Allyssa Defillipo’s Platform with Purpose: E.A.T. to Live

In the world of pageantry, beauty, talent, and intellect converge—but for Allyssa Defillipo, the crown is not just a symbol of poise or prestige. It is a powerful platform to spark real change. As a dedicated competitor in the Miss America Organization and the newly crowned Miss Southern Jewel 2025, Allyssa embodies resilience, purpose, and passion. Her Community Service Initiative, E.A.T. to Live—which stands for Educate, Access, Transform—is more than a platform; it’s a mission rooted in personal experience and a deep desire to rewrite the health narrative and make health more accessible.

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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Allyssa Defillipo is the current Miss Southern Jewel (OR). You can follow her on Instagram at allyssa.defillipo or miss_allyssad or scan this QR code to find ways to contribute or improve your health today!

Find all the blogs from Allyssa here: Allyssa Defillipo Guest Blogs.

 

Forgotten to Fearless: Rising Above Poverty and Neglect

By Allyssa Defillipo

One of my favorite quotes is, “Attitude determines altitude.” It’s a mantra that carried me through some of the toughest moments of my life. I remember taping the windows of our trailer, the air thick with the scent of unwashed laundry, my hair tinged green from well water. Depression and self-harm were battles I fought silently, seeking refuge in the hallways of school. But even there, whispers and rumors scrawled across bathroom stalls followed me from day one. Still, I often relied on school lunches and food bank boxes, making school a reluctant sanctuary.

Thankfully, I had my guardian angel—my grandmother. Her gentle voice and generous heart were my safe haven. She supported me as much as she could, offering warmth and love in a world that often felt cold. But this year, cancer took her from me. The home I found in her embrace is one I’ll never feel again.

My childhood was a blur—bouncing between homes, sleeping on friends' couches, visiting my mother in visitation, and watching my father build a new family which I struggled to feel a part of. But those hardships forced me to become my own advocate, even when I felt utterly alone. I made a choice: to change my attitude and build a life I could be proud of—one that would propel me toward my dreams.

At 16, I worked tirelessly—stocking the salad bar at Sizzler, balancing cheerleading, and keeping my grades flawless. I bought my first car, saved every penny, and moved out the moment I turned 18. After high school, I became a teacher at Head Start, dedicating five years to early childhood education while earning my associate degree. It was during this time that fate introduced me to a woman on the Miss Klamath County Board of Directors, who encouraged me to enter our local MAO pageant. After just one practice, something clicked. For the first time, I felt a sense of purpose—I had the chance to use my perseverance and passions to inspire my community. In 2022, I won my first title: Miss City of Sunshine.

Health and fitness became my anchor. I had witnessed chronic illness and addiction growing up, and I was determined to break that cycle. At 18, I committed to lifting weights, eating a plant-based diet, and prioritizing my well-being like never before. It became my source of empowerment—something no one could take from me. Through connections at the gym, I found my way to the National Physique Committee, stepping onto the bodybuilding stage for the first time. I won my class, and from there, everything changed.

Wellness isn’t just a hobby—it’s my foundation. I track my workouts, habits, water intake, sleep, and nutrition, all with the goal of optimizing my performance and feeling my best. This commitment to self-improvement translated into my pageant journey, fueling my confidence in ways I never imagined. Before my NPC competition, I never believed I could win Miss Oregon. I was grateful just to be there, but deep down, I didn’t think I belonged. Losing a regional pageant only reinforced that doubt. But between that loss and Miss Oregon, something shifted. The dedication and discipline I put into my NPC show transformed me. Four weeks later, I placed in the top five at Miss Oregon.

That moment was a turning point. My confidence soared, and with it, my passion and determination. Since stepping off that stage in 2023, I’ve dedicated myself to growth—honing my skills as a speaker and singer and using my platform to advocate for nutrition access and education. Now, I help provide for people who are struggling just like I was, raising 6,000lbs of food for my local food bank, providing nutrition education to students, and creating free wellness events and supply kits in my community.

 

Winning titles in the Miss America Opportunity isn’t about the crowns; it’s proof that the struggles, the sacrifices, and the relentless work are for a greater purpose. It’s an opportunity to share my story on a larger platform, to show people that “Attitude determines altitude.” 

I feel closer to my family now more than ever, and have welcomed new siblings just this year I cannot wait to watch grow and thrive and be a stable person in their lives.

Our dreams—whether they involve a pageant title, streaming video games, or becoming a surgeon—don’t define our worth. We do. It’s our mindset, our internal dialogue, and how we treat ourselves and others that truly matter.

At the end of the day, we all face adversity. We all have moments where life tests us. But we have the power to rewrite our own narratives. So be kind—to yourself and to others—because we’re all on our own journey, discovering just how high we can soar.

With love and applause for you, wherever you are in your journey of life,

Allyssa Defillipo, Miss Klamath County 2024

2x 4th Runner Up at Miss Oregon

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Allyssa Defillipo is the current Miss Klamath County (OR). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.