She did it. After five years of pursuing the dream, Allyssa Defillipo — Klamath Living's own Content Coordinator — has been crowned Miss Oregon, and she's bringing the title home to Klamath Falls.

On the Seaside stage Saturday night, surrounded by the lights, the nerves, and the years of work that led to this moment, Allyssa heard her name called. For everyone who has followed her journey — from the pages of Klamath Living to the Miss Oregon finals — it was the storybook ending we'd all been holding our breath for. And for Klamath Falls, it means something special: our community now has a Miss Oregon.

A Crown Years in the Making

This was Allyssa's fifth time competing for Miss Oregon, and she came into Seaside as one of the program's most familiar and respected faces — a Top-5 finalist for several consecutive years, including first runner-up in 2025. Each near-miss only sharpened her resolve. This year, competing as Miss Sierra Cascade, she left no doubt.

Her path to the crown ran through the local Miss Klamath County / Miss City of Sunshine Scholarship Program, where she first stepped onto a stage as Miss City of Sunshine in 2022, followed by Miss Klamath County (2024) and Miss Southern Jewel (2025). Every title was a step toward this one.

More Than a Title

What makes Allyssa's win resonate so deeply is why she competes. She was raised by her grandmother — a woman of remarkable strength who faced cancer five times with grace and courage. Though Allyssa lost her this past year, her grandmother remains one of the greatest sources of strength and inspiration in her life, and the challenges they weathered together — including childhood food insecurity — shaped the mission Allyssa carries today. Her community platform, "E.A.T. to Live" (Educate, Access, Transform), and her children's book, "Why Is My Tummy Grumbling?", have made her one of Klamath Falls' most dedicated advocates for children's nutrition. She has taught hundreds of local students, reached hundreds more through her seminars, and helped raise thousands of pounds of food for local food banks.

Now she carries that platform — and the name of Klamath Falls — to the Miss America stage.

From Our Pages to the National Stage

We've been lucky to call Allyssa a teammate. As Klamath Living's Content Coordinator, she helps our community's families tell their stories every month, bringing the same heart and discipline to our pages that she brings to the stage. Watching someone we work beside earn the title of Miss Oregon is a moment of profound pride for our whole team.

If you're just discovering her story, start with her Klamath Living cover feature, "Blazing a Trail from Adversity to Empowerment," and our send-off, "Rooting for Allyssa."

A Proud Night for the Basin

It was a banner night for the whole Klamath Basin all around: Emily Redling, Miss Klamath County, finished as 2nd Runner-Up — sending two Klamath-area women into the top tier of the Miss Oregon competition. Our community showed up on that Seaside stage.

Congratulations, Miss Oregon

Allyssa, you represented Klamath Falls with integrity, confidence, and grace — and now you'll represent all of Oregon the same way. From your entire Klamath Living family and the whole community cheering you on back home: congratulations, Miss Oregon. We could not be more proud of you. 💙