Former Miss Delaware USA and the new Executive State Director of the Miss Delaware USA & Miss Delaware Teen USA Pageant, Vincenza advocates for empowering women and breaking barriers. The Miss Universe, Miss USA & Miss Teen USA Organizations are the most prestigious pageant organizations in the world. Vincenza provides young women the opportunity to have a voice and make a difference in their community. Vincenza’s life, however, is not all about glitz, celebrity and crowns, although she is the “queen of the kitchen” at her restaurant, the Vincenza & Margherita Italian-American Bistro! V&M Bistro, which opened in 2014, is the brainchild of Vincenza and younger sister Margherita, 3rd generation restaurateurs.

A more recent accomplishment was being invited to sit on the Board of Directors for the Delaware Restaurant Association. In her spare time, Vincenza works tirelessly at Success Won’t Wait, the literacy organization she co-founded in 2002, 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 for over 20 years. Vincenza has been honored with several prestigious awards for her ongoing literacy efforts like the State of Delaware Jefferson Award. 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.” Currently, Vincenza is following her life-long dream of a TV host, as the new Co-host of Good Morning Wilmington at DETV. Tune in every Monday and Wednesday at 10am on Channel 28 or follow DETV on all social media platforms!