Meet Our Team Of Volunteers
Founder & Owner
Isabella started Military Star when she was 6 years old with her Grandfather Raymond. She listened to his stories of being a Vietnam Veteran as a Specialist Assault Helicopter Gunner with the 118th Bandits. Together they started raising funds for Veteran organizations through pageantry and so far, has donated over $25,000 to different Veteran related organizations just in her home state of Pennsylvania! It has since grown into many different states to become Miss Military Star and it’s own nonprofit Military Star Organization. She has earned many pageant titles of her own and has won many Presidential Service and Congressional Awards for her work ethic in service to her communities. She is a competitive twirler and hopes to attend Penn State someday to become a part of the Blue Band.
Co-National Director
Melissa resides in New Castle, PA with her husband Ed and their two daughters. She’s been involved in pageantry for over 20 years as a competitor (Miss Pittsburgh 2001) judge, and her most recent endeavor as a pageant mom! Her daughters hold many local, regional, state, national and international titles. She is a mastered pianist and enjoys playing when she can! She is also co-founder of the Miss Military Star Organization which focuses on giving back to our nation’s service men and women organizations. Coming from a long line of Veterans, she believes that we can never say thank you enough to anyone who protects our freedoms! She especially loves giving back to her community and helping others achieve their goals!
Co-National Director
Rebecca Anderson resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband Kyle and fur babies. In 2019 she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from The Pennsylvania College of Technology and currently works as a quality engineer. Outside her professional life, Rebecca has been competing in pageants since she was 7 years old and it has built her confidence tremendously which is what she hopes it does for others also.
Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband, walking her dogs at the lake and traveling to new places.
Military Star New York
Jennifer has been married for 19 years, and her husband is a US Marine Veteran. She is also a pageant mom to two daughters who have both won multiple state and national titles. Jennifer believes strongly in the healthy arena of pageant competition and encourages others to follow their dreams! Her and her family take pride in and believe every gift and talent is created within each person for the purpose of serving and uplifting others.
A Syracuse University Alumni with a Master’s Degree in Art Education, she currently teaches as an Art educator in the Baldwinsville Central School District. She volunteers locally as a Girl Scout Leader and as a CNY Scholastic Art board member. The charities she is involved with include Syracuse Honor Flight, Worth More Nation, and other national charities such as the American Heart Association and the ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign. Jennifer looks forward to wholeheartedly serving American military families with passion and national pride.
Military Star Pennsylvania
Jarah is the proud daughter, granddaughter, niece and cousin to someone of every branch of our US Military. She is the mother of 5 children and pageant mom, with her daughters winning multiple titles throughout their pageant career.
Her daughter Tasia created the Hearts for Homeless fundraiser pageant that they co-direct yearly as a fundraiser for homeless Veterans. Together they have raised countless amounts of food and monetary donations through their advocating. Her daughter Kortona is preparing to go to the US Navy to become a canine handler after she graduates High School.
Jarah’s goal as director is to help girls of all ages realize the importance of supporting our military and bringing awareness to the issues and sacrifices they face.
Military Star California
Paula is a California Native who comes from a long line of military Veterans spanning all services including her father, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. After 21 years of service, Paula retired from the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Storekeeper Chief. She joined the VFW in 2012 becoming a Bronze Legacy Life Member in 2021.
She has been married to Eric Jansen, who is also retired from the U.S. Navy after 29 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Paula has dedicated thousands of hours supporting the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Pageantry across San Diego.
Paula has earned numerous Medals, Ribbons and Achievements. She enjoys helping others, doing crafts and being involved in her community.
Military Star ohio
Latasha Manning is a mother of 2. Has been involved in pageants for 10 years watching her daughter compete as well as competing her self for a brief time. She enjoys spending her time with her children watching her daughter compete in all star cheer and pageants and playing at the park and swimming with her son. A native of Meadville Pennsylvania she is excited to be apart of this organization and help veterans all over the world.
Military Star virginia
Renee works for the Navy and hasn’t regretted one year of her 18 year career. She has two beautiful daughters that fell in love with pageantry after being exposed to the majesty, friendships and community involvement by one of Renee’s mentors Paula Jansen who is also a pageant director, coach to coworkers, motivational speaker, VFW commander and an all around amazing human. Renee loves giving back to her community and making the world a better place by teaching and leading the next generation to reach for those Military Stars.
