Kelly grew up just 30 minutes outside of Washington DC

THE White House deputy press secretary has worked her way up the career ladder but before her time in politics, she graced beauty pageant stages.

Anna Kelly works under Karoline Leavitt to keep the public updated about Donald Trump’s work in his second presidency.

Anna Kelly began working in The White House under the Trump AdministrationCredit: X/AnnaKellyGOP

Kelly (right), pictured with Karoline Leavitt to her left, described her time in The White House so far as ‘so much fun’Credit: X/AnnaKellyGOP

Before she became deputy White House press secretary, she competed in beauty pageantsCredit: X/AnnaKellyGOP
The deputy press secretary was raised just 35 minutes outside Washington DC, in Fairfax, Virginia.

She moved to Alabama in 2014 to attend Auburn University, where she studied political science and was a part of the Delta Zeta sorority.

Kelly graduated from Auburn in 2017 with a minor in community and civic engagement.

She went on to earn her Masters of Political Management at George Washington University

As she worked toward her degree, she competed in the 2019 Miss State Fair of Virginia, where she took home the crown.

The beauty queen ran on her platform, “End the Apathy Epidemic: Promoting Youth Political Engagement,” according to the Fairfax Times.

The political enthusiast said she was inspired by her outspoken family and childhood memories living just outside the country’s capitol.

“My generation stands in an incredible position of power,” Kelly said.

“In today’s polarized political climate, it is our job to step up to the plate and work to ensure the government we receive is a good one.

“It is my goal as Miss State Fair of Virginia to show young people that, contrary to what they might believe, we do have a voice and it’s about time we used it.”
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Kelly’s dad is a mortgage loan officer, according to LinkedIn, and her mom is reportedly a small business owner.

In 2022, Kelly shared a post on X with two pictures of her on stage at beauty pageant competitions.

“My biggest flex is that I’ve competed at the state level with two eventual Miss Americas,” she wrote.

“That’s it, that’s the tweet.”

While earning her Masters degree, Kelly served as the Wisconsin communications director for the Republican National Committee from November 2019 to November 2020.

The outspoken Republican continued her climb by working as communications director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Kelly’s love of politics and passion for political engagement eventually led her to become the communications director for the US House of Representatives and the National Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee.

A LOOK INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE

In January, after heavy involvement in the Trump campaign, Kelly accepted a role as deputy press secretary for The White House.

During an interview on The Clay Travis & Buck Saxton show, Kelly even hinted at the “exciting” time she’s having in the White House along with everyone else in the Trump administration.

“They can try to push their fake news narrative,” she said.

“But guess what? The approval is on our side…this is what the American people want.

“It is so exciting and, again, we’re winning every single day.

“We’re having so much fun,” she said.

She’s outspoken about her support for Leavitt on X, consistently reposting her boss’ social media posts and gushing about how much fun they have on the job.

On Saint Patrick’s Day, Kelly posted a picture alongside Leavitt and two other White House staffers wearing green.

Kieghan Nangle, Kelly, Karoline Leavitt, and another White House aids on St. Patrick’s DayCredit: X/AnnaKelly47

Kelly is outspoken about her love of dogs on social mediaCredit: X/AnnaKellyGOP

Kelly and her dog, RemiCredit: X/AnnaKellyGOP
While mostly quiet about her personal life, Kelly often posts about her love of dogs on social media.

The dog foster mom hosts a variety of pets during her time away from the White House.

She even ended up adopting one of her foster dogs, Remi, in 2022.

Plus, she is known to repost memes and encourage her followers to vote.

Kelly also sings – and she performed songs as her talent portion in her former beauty pageant career.

Her covers of I Am Changing by Jennifer Holliday as well as (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin were posted to YouTube in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Kelly, who studied political science at Auburn UniversityCredit: X/AnnaKellyGOP

Leavitt speaking in the White House briefing room on March 19, 2025Credit: Getty