Alysse Dalessandro is a Midwest plus size fashion and travel blogger, LGBTQ influencer, writer, designer, and professional speaker based in Cleveland, Ohio. Alysse started her first business, a pop-up vintage store in 2009, while earning her degrees in Journalism and Gender Studies in Chicago. This creative entrepreneur is best known as the creator of body positive fashion brand turned fashion and lifestyle blog, Ready to Stare, founded in 2012.
From product development to creative direction, Alysse designed her own original jewelry and clothing collections for Ready to Stare through 2016. One of her proudest moments as a designer was seeing Gabourey Sidibe wearing her designs on the cover of .
Corporate experience in marketing and a passion for social change have provided Alysse with a strong background to become a trusted expert voice in the plus size fashion industry. Alysse has been featured on a number of notable press outlets including , , , , , and
Cleveland Magazine named Alysse one of their for 2018 for her work in the body positive community. Alysse was also honored by PHAT Girl Fresh Presents Lifestyled Honors in Spring 2018. In Fall 2018, Alysse was named to the first ever – a program designed to create more diverse opportunities for influencers. With more than 1600 applicants, making it into the Fohr Freshman Class was harder than getting into Harvard! NBC Out named Alysse one of their for her work as a contemporary change-maker, innovator and rising star in the LGBTQ community. GO Magazine named Alysse one of their .
Today, Ready to Stare has become a haven for those whom fashion has otherwise ignored especially those in the LGBTQ, plus size fashion and body positive communities. Ready to Stare is a space where individual style is celebrated and breaking the rules is encouraged.