-overlooked issue in underserved populations—yet Allyssa is bringing these issues to the forefront.
A Crown with a Cause
Allyssa Defillipo is much more than a titleholder—she is a health advocate, a role model, and a testament to the power of purpose. Her story is one of transformation: from a girl who once stood in line at a food bank to a woman now standing onstage, microphone in hand, speaking for those who are struggling to find their way.
She is driven not by recognition but by the real impact she knows she can have—meal by meal, classroom by classroom, conversation by conversation. And whether she earns the Miss Oregon crown or not, she has already proven herself to be a queen in the eyes of many.
As she continues her journey, Oregon—and the nation—can expect to hear more from Allyssa Defillipo. Because when passion meets purpose, there’s no limit to the change that can be made.
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