Vanessa Minnillo was born on November 9, 1980, at Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga, Philippines. Her father, Vince Minnillo, was a USAF aircrew member stationed at the base. Her mother, Helen Berecero, was a Filipina who Vince had met and married while stationed in the country. Vanessa was raised alongside an adopted brother, Vincent, two years older than her.
In 1997, Vanessa was encouraged to enter a beauty pageant by her boyfriend's father. That October, she was crowned Miss Teen South Carolina. The victory qualified her to compete in the national Miss Teen USA pageant. In August 1998, she swept all categories at the event and became Miss Teen USA, held in Shreveport, Louisiana.
