Accomplished beauty queen. Dedicated philanthropist. Loving mother of four. Melissa Whitworth elegantly wears many hats in the public eye as the wife of LA Rams superstar Andrew Whitworth. While comfortably living in the shadows of her husband’s enduring All-Pro NFL career spanning 16 seasons and counting, Melissa deliberately forges her own path of magnanimous giving and self-betterment—illuminating inspirational lessons in resilience, grace under pressure, and fulfilling one’s ambitions while embracing family joy.
Melissa’s early years mirror a fairy tale trajectory—the small-town Louisiana girl’s big dreams actualize through a tenacious work ethic mixed with southern charm, securing her first crown by age 18. Despite the glitz and glory of pageantry victories, Melissa channelled her platform to amplify community development efforts back home, obtaining a sociology degree and pursuing a Masters in psychology. A short-lived but meaningful career in broadcast journalism allowed Melissa Whitworth to make her mark, reporting news to neighbours with characteristic warmth before trading scripts for school pick-ups and non-profit planning sessions.
Life’s unexpected blessings unfolded for Melissa after connecting with Andrew Whitworth, the tall and brash fellow Louisianan offensive tackle relentlessly charged towards pro football destiny. Over a decade and a half later, the enduring couple boasts two homes, four young children, charitable accomplishments, and the means to freely support their community. Even while raising small kids, Melissa consistently makes time for daring escapades, running marathons, dancing with stars, and now building Big Whit 77’s national reach.
At just 43 years old, Melissa Whitworth simply succeeds in uplifting spirits around her through determination, grace, and fearless authenticity. Both in quiet mamahood moments reading nighttime stories to the twins and on prominent platforms delivering substantial donations flanked by cameras, Melissa beams hope and drives change—the ageless essence of a queen with purpose.
Early Life and Pageantry Success Of Melissa Whitworth in Louisiana
Melissa Whitworth spent her formative years in Ruston, Louisiana, where she was born on April 29, 1980. She was a promising student leader at Ruston High School, where she was active in several extracurriculars. Melissa continued her education at Louisiana Tech University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 2003. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University.
Melissa radiates confidence and grace, even at a young age. Her entry into the pageant world began in 1998, when she was 18 years old, when she earned the title of Miss Louisiana Teen. Expanding on her earlier triumphs, Melissa made history in 2003 at the tender age of 23 when she competed in and triumphed at the Miss Louisiana pageant.
Success in these illustrious pageants held in her own state was evidence of Melissa’s intelligence, poise, and attractiveness, all of which would serve her well in her future pursuits.
Early Career as a Broadcast Journalist
Melissa Whitworth began her career in journalism soon after she was named Miss Louisiana. She continued her reporting by travelling to northeastern Louisiana. Monroe-based reporter Melissa brought charm and warmth to her jobs at NBC10 and Fox14 News. She took great pleasure in informing the community and winning over devoted viewers.
Andrew Whitworth, an NFL athlete, and Melissa, a successful TV journalist, met by chance. Their shared Louisiana heritage led to marriage in 2006 and the beginning of a happy family life. Although Melissa never lost her love for journalism, she did begin to prioritise her charitable work and her expanding family.
Melissa Whitworth Co-Founding a Dedicated Charity Organization
Andrew Whitworth and Melissa Whitworth started the BigWhit 77 Foundation in 2010. Their willingness to serve others was evident in the charitable organisation they founded. The Whitworths settled in Ohio so that Andrew could continue his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Andrew and Melissa’s BigWhit 77 charity campaign targeted the states of Ohio and Louisiana.
BigWhit 77’s mission is to help underprivileged kids get the knowledge they need to succeed in life, not just on the pitch of athletics. Some examples of these opportunities include financial aid, summer camps, STEM education, and exposure to the arts. Melissa and Andrew’s goal as parents is to ensure that every child in their community has the opportunity to succeed.
$50K Donation to Serve Restaurant During COVID-19 Crisis
Melissa Whitworth took the lead in a December 2020 BigWhit 77 Foundation gift of $50,000 to Inglewood, California’s The Serving Spoon Restaurant. This donation was made to support the minority-owned restaurant as they dealt with the financial impact of the COVID-19 shutdowns and continued to provide food to those in need in the community.
Melissa, her family, and members of the Rams staff all showed up in person to accept the substantial gift cheque. She expressed sincere interest in lending her support to The Serving Spoon’s remarkable efforts to alleviate food insecurity for children, veterans, regular customers, and all members. During a very difficult moment, her kind spirit lifted the local community.
Embracing Motherhood While Maintaining Active Lifestyle
The couple’s first child, Michael Lee, was born to Melissa in 2011, and their second child, Katherine Kay, was born in 2013. The Whitworth family grew again in 2016 with the arrival of twin girls, Sarah and Drew Bearah, after Andrew moved to California to pursue a playing career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Melissa Whitworth is a dedicated mother of four small children, but she doesn’t let that stop her from pursuing her passions and developing her skills. Melissa won the mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Cincinatti Stars in 2016, not long after giving birth to twins. She also finds time to participate in running events, such as the Los Angeles Marathon, to keep herself active.
Melissa exemplifies the importance of pursuing one’s passions while cherishing family ties, managing her energy as a mum and pursuing her own passions with equal fervour. As she takes on new tasks and grows the BigWhit77 Foundation, her children bring her enormous love and significance.
Andrew Whitworth’s Impressive NFL Career and Fortune
As Melissa followed her own ambitions, Andrew Whitworth simultaneously cultivated an incredible football career in the NFL spanning 16 seasons. The Louisiana native became a standout player for the LSU Tigers in college before entering the NFL Draft. His immense talent and 6’7″ (325-pound) frame led the Cincinnati Bengals to draft Andrew in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Quickly becoming a dominant force playing offensive tackle, Andrew helped protect quarterback Carson Palmer and fueled strong offensive performances. His stellar play earned him spots in the Pro Bowl four times with Cincinnati.
Heading into his 10th NFL season, Andrew signed a lucrative three-year, $30 million contract extension with the Bengals in 2015. This long-term commitment reflected his invaluable presence, protecting QBs and paving the way for Bengal rushing attacks.
Los Angeles Rams Contract Brings Richest Deal for an Offensive Linemen
Entering 2017 free agency, Andrew Whitworth attracted attention from teams looking to bolster their offensive line with his veteran leadership and All-Pro abilities. Despite spending 11 seasons in Cincinnati, the LA Rams made an intense push for Andrew and ultimately signed him to a three-year $36 million deal with nearly $16 million guaranteed.
This contract established the highest payday ever for an NFL offensive lineman over 35 years old. Andrew exceeded expectations and helped lead the 2018 LA Rams all the way to Super Bowl 53. The Rams rewarded him again in 2020 with a 3-year, $30 million extension running through 2023, when Andrew will be 42.
Estimated $47 Million Net Worth Underpins A Comfortable lifestyle.
Currently still protecting Rams quarterback Matt Stafford’s blindside, Andrew Whitworth maintains elite status as one of football’s highest-paid offensive tackles ever at $47 million in career earnings. His decade and a half of grinding in the trenches has paid off handsomely.
With two homes in California and Louisiana, the Whitworth family lives a comfortable lifestyle. Melissa Whitworth herself likely holds a net worth between $4 and $5 million, stemming primarily from Andrew’s substantial NFL salary. Together, their shared net worth allows the couple to generously grow their BigWhit77 Foundation while also enjoying family vacations and Silicon Beach life.
Conclusion: Model of Accomplishment, Generosity and Loving Partnership
While she could simply relax as a football WAG socialite, Melissa Whitworth prefers making an impact through charity work, fitness challenges, and raising the next generation. Her pageantry excellence, communications savvy, competitive spirit, compassion, and devotion as a mother offer inspiring lessons in values.
Together with husband Andrew Whitworth’s still-unfolding football stardom, their journey evolving from Louisiana youth into SoCal philanthropists displays an empowering vision. Melissa Whitworth gives life new meaning by embracing life’s richness as she turns heads with inner and outer beauty, along with caring generosity that benefits communities in need.