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Hey Feminists, Your demonization of Miss America is hypocritical
Medium, December 2019
by Alissa Musto
Last Thursday, the 99th Miss America was crowned at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. Congrats, Miss Virginia! Now, cue the comment section. Cue the social justice warriors of Twitter declaring pageants to be sexist, antiquated, demeaning and the root of all gender inequality in America (ok, maybe the last one is a bit of a stretch). And because everything on the internet leads back to Donald Trump, cue the broken record regurgitating the myth that Miss America is just another item on the President’s list of human rights violations. Maybe I should clarify for the people in the back; Donald Trump has never had ANYTHING to do with Miss America. Miss America has NOTHING to do with Donald Trump. Fake news. No collusion.)...Read More
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Interviews with People Who Have Interesting or Unusual Jobs: Alissa Musto, Former Miss Massachusetts
McSWEENEY'S INTERNET TENDENCY, September 2019
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Local Pageant Contestants React to Miss America Dropping Swimsuit Competition
NBC 10, June 2018
Alissa Musto, a former Miss Massachusetts, is voicing her objection to Miss America's major makeover. Musto, who still performs at an elite level with quite a range, is an accomplished musician and Harvard University graduate. "Some women find it empowering to go out there and compete in a bathing suit. A woman should be able to walk out on stage, on tv, in everyday life wearing whatever she wants," Musto says.
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Miss Massachusetts 2016--A Final Goodbye
Today marks a bitter-sweet day as Alissa Musto prepares to crown a new successor! During Miss America 2017, Musto places in the Top 15 contestants, a huge mark for Massachusetts! Here is a look at some more exclusive shots from her photoshoot with us, in honor of the pageant this evening!
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Miss Massachusetts lends musical talents to Head Start
The Herald News, ​December 2016
“The ABCs” and “Old MacDonald” aren’t usually in Miss Massachusetts Alissa Musto’s repertoire. But on Tuesdays, the singer-songwriter-pianist shares her musical skills volunteering with kids in the Head Start program at the former Aldrich School.
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What it takes to be Miss Massachusetts
Mass Appeal WWLP News, October 2016
Being a pageant winner is not just all glitz and glamour, it takes a lot of time, effort and community outreach. Alissa Musto, the 2016 Miss Massachusetts joined us to talk about her journey thus far.
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Miss America 2017 Pageant: Top 15 Contestants Revealed LIVE
She hopes to be an attorney and also wishes to follow her musical aspirations.
Miss Massachusetts, Alissa Musto, Gets Real About Cyberbullying
Justine Magazine, September 2016
Alissa Musto is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, music education advocate, and the reigning Miss Massachusetts. She is a recent graduate of Harvard University, and she uses her platform as Miss Massachusetts to educate students about the realities of cyberbullying.
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Miss America Contestant Longs To Be A Lawyer
Above the Law, September 2016
Meet Alissa Musto, who’s perhaps better know these days as Miss Massachusetts. Musto is a talented pianist who recently graduated from Harvard, and when it was announced that she’d made the top 15 at the Miss America pageant last night, here’s how she introduced herself to the world
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52 Fun Facts About This Year's Miss America Hopefuls
Cosmopolitan, September 2016
When Miss Massachusetts Alissa Musto struts her stuff on the Miss America stage, two things will be fake: her two front teeth. When she was studying abroad in Spain, she tripped, fell and knocked out her front teeth, so she had to get fake ones put in.
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Shoes, shoes, shoes: Miss America style!
Striking Taj Mahal casino workers wave to Miss Massachusetts Alissa Musto. Bet she has a musical talent!
Miss Mass revisits Whaler’s Cove before Miss America pageant
SouthCoast Today, August 2016
Miss Massachusetts reconnected with folks at Whaler’s Cove before heading off to Atlantic City next month for the Miss America Pageant.Alissa Musto, a Rehoboth native, has a long-standing relationship with the assisted-living facility on Riverside Avenue. “She used to come here and perform with her father,” Activities Director Jeannine Pacheco said. “She was fantastic. She sings and plays piano.”
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Rehoboth resident crowned Miss Massachusetts, will compete in Miss America pageant
The Taunton Gazette, July 2016
Alissa Musto was once a starry-eyed little girl watching the Miss America Pageant on television. It seemed like a fantasy world. She never imagined she’d be walking across that stage one-day.But that’s just what’s going to happen. This September, the 21-year-old Rehoboth resident will be representing Massachusetts in the iconic national pageant, along with 51 other contestants from the other 49 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Love of music helped Rehoboth’s Musto to earn Miss Mass. title
The Sun Chronicle, ​July 2016
Alissa Musto was shocked to hear her name called.“I was definitely surprised,” she said. “There were a lot more girls that had more experience. I couldn’t believe it. Any one of them could have been the winner.” Hailing from Rehoboth and having graduated in May from Harvard University with a degree in government, the 21-year-old Musto earned the title of Miss Massachusetts on July 2 at the 77th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant.
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Alissa Musto of Rehoboth is Miss Massachusetts 2016
Reporter Today, July 2016
Alissa Musto, 21, of Rehoboth, was selected as Miss Massachusetts 2016 on Saturday, July 2, at the 77th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant. Competing as Miss Cambridge, she was chosen from among 24 contestants at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. Alissa was awarded a $12,000 scholarship, and will compete at the Miss America Pageant in September in Atlantic City, N.J.
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New Miss Massachusetts is Harvard grad Musto, competitor with musical message
Cambridge Day, ​July 2016
Miss Cambridge has been crowned Miss Massachusetts. Alissa Musto, 21, of Rehoboth, was selected Saturday at the 77th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant in Worcester to be Miss Massachusetts for the year, beating out 23 contestants and winning the right to compete at the Miss America Pageant in September in Atlantic City, N.J. It was her second year vying for the title.
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Tracked down: Alissa Musto, Olivia Culpo, Louis C.K. and more
Alissa Musto, 21, of Rehoboth competing as Miss Cambridge, being crowned Miss Massachusetts 2016 at the 77th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant. (The recent Harvard grad, who earned a degree in government, will compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., in September)
SPOTLIGHT: Alissa Musto, Miss Cambridge 2016
Cambridge Chronicle, ​May 2016
For Harvard University senior, Alissa Musto, wearing the crown of Miss Cambridge has become an avenue for sharing her passion for music with youth who may otherwise not have the opportunity to explore musical composition.
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