Spotlight on Typhani Russo

For youngster Typhani Russo, it was all about the pretty dresses. Competing in pageants since the age of two, Russo admits that she didn't really understand what she was doing, but she "loved the frilly dresses and the ribbons; stuff that I would never think of wearing now!" Today, her continued involvement in pageants has taken a less material and more activist role as she utilizes the pageant platform to promote a cause close to her heart—the prevention of animal cruelty.

The daughter of a dance and baton instructor, Russo's love of the stage comes as no surprise. Now a Penn State Altoona Integrative Arts major, Russo took time off from the pageant circuit in high school to pursue her interests in dance and acting and focus on academics. It was during these high school years that she discovered her true passion for the theatre, and solidified her career goal.

Notes Russo, "The very first show in which I was cast was the Altoona Community Theater's production of 42nd Street. I still remember the incredible feeling of the curtain rising and the audience responding to you. From that point on, I fell in love with theatre and dance; I just knew that's what I wanted to do."

Like many aspiring actors, Russo first headed to New York City, high school diploma in hand. She enrolled in a musical theatre school for a short time, but decided that it would be best to first obtain a college education and receive a degree. "I had heard about the reputation of the Penn State Altoona arts program, and [their instructors] who are phenomenal and have so much experience. I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to receive both a bachelor's degree and also to learn from people who have had a lot of experience in their fields of teaching."

" I still remember the incredible feeling of the curtain rising and the audience responding to you. From that point on, I fell in love with theatre and dance; I just knew that's what I wanted to do."
—Typhani Russo

And she has not been disappointed in her decision. "I absolutely love it," states Russo. "I love the size of the campus. I love the friendly atmosphere and the faculty, the smaller classes and the extra-curricular activities."

Settled at the college, Russo made the decision to return to the pageant world last year. This time, her motivation went beyond the 'pretty dresses.' "I've always had a love for animals and felt I could use the pageant platform to spread the word about animal abuse and cruelty," says Russo.

Russo now is taking her cause far beyond the pageant world, as she has started her own animal rights campaign entitled Out of the Darkness of Cruelty and Into the Light of Compassion. She describes it as a list of guidelines of what to do if one witnesses animal cruelty, including prevention, who to call if abuse is suspected, and how to treat an animal. Having recently joined the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society as a volunteer, Russo hopes to partner with the Society to further her campaign. On her own, she has created a brochure and has her own website (www.typhanijanellerusso.com) to further her mission.

As a volunteer last summer with Aid for Animals/Laws for Paws, Russo had her first personal encounter with animal abuse. "We received a call that a yellow Labrador was chained to a tree, pregnant, and skin and bones. We found out that the owner was planning to shoot her when he found out she was pregnant."

AALP intervened and fostered the dog, Sadie. Reports Russo, "Sadie had eleven beautiful puppies. We took care of them at all hours of the day and night. All of the dogs now are healthy and in good homes." This experience touched Russo profoundly and solidified her commitment to her cause.

While Russo's main motivation derives from advancing her animal rights platform, she readily admits that there is a lot more to pageants than just that. Some "pageant people" even have coaches—walking coaches, interview coaches—whom they pay $500 or more. Russo notes that the clothes alone are expensive enough and she relies on CNN to keep her abreast of current events and her parents to quiz her on possible interview questions.

Russo's pageant experience has been positive and she notes that "all the girls are very friendly. The myths about that just aren't true; I've made great friends during my last year of pageants." And she values the networking opportunities that the pageant circle affords her, from gaining advice and making contacts for her future to touching people in the audience about her animal rights mission.

Russo's last year of pageantry has proved successful, having been crowned Miss World Rose International Queen 2006-2007; America's Ideal Miss Pennsylvania State Queen 2006-2007; Miss Logan Valley International 2006; Miss PA International 2006—People's Choice Award Winner and Third-Runner-up; and Miss Dance of Pittsburgh 2006—First Runner-up.

As for the future, Russo cannot imagine it without a stage. "I would be so lost working behind a desk! I just want to audition for as many things as possible—music videos, national touring companies, Broadway. These are hard goals, but I want to get my foot in the door and work my way up."

Russo is constantly auditioning and hopes to land a job with a professional theatre company soon. Although she is taking heavy course loads and going to school in the summer, hoping to get her bachelor's degree in two years as opposed to the usual four, the opportunity to be paid for her hard work is exciting and postponing her graduation would be alright.

"My parents are behind me 100 percent, but my mom jokes that I'm still going to be living at home when I'm fifty because I'll still be struggling to get auditions and make money!" A grateful Russo recognizes the financial commitment that her parents have made for her with respect to her pageants and her education and promises that "if I ever become famous, I definitely owe them."