Alyssa Sullivan’s faith is as bright as her enthusiasm, and her smile is as wide as her ambition.
For six years, the parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cape May Court House, competed for the crown of Miss New Jersey, finally achieving her dream last summer.
Now, as the 25 year-old prepares for the 100th Miss America competition this month, Sullivan is thankful for the struggle and hopeful for the opportunity to make a difference in her community.
“I’m excited to be a part of history,” she says, adding that her journey “is a beautiful testament to trusting in God’s plan. When I go to the Miss America pageant, I’ll represent the people of New Jersey with who I am, authentically, with God at the center of it all.”
A lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels, Sullivan credits her family and parish community for raising her “with a heart for service,” exhibited in the ministries she has served in over the years: altar server, lector, catechist and Eucharistic minister.
Her passion for the stage started early, as she began singing and dancing at age two before pursuing musical theatre in school.
Graduating summa cum laude from Glassboro’s Rowan University in 2020, she received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and was awarded the Jack Gillespie Award for Excellence in Journalism. After interning at news organizations including 6 ABC, Fox 29 and Fox News, she went on to become a production coordinator for the PHL17 Morning News.
Between her budding career and Miss America initiative – “Peer Challenge Commit 2 Character” – Sullivan wants to make an impact in the world. In her travels and public speaking appearances across the state as Miss New Jersey, she has stressed to teenagers the importance of positivity and uplifting role models, as well as spoken about the consequences of underage drinking, drug usage and unplanned pregnancy.
Since becoming Miss New Jersey last June, Sullivan said she has “stepped out of my comfort zone” in connecting with individuals through her speaking engagements at schools, churches, businesses and fundraisers throughout New Jersey.
“It’s about the impact you have, the people you can help,” Sullivan explains about her mission as Miss New Jersey. “I want people to leave an encounter with me saying, ‘She made me feel something; she made a difference.’”
Sullivan has been preparing for the Miss America Competition – being held Dec. 12-16 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. – with mock interviews and by concentrating on her health and fitness, as well as singing lessons.
About the other contestants with whom she will be sharing the stage, Sullivan only has good things to say. “I’m excited to be among so many extraordinary women.”
It’s taken six years, but Sullivan’s persistence, hard work and faith is taking her to the Miss America stage.
“I’m going into [the Miss America Competition] without a true worry; I go grateful,” she says. “I’ve learned that in life, sometimes God doesn’t say ‘no’ but ‘not yet.’ You have to trust His plan.”
The Miss America Competition begins Dec. 12 with the first round of preliminary competition, followed by the second round of preliminaries Dec. 13. The final night of competition is Dec. 16. For information, visit www.missamerica.org.
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