Guest Of The Week

Vincenza Carrieri-Russo

As the new Executive State Director of the Miss Delaware USA & Miss Delaware Teen USA Pageants, under the Miss Universe Organization, Vincenza advocates empowering women and breaking barriers. The Miss Universe Organization is the most prestigious pageant organization in the world. Vincenza provides young women the opportunity to have a voice and make a difference in their community. However, she is no stranger to pageantry. Prior to capturing the coveted Miss Delaware United States crown in 2014 and securing the 2nd runner-up spot at the national Miss United States Pageant, Vincenza competed in pageants for many years, winning dozens of titles along the way. One highlight was when Vincenza was selected as Miss Delaware USA and competed on primetime national television in the 2008 Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas. She was also the first representative from Delaware to compete in the 2010 Miss Italy USA Pageant, placing Top 6 in the nation. One of her more recent titles was being selected from over millions of women across the country as the first national Elite Miss Earth USA 2015. Vincenza works as a model, actress, and event hostess. She has walked the catwalk in New York City for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, done catalog and print work, appeared in feature films, emceed and hosted dozens of events, fundraisers and nationally televised pageants, and has even been featured on the cover of numerous magazines. Vincenza also maintains a thriving television career and has filmed over 40 commercials for such well-known names as Fiat, Mercedes, Maserati, Conair, Bikini Zone and Sugar House Casino. Vincenza’s life, however, is not all about glitz, celebrity and crowns, although she is the “queen of the kitchen” at her new restaurant, the Vincenza & Margherita Italian-American Bistro! The restaurant, which opened in 2014, is the brainchild of Vincenza and younger sister Margherita, 3rd generation restaurateurs. In just a little over two years, the V&M Bistro has garnered hundreds of glowing reviews and was selected for impressive recognition including Best of Delaware Awards 2015-2020 for Best Italian Cuisine, Best Specialty Cocktails, Best Homemade Pasta & Best Contemporary Italian. Inside, the chic atmosphere is equal to any New York or Los Angeles hot spot. The bar is staffed with expert mixologists who create award-winning combinations like the Caramel Apple Martini or the famous Limoncello Ice Martini served with in-house made Italian lemon ice and fresh limoncello. And, V&M’s ever changing menu contains everything from delicious pasta handcrafted on site, to freshly baked bread, plus creative takes on classic favorites like Eggplant Parmigiano with Gnocchi, Timballo, and Linguini Frutti Di Mare, as well as exclusive V&M Pizzettes. (Due to Covid-19, V&M Bistro is currently operating as a TAKE OUT business and has reinvented their entire business model in order to survive this pandemic) In her spare time, Vincenza works tirelessly at Success Won’t Wait, the literacy organization she co-founded in 2002, when she was just an 18-year-old high school senior. Over the past 19 years, she has been active in promoting literacy and has helped collect and redistribute well over 1 million books to communities, schools and organizations in need throughout the US and abroad. Vincenza has been honored with several prestigious awards for her ongoing literacy efforts like the State of Delaware Jefferson Award, the Daily Points of Light Award as the Nation’s Volunteer of the Day, the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, and more. Vincenza was also honored with a National Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for outstanding community service. She even has a day named after her; In Newark, Delaware: July 15th is “Vincenza Carrieri-Russo Day.” She is also a spokesperson for Lupus, a disease she has suffered with since 2011. In the seven years since her diagnosis, Vincenza has worked tirelessly to educate the public about this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease. Her fundraising and awareness efforts include an annual 5K Walk “Team Vincenza/Beyond The Crown” and numerous speaking engagements. She even recently appeared as the cover story for Health Monitor's Arthritis Magazine’s expose on Lupus. Articles:

https://www.pmq.com/vm-bistro-sister-...

https://townsquaredelaware.com/2020/0...

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/...

www.MissDelawareUSA.com

www.VincenzaCR.com

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Host Of The Show

Paul A. Belletiere, ACC

MAVPP.com

410-258-3832

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Sponsor Of The Week

Mid Atlantic Video & Photography Production

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info@mavpp.com

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