Alyssa Campanella
This pageant princess, model and newly-engaged fashion blogger is a beauty to be reckoned with.
Most of us probably know Alyssa Campanella as famed Miss USA 2011. She’s spent a good portion of her life on screen, strutting in pageants, down runways and in photo shoots. This pageant princess, model and newly-engaged fashion blogger is a beauty to be reckoned with. She’s recently taken all she’s learned from her lifetime of experience and created The A List, a consolidation of all her fashion, beauty, travel and décor expertise.
We recently sat down with Alyssa to talk more about her exciting life, and her beauty and fashion favorites.
BWB: You launched your blog, The A-List, in 2014 with wonderful tips on Fashion, Beauty and more. What have you been working on lately?
It’s crazy to think that I’m already approaching the second anniversary of my blog! When I launched my first blog in February 2014, it was titled “Jumpers & Jasmine”, but the name just wasn’t sticking well with me or my style, so in March 2015 I renamed it “The A List,” and I cannot believe how much has happened in that time!
Lately I have been working on a few campaign collaborations with the blog that will launch this year. Currently I am gearing up for New York Fashion Week and then a fun trip to Europe, as well as the finishing touches on my wedding planning! My fiancé has also been helping me with the coding and the style of my blog’s email newsletters, so we are always working on that since we are planning to start adding weekly and monthly updates.
I have also been loving all the brighter, bolder coats I have seen everywhere this season from Instagram to blogs. It has inspired me to step away from the typical black and grey coats.
BWB: What have you been loving in Fashion right now?
Right now I am having a big obsession with white and lace… and I am not sure if that’s just because I am in bridal mode! I have also been loving all the brighter, bolder coats I have seen everywhere this season from Instagram to blogs. It has inspired me to step away from the typical black and grey coats and go for colors like lilac, white, and sapphire blue (despite living in Los Angeles where coats aren’t really a necessity!).
BWB: As a bride to be to the actor Torrance Coombs, are you following a different Beauty and Wellness routine before the wedding?
The biggest routine change I have made in preparations for the wedding is I began to take special vitamins (and they’re gummy, which is a plus!) for my skin, hair, and nails – mainly for my hair and nails though. I plan on taking some ballet bar classes before the wedding since I miss my ballet dancing days and I have made a promise to myself to step back into the gym (I’m that weird bride trying to gain weight before her wedding), but I would probably be doing both of those even if I wasn’t getting married!
I also love Nordic Beauty (an organic Scandinavian line) and Skin, Inc.
BWB: What skincare are you using these days?
As a teenager, my mom and a friend introduced me to Kate Somerville products, so I still use her products today especially her spot treatment for any blemishes. I also love Nordic Beauty (an organic Scandinavian line) and Skin, Inc. Since I have a tendency to randomly break out in eczema on my lower cheeks, my dermatologist recommended I stick to a simple moisturizer like Cetaphil whenever I have a breakout, but I love their moisturizer so much that I’ll use it daily even when I do not have a breakout!
BWB: Any recent discoveries that you love?
I recently discovered Byredo’s perfume Mojave Ghost and I’m addicted to it. I used to use their Blanche hand lotion religiously, and the other day while shopping I came across their Mojave Ghost scent and I’ve worn it daily since. It’s clean and refreshing but also very feminine. Plus the name makes me feel mysterious when I wear it!
As a former Miss USA, I’m used to heavy, caked on makeup, but I would say about 85% of my modeling gigs had me wearing very little and I loved it.
BWB: With your successful career as a model, what are the best beauty or makeup tips that you learned working?
I definitely learned that heavier isn’t always better. I’ve done some photo shoots where my makeup is CAKED on and then takes 30 minutes and 5 makeup removing wipes to take off, and I’ve also done photo shoots where the artists applied hardly anything. As a former Miss USA, I’m used to heavy, caked on makeup, but I would say about 85% of my modeling gigs had me wearing very little and I loved it.
I love Sania’s Brow Bar. She did my brows when I was living in New York City as Miss USA.
BWB: What are your favorite places in New York for Beauty and Wellness?
I love Sania’s Brow Bar. She did my brows when I was living in New York City as Miss USA, and I’ve been growing them out so I can visit her again in February just before Fashion Week.
BWB: You travel a lot with work, what do you always pack in your bag?
I think the question should be what don’t you always pack in your bag! I have a tendency to over pack since my schedule is constantly changing even at the last minute. But I would say my main travel necessities in my carry on would be my iPad (I get all my magazines on there and I screenshot inspirations or tips), whichever book I am currently nose deep in, perfume (I have a VERY sensitive nose), Aquaphor for my lips (they dry out FAST on airplanes), some type of non-perishable food (9 times out of 10 though it’s always chocolate), and a bit of moisturizer to prevent my face from drying.
