Brielle LaCosta

Personal background

LaCosta currently resides in Warren County, New Jersey. She is the step-daughter of Dennis LaCosta, guitarist for the popular 1980s band, Five 4 Ran$om; and Dawn LaCosta, whom she no longer has a relationship with. Her biological father was diagnosed with Brain Cancer in 2010 which is what started her advocacy for that cause. She grew up in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey and moved to Warren Township in 2001. Her father, Dennis LaCosta, is also a 9/11/01 World Trade Center 1 Survivor.

She is a reigning pageant titleholder, and has been a print model and public speaker. She was named the "Queen of Hearts" by a large International news source located in Australia in 2008. She has been recognized in over 20 countries as an advocate on behalf of autism. and was also awarded for her Outstanding Advocacy and works in October 2013 by Autism Radio.

In 2003, LaCosta graduated from Governor Livingston High School. After graduation, she went to Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. While in Connecticut, LaCosta became a victim of identity theft after submitting personal information on the Internet. She appeared on Peter Jennings and Good Morning America to speak about Internet Safety.

In 2006, she was in a near-fatal automobile accident, which delayed her college graduation by one year. The accident collapsed her lungs and she developed asthma from it. She is a community advocate for wearing seat belts and saving lives. She has made a full recovery. Coincidentally, exactly seven years after her automobile accident, her father was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in June 2013 that left him severely cognitively impaired and unable to drive.

LaCosta transferred to Rutgers University in New Brunswick and spent her junior year studying abroad in Sydney, Australia at Macquarie University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a minor in Sociology, and a certificate in Criminology. She immediately began working as a Life Coach for adults with autism, and is proficient in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at the Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI), an internationally known center for children with developmental disabilities. She spoke at the prestigious Zagoren Lecture on October 27, 2010 at Rutgers University about her involvement and research with Autism. In October, 2011, LaCosta opened her own corporation called "House of Motivation," designed to help teen and college girls through difficult years. She also is a community leader, and enjoys being a role model for middle and high school students.

Recently she made headlines in May 2014 when she chaperoned the Califon Borough 7th and 8th grade school dance. The students thought it was "cool" that she took the time to hang out with them and enjoyed taking photos with her.

Beauty pageants

On December 5, 2009, LaCosta was crowned Miss New Jersey International with Autism Awareness as her platform. In her role, LaCosta visited the Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey monthly and joined the children for recreation hour. She moved onto the worldwide International pageant in August 2010.

On October 9, 2010, she was one of five judges for the Teen, Miss and Mrs. New York International Pageant.

On March 26, 2011, LaCosta was crowned Miss New Jersey Galaxy 2011. She represented both the state of New Jersey and the United States at the Miss Galaxy Pageant in August 2011. Her platform again is Autism Awareness, and continues to make appearances nationally for this cause.

Brielle LaCosta won her most recent title in 2013, winning Miss East Coast International. She competed in the Miss International 2014 Pageant, another worldwide pageant, where she represented New Jersey and the East Coast. Although she did not win, she placed highly.

Corporate representation

LaCosta was the 2010 National Spokesperson for the Luca John Foundation and the New Jersey spokesperson for the American Lung Association and the United Way of America. She has been active with the American Lung Association, since she was diagnosed with asthma, following her automobile accident. She is also chair of the Central New Jersey Autism Speaks Grand Club and "advocates" throughout the state for people diagnosed with autism. In 2010, Bloomingdale's named LaCosta 1 of the 4 Most Influential People in New Jersey and she appeared with the Sam Edelman shoe collection. She is the 2011 Autism Speaks Resource Fair Chair. She was also named the 2012 Publicity Chair for Autism Speaks. She was also honored and recognized by Warren Township for her work as well.

On April 17, 2010, LaCosta hosted the Dancing With The Stars Breath of Spring Gala for the American Lung Association held at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

On June 6, 2010, LaCosta appeared in the pregame ceremony on the field at the Trenton Thunder Minor League Baseball team's annual Autism Awareness Game, on behalf of Autism Speaks. She also threw out the first pitch in the game between the Thunder and the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants). On June 16, 2010, LaCosta represented Autism Speaks at the Somerset Patriots baseball game.

I am thrilled to be a part of Disability Awareness Day at the Somerset Patriots Game June 16th, 2010, sponsored by EmPoWER Somerset and Somerset County Department of Human Services and Board of Chosen Freeholders. The event will highlight the achievements of those with special needs and promote the resources available to individuals with disabilities in Somerset County. I am passionate about working with groups for special needs and have partnered with Autism Speaks to raise awareness about Autism.

—Brielle LaCosta

In addition, she has also made appearances and volunteered with the Best Friends Network, MCASPCA, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, Susan G. Komen, American Heart Association, Autism Family Tours, Autism of NJ, Special Olympics, Garden Academy school for autism, and Handfuls of Hope.

Public appearances

Brielle made over 375 appearances as Miss New Jersey International 2010 and Miss East Coast International, across the nation, mostly for Autism Awareness. As Miss East Coast International, she has been seen at several charity events across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

Modeling

In addition to her pageant work, LaCosta is also a model, appearing in magazines. In 2009, she modeled Vera Wang bridal gowns and appeared in the now defunct Modern Bride magazine. She also modeled COACH, Banana Republic and Chanel in the 2009 Palmer Square Fashion Show. LaCosta has also done extra-work and has appeared on multiple episodes of MTV's "High School Stories," and in feature films; Rocky Balboa, Chain Reaction III and Man of the Year (featuring Robin Williams). In early 2011 she modeled Jovani Fashions for Bilsen Galleries. In April 2011, she modeled various pageant designer dresses and worked with world renown Carter Studios. On May 6, 2011 LaCosta appeared in a Fashion Show for EmPower Somerset and was part of the Opening Day ceremony for the Somerset Patriots. In May 2011, LaCosta modeled the famous Merlin collection for Supermodels Unlimited Magazine in Boston, MA. In November 2011 LaCosta took place in a designer fashion show in Atlantic City featuring dresses from reality show, Jersey Couture.