Del. beauty queen crowned a Top 40

For most people, a trip to Las Vegas means bright lights and casinos. But for Vincenza Carrieri-Russo, the current Miss Delaware U.S.A., a trip to Vegas meant getting to compete in the nationally televised Miss U.S.A. pageant.

"I had so much fun," Carrieri-Russo says. "I was having the time of my life."

The excitement didn't end after the pageant. Carrieri-Russo came home to find she was named one of the "People to Watch: 40 Under 40" by Delaware Today magazine.

Carrieri-Russo was both surprised and pleased to hear about the recognition.

"I was just getting back to reality, and then I come home to this," she says.

Carrieri-Russo, born and raised in Newark, is a 23-year-old university student pursuing a career in broadcast journalism. However, she decided to take a year off from school when she won Miss Delaware USA so that she could focus on the title.

Carrieri-Russo was among many candidates for the "40 Under 40" feature. The winners were selected by Matt Amis, author of the feature.

"We wanted to key in on people who would be representative of the state," Amis says.

He says they were careful to incorporate balance in the feature by including men and women from upstate and downstate Delaware. They made sure to integrate people of various ages, professions and ethnicities. Amis says the purpose of this balance was to be sure that anyone who reads the article will be able to find someone who will appeal to them, or someone to whom they can relate.

Amis says the people of Delaware Today were very impressed by Carrieri-Russo.

"She has tons of charisma, and she works so hard," he says.

Even more prestigious was the fact that she was featured on the cover of the issue.

"One thing we always like to do is promote our local celebrities," Amis says.

Laura Moss, Carrieri-Russo's business manager, says her accomplishments and approachability give her a uniqueness that makes her worthy of being named in the "40 Under 40." Though she hasn't graduated from college, Carrieri-Russo has developed a long list of achievements, which include the Outstanding Young Wilmingtonian Jaycees Nominee in 2007, the National Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Service Benefiting a Local Community in 2006 and Delaware's Representative to the National Jefferson Awards for Outstanding Community Service in 2006.

"Add to that her new celebrity status as Miss Delaware U.S.A., and she could seem larger than life to her peers, but she is so real, and funny, and easy to talk to," Moss states in an e-mail message. "She is proof to others that one person can make a difference."

The proof is seen in Success Won't Wait, Inc., a literacy program that was co-founded by Carrieri-Russo six years ago.

"Basically I encourage reading, especially by children," Carrieri-Russo says. "It's been quite an experience but I enjoy doing it."

The organization is based in Wilmington and organizes state-wide book drives that ask residents to donate used books for redistribution throughout the community. At present, the organization has succeeded in collecting more than 100,000 books.

Success Won't Wait, Inc. uses these donations to operate three different programs: Children's Book Baskets, Creating Independent Libraries and Special Projects. The Children's Book Baskets are comprised of 30 to 50 children's books of all varieties that are placed in areas where children have to wait, such as lobbies or the waiting room of a pediatrician's office. The Independent Libraries are set up in temporary residential as well as in day-only settings. Lastly, the organization carries out Special Projects, such as large book donations to U.S. soldiers overseas, donations to teen programs and preschool agencies.

Carrieri-Russo says she looks at her title as Miss Delaware USA as a vehicle. She is able to focus on literacy, and the title is the little extra bit that helps her reach out to more kids.

"I use the crown as a microphone," she says. "I speak louder now."

Carrieri-Russo says she worked hard and sacrificed a great deal to get where she is today. She also credits her success to the help and support of her friends and family.

Her message to others is to persevere, and to never give up.

"It's the best feeling when you finally achieve something you've worked so hard for for so long," she says.

In light of all her recent success, Carrieri-Russo still remembers the importance of being humble, grateful and true to herself.

"I always strive to better myself, to learn more, to improve on my weaknesses," she says.

She doesn't worry about what other people will think or expect now that she is one of the "40 Under 40" people to watch.

"I'm sure there are expectations, but I wouldn't change anything about myself," Carrieri-Russo says. "I wouldn't do anything different."