Marissa Whitley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marissa Whitley
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|---|---|
| Born |
Marissa Janine Whitley
January 11, 1983 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Title |
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| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss Teen USA 2001 (winner) |
Marissa Janine Whitley (born January 11, 1983) is an American model and a former beauty queen. She became famous when she won the Miss Teen USA 2001 title, representing the state of Missouri. Marissa was the first person from Missouri to win this national competition.
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Early Life and Family
Marissa Whitley was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father was African-American, and her mother was European-American. Marissa was the youngest of four children.
When she was three years old, her mother passed away. Marissa then moved to Springfield, Missouri, and was raised by her aunt. Her older brothers and sisters went to live with other family members. Sadly, her father also passed away when she was very young, before they had a chance to meet.
Journey to Miss Teen USA
Marissa started her journey in beauty pageants to earn money for college. She won a local competition called Miss Merrie Christmas. Her older sister then encouraged her to try out for the Miss Missouri Teen USA Pageant.
Winning State Title
In 2000, Marissa won her first big title: Miss Missouri Teen USA. She also won an award for being the most friendly contestant, called Miss Congeniality. After winning the state title, she aimed for the national competition.
Becoming Miss Teen USA
Marissa's dream came true when she was 18 years old. With her warm and friendly personality, she made history. She became the first person from Missouri to win the national Miss Teen USA 2001 title. This big event was shown live on CBS television.
Life After the Crown
After winning Miss Teen USA, Marissa Whitley moved to New York City. She worked for MTV Networks, which is a popular TV channel. She also worked as a model for Ford Models, appearing in many advertisements. Marissa continued to travel around the country, speaking at different events and sharing her story.
