Vincenza Carrieri-Russo
This powerhouse leader, media personality, entrepreneur, and literacy advocate tackles life by staying grounded thanks to strong family bonds.
Vincenza, photographed by Doreen Laskiewicz Photography.
Food is the family language. Long before spreadsheets and microphones, the table did the teaching. Ask what anchors her, and the answer circles back to her father. The bond is close and easy to hear. He set the standard for how food should taste and how people should be treated. Recipes could evolve with the seasons, but standards were nonnegotiable. He kept notes, adjusted methods, and expected care with every step, from the first diced tomato to the last plate leaving the pass. He also modeled the less glamorous parts of the work. Show up early. Leave the space better than you found it. She credits her upbringing for the choices she and her sister Margherita make every day at V&M Bistro. Vincenza takes pride in a plate that says thank you, welcome home, and you matter, all at once. Their father’s wisdom echoes through their approach: “You’re not just pizza makers; you’re businesswomen.”
In addition to the restaurant, Vincenza’s family has owned Ice Cream Delight for more than 20 years, a beloved neighborhood spot that has become part of the community’s warm-weather rhythm. During the pandemic, it stood alongside V&M Bistro as one of the two family businesses she and Margherita were determined to protect, a reminder that for her family, serving their community isn’t just about meals but about small, simple joys, like a favorite cone on a summer afternoon.
She brings that same determination to Success Won’t Wait, which she started as a high school senior. Good books were sitting on shelves at home while classrooms and programs were hunting for age-appropriate reads. She found a solution that was straightforward. Collect, sort, label, and place books where they will be opened. Individuals and families donate clean, gently used titles. Deliveries head to school libraries, classroom shelves, and community partners that host family reading events. Students choose the titles that interest them, often with a second pick in case their first favorite has already found a home. “Our mission is to encourage reading, particularly for children… we collect books, bring them back to life, and redistribute them to places where they’re needed most.” Her efforts have resulted in the redistribution of more than 1 million books worldwide and in many literacy advocacy awards, including the national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award through the Jefferson Awards, a premier annual American awards program recognizing public and community service.
Pageantry enters as another arena where family habits pay off. Fueled by determination, advocacy work, volunteering, extensive training, and perseverance, she was awarded many crowns, including Miss Delaware USA 2008. “I never competed to win,” she reflects. “I competed to give my absolute best, to learn, to grow.” Today, she translates those experiences into V&M Productions, produces the Miss Delaware USA and Miss Delaware Teen USA Pageant under the Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Universe Organization. Vincenza emphasizes professionalism, safety, and growth. When she speaks of her titleholders, both past and current, you can sense the pride and protection that she carries for every one of them and how important it is that the women involved are provided a positive experience. She knows that the glamorous part is easy to imagine, but what people don’t see is the countless hours involving budgets, appearances, and the other moving parts that all fall under her watch. What happens offstage matters as much as anything under lights. Participants learn to translate strengths into practical action, from reading with elementary students to speaking at a community breakfast to organizing a supply drive for a local nonprofit. The best outcome is lasting confidence and a network that lasts. A crown is lovely, but a skill set that serves you in every room is even better.
Vincenza’s journey took an unexpected turn during the pandemic when a chance encounter led to an audition for Good Morning Delaware. Today, she co-hosts the show, interviewing individuals from across the state and beyond. “My job is to let others shine,” she explains. “The most important skill is listening – truly listening.” Guests arrive from schools, small businesses, nonprofits, local government, and the arts. The goal is not to dazzle viewers into silence. The goal is to invite action. Visit a program. Volunteer for a Saturday event. Support a local effort that matches your values. She is also available for hosting live events, panels, and on-air segments. She makes room for people to showcase their best.
At 32, Vincenza faced perhaps her most personal challenge, a lupus diagnosis. The initial news was devastating. Doctors advised her to stop much of her regular activities. “It felt like my world was crumbling,” she admits. But true to her nature, Vincenza transformed this challenge into an opportunity for growth. She dove deep into research, consulted multiple specialists, and ultimately chose a holistic approach to managing her condition. Through careful diet, stress management, and a profound understanding of her body, she learned to live fully despite her diagnosis. “Lupus taught me the importance of self-care,” she says. “You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is not selfish – it’s necessary.”
Vincenza’s story is a testament to what happens when grit, heart, and purpose intersect. From her strong family influence, her restaurant entrepreneurship, literacy advocacy, leadership in the pageant world, navigating life with lupus, and stepping into the spotlight as a television host, she has consistently turned every challenge into a chance to serve and inspire. Whether she’s placing a book in a child’s hands, mentoring the next generation of titleholders, greeting guests at V&M Bistro, or giving someone else the microphone on-air, Vincenza’s through line is clear: use your gifts, your voice, and your platform to uplift others and leave every community you touch better than you found it. §
