BIO

Alyssia Duda is a multifaceted talent, as an actress, model, dancer, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Alyssia’s Dream, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diversity in the world of ballet by providing ballet scholarships and essential dance supplies to young girls of color. In 2023 Alyssia’s Dream partnered with Paula Brown’s, Brown Ballerina’s to help to bring 34 girls from South Africa to the United States for a cultural exchange program where attendees received top notch ballet training by some of the artistic greats in dance.

Alyssia's impressive resume includes being cast four times in the prestigious Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker", performing for audiences as large as five thousand. She has also graced the stage at The Joffrey Ballet's 2017 annual gala. As an actress, Alyssia has appeared on popular television shows like Empire, The Chi, and Chicago Fire, and has featured in campaigns for American Girl, as well as commercials for Clearasil, GoGo Squeez, and more.

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Alyssia holds the titles of the 2023 Miss Windy City Teen and the 2024 Miss Gold Coast’s Teen in Chicago. She was also a top semi-finalist for the 2024 Miss Illinois' Teen competition. Alyssia is a best-selling author of the book, also entitled Alyssia’s Dream, which encourages children to dream big and pursue their aspirations. She shares her journey and inspires young readers through her story of achieving her own dreams. As a correspondent and event host for YoungStars360, an entertainment hub founded by A-lister Kenan Thompson and Executive Producer Cherie Chiles-Buchanan, Alyssia brings audiences the latest in young star news, red carpet reviews, celebrity interviews, and more.

Alyssia serves as an ambassador for national organizations such as Brown Girls Do Ballet and Girls Who Brunch. She has also been Vice Chair on the youth executive board for the non-profit social entrepreneurship organization, Dream for Kids. Her accolades include the Invisalign Changemaker Award, Girls Who Brunch Honoree, Amazon Best-Seller, Disney+ NextGen Shero, the M.E.A.N (Manage Emotions Avoid Negativity) Girls Empowerment Impact Award, and a grant recipient of the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation. Additionally, she has been selected for DJ Beverly Bond's Black Girls Rock program, Black Girls Lead, for three years in a row, and is a junior ambassador for YBK (Young Biz Kidz), an organization that nurtures young entrepreneurs.

Alyssia's achievements have garnered media attention from prominent media outlets such as Ebony Magazine, TheGrio, the Chicago Tribune, Fox 32, TrueStar Magazine, The US Times, and more. As she continues to achieve her goals, Alyssia is passionate about sharing her story and spreading the message that anything is possible. She emphasizes the importance of dreaming big and provides guidance on how young girls can achieve their dreams at The Dream Big Event, Dream Big workshops hosted by Alyssia's Dream, and through other various speaking engagements. Alyssia delivers the inspiring message of hope, determination, and the importance of dreaming big.