Oct 31, 2021
Christa DeMaio Crowned America's Miss Sweetheart
Christa DeMaio, 24, New Jersey, was crowned by her predecessor Jessica Indio America's Miss Sweetheart 2020 on October 30, 2021, at the Roxy Theatre. Talented, kind, passionate, and hard-working are just a few words to describe the new America’s Miss Sweetheart. The nation's most brilliant, beautiful, and compassionate delegates competed during the 2nd annual national competition hosted in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Christa by all measures is a girl boss on a mission to cultivate meaningful and lasting change in her community, especially for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Christa will be volunteering her time to aid in fundraisers for non-profits throughout the year like Feeding America, Charity Water, St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, Angel Tree, American Heart Association, Special Olympics, and others whom Christa values.
The America’s Miss Sweetheart Pageant’s mission is to inspire and empower young women by promoting body positivity and cultivating female leadership. The competition includes various phases of competition including evening gown, health and fitness, private interview, and delegate’s choice of talent or a speech. Also, delegates are featured in a group forum coined "Heart Talk Live" where delegates discuss pressing topics in the world today. The national titleholder receives an award-winning prize package including a 5-year renewable scholarship to Moravian University valued up to $29,000 per year for undergraduate and graduate degrees, a $5000 cash scholarship, 2 modeling contracts, and numerous photo shoots and prizes.
Growing up in New Jersey, Christa found a passion for theatre, sports, and community service at an extremely young age. She is a lover of all things food and enjoys spending her spare time cooking and baking, creating new recipes. You can also find Christa trying out the newest restaurant on the block.
Attending the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2015 Christa studied architecture briefly, before going on to follow her true passion — entrepreneurship and dismantling barriers and stigmas for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community. She now works as a job coach at the Center for Family Support where Christa teaches IDD individuals practical job skills and prepares them for any upcoming job interviews.
Named employee of the month in November 2019, Christa has found her calling in purpose in helping others find success against all odds. She hopes to one day lead the program and develop secondary initiatives to bring joy, hope, laughter, athletics, and a strong sense of community for those with different abilities.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today” - James Dean
A scholar-athlete in the US Army Reserve and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, Christa is a passionate cheerleader and now Head Cheerleading coach at Champion Force Athletics in New Jersey where she choreographs all routines and files all paperwork associated with her teams. While her unparalleled talent in cheer is no doubt impressive, Christa’s attitude, character, and integrity are what make her a true champion.
The recipient of the Sportsmanship Award from the Greater Middlesex Conference in 2015, Christa’s peers, acquaintances, coaches, and even strangers recognize an authentic sense of joy and humility in everything she does. As she continues to coach cheer for the youth of the Hamilton area, Christa plans to add an all-abilities team to her program once the pandemic calms down and it is safe for the youth in the IDD community.
Christa has grown up performing in pageants across the nation and fell in love with the community it created. In 2021, she and her pageant friend founded Crowned and Creative NJ LLC, where they create custom-designed clothing items, household items, and hair bows dedicated to various causes. For months dedicated to disabilities and diseases, such as Autism Acceptance Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company designs items for the cause and then donates a percentage of profit to an affiliated organization.
The new pageant organization, America’s Miss Sweetheart, strives to become the nation’s leading program for women. By creating a body positivity culture on and off the stage, promoting service, providing scholarships and leadership development for women. Christa DeMaio will showcase her dedication to service with zeal and will serve as a national body positivity advocate. Christa continues her mission to spread awareness and harness support for the IDD community. Follow Christa’s year of service on her official social media accounts.
Instagram: @americasmisssweetheart
TikTok: @americasmisssweetheart
Facebook: /AmericasMissSweetheart
Twitter: @AMS_Sweetheart
www.americasmisssweetheart.com