BERKS COUNTY’S Miss Pennsylvania Advocates for Mental Health

BY KELLY TANGER

Alysa Bainbridge currently reigns as Miss Pennsylvania, and she’s from our very own backyard, being born and raised in Berks and graduating from Schuylkill Valley High School. She holds degrees in communications and journalism and is working toward her master’s degree in leadership. Alysa certainly keeps busy but makes time for her passions, including advocating for mental health awareness.

Says Alyssa, “I plan to go back and pursue my career in broadcasting, and ultimately the dream would be to host either a national morning show or some kind of lifestyle entertainment show on TV.” Alysa’s adoration for the Miss America Pageant started at an early age, with her mother participating in similar events.

“I really don’t remember a time when I didn’t know what Miss America was or didn’t dream of being there. I grew up around extremely talented, well-rounded women and seeing them as role models, and so many of the women who did my mom’s competition went on to compete as Miss Pennsylvania. So, I was exposed to it at a really young age, and I knew I wanted to be like that,” she says.

From then on, it became her dream and goal to achieve, and she worked hard for it. Alysa was crowned Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen in 2016. She’s also held the titles of Miss Berks County in 2020 and Miss Greater Reading in 2022. But her big dream came true when she was crowned Miss Pennsylvania in June 2022 and had the amazing opportunity to compete in the Miss America Pageant. But her dreams don’t stop there…

A Passionate Advocate For Mental Health

During Alysa’s year-long Miss Pennsylvania reign, and beyond, she's working to advocate for a social impact initiative that is near and dear to her heart. Says Alysa, who grew up with two siblings struggling with mental illness, “I knew right away when I got started with Miss America when I was 15 that I wanted to be an advocate for mental health and specifically to empower people who are living with mental health disorders.”

Alysa remembers her brother, who lived with bipolar disorder, once expressing that he never felt like he was more than his illness. This, along with his unfortunate passing, spurred Alysa to create the nonprofit Tyler’s Triumph: The More Than Project.

Its focus is on encouraging others struggling with similar mental health diagnoses, letting them know they are, indeed, more than their illness. Tyler’s Triumph provides education to school groups and others about mental health and substance use disorders and how to discuss these topics with compassion. Alyssa also created the More Than Stigma pledge. She says, “I have students take the pledge to be allies to their peers who might be living with a mental illness and to overcome stigma. My message is really one of hope…letting people know the importance of that early mental health intervention and the difference that it can make. My family has seen both ends of the spectrum: how dark mental illness can be, but also that there is hope and that you can always come back from it.” Miss America has given her the platform to speak and reach more people in hopes to inspire them to be More Than.

LEARN MORE Pageant Perks.

As a participant with the Miss America Organization, Alysa received a full tuition scholarship and is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Leadership at Cabrini Academy.

Helping Others.

Alysa’s younger sister was diagnosed with mental illness at a young age, but has continued treatment and is now thriving, pursuing a career in counseling.