Next time you see a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial, keep your eye out, because you just might see a familiar face.
Melissa Sapini of North Attleborough was chosen to take part in a series of commercials over the summer for Dunkin’, joining other well-known personalities as Will Arnett, AJ McLean, Joey Fatone and Benny Blanco. She described it as a “full-circle” moment with a strong personal connection.
In this interview, Sapini – who was crowned Miss Massachusetts USA in March and is soon headed to Los Angeles for the Miss USA pageant – talks about the experience and what she gained from it.
How did this commercial opportunity with Dunkin’ Donuts come about?
In the simplest terms, it was the power of sisterhood and networking. It’s really funny there was this contestant from Miss Connecticut USA last year who saw my crowning and coincidentally, her best friend from college, or college roommate, is really high up in the Dunkin headquarters in terms of marketing. And she just reached out to her and she was like, “Hey, I really see a lot of potential in this girl and I think Dunkin should consider, you know, working with her somehow.” So, it sparked Dunkin’s interest. I guess they’ve always had an interest to work with the Miss Massachusetts USA somehow.
What I didn’t know is that they were monitoring my social media and I had no idea, but they’re learning more about me from other people. And I randomly got this text from my pageant coach telling me of the opportunity because the contestant connected with her, and I swear my mind was blown. I was such a huge fan of the Superbowl commercial, I just found it to be so exhilarating that they even thought of me to want to do anything at all.
I ended up having a meeting with Dunkin’ and introducing myself. And I have this really cool story with Dunkin’ and why I was so excited is because a big part of who I am is my Haitian background. And when my mom first came here from Haiti, the first thing she had when she landed was Dunkin’ Donuts.
I remember she always tells the story. She came out of the airplane, my uncle picked her up and she was like, “Listen, I’m so hungry. I need the best thing you can give me” and she was like, “Take me wherever it is very convenient.” So, we took her to Dunkin Donuts. And she had her first bagel ever, because bagels didn’t really exist in Haiti then and she had a hot coffee. I swear it’s just one of those stories, you always hear your parents telling the same stories when you’re growing up. That was the story. So, this really was a full-circle moment.
I told them about that story and really how I feel my roots, my family’s roots are connected with Dunkin’, and here in Massachusetts, it just all made sense. So, they were very touched by that story.
I’ve always had the mindset; you lose nothing by asking for the craziest things and I found this to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When am I ever going to talk to Dunkin’ headquarters ever again, tell them about myself, tell them about my story. I found it to be a point to just pitch anything I could. I told them about my interests, of the Dunkin Donuts Superbowl commercial and how much I loved it and really how I felt so connected to Massachusetts and Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and how they’re boss legends and how I’m trying to be the next boss and legend so I told them, “Listen, I have a television acting background. I’m also a model. If you ever have a television commercial, I would love to be a part of it. Anything at all. I will drop anything. Just let me know.” And I honestly thought they were going to think I was crazy. I even told them how I made up my own television commercials. I made up a whole Dunkin’ Donuts television commercial script.
I know I sound ridiculous, but I just told them I was so excited about this. I don’t know what’s going to come out of it. But if they ever want to consider me, I would be more than happy to be part of anything. And three weeks later I got an email from Dunkin’ and that was the start.
You mentioned there’s a lot of star power behind this commercial. What was that like for you?
Yeah, I it was really funny. Seeing these people in person, one of them in particular, Nick Giovanni. If people don’t know him, he’s a very well-known celebrity chef. He’s always been very active on social media. And he’s just one of those people I think of when I think of TikTok, so to meet him in person and to interact with these people. It really made me feel like “Wow, like I’m in the right place, and I’m on the right path.”
They’re all so humble, and they’re all so admirable and to be in that conference room with them, to be on set with them, to interact with them, and to spend that day with them. It really truly was everything. And again, it just goes to show I’m on the right path as Miss Massachusetts USA and as the next Miss USA.
Was there any feeling of “I don’t belong here with all these like big names?”
Absolutely not. No. And I think the best part was them being so inviting and welcoming. Whether it was the crew, the cast, the director, everyone made me feel like I belong there. And the most important thing was I knew I belonged there.
This is not your first commercial, having done one for Six Flags. How does this rank up with your past work?
This was the first job where I traveled across the country for. So, the commercial was shot in LA. It was a really cool experience to be able to leave Boston and explore a new state such as California, it was my first time there and it’s really funny – I have a bucket list. And I’ve had this bucket list since I was in middle school. And the first thing on that list is to go to LA and not only to go to LA but to work in LA and entertainment. So, to be able to do this job fulfilled so many dreams, fulfilled so many feelings and emotions and truly was a full-circle moment.
Is this the only Dunkin commercial you’ll be doing?
There’s actually a part two and that got released, I want to say a couple of days ago now. And I am in that. I have a scene with corporate Natalie who is also a social media influencer as well. And it’s very, very funny. very comical. What’s really cool about this, the part two is we have a new cast member which is Benny Blanco. He is a music producer that is pretty well-known. I think every song we listened to he’s produced, so he’s a part of that and really just adds to the comedy of it.
You’ll soon be taking part in the Miss USA pageant. What’s going through your head right now?
I’m ready. I’m ready to bring the crown home to Massachusetts. The last time we had a Miss USA who was Miss Massachusetts was 2003. So, I really feel like this is our year. I mean, we have the Boston Celtics who have brought in another title—they don’t call this town Title Town for nothing.
Last time we spoke you had just been crowned Miss Massachusetts. What have you been doing since then?
It’s been such an insane journey. And if you were to tell me this is what my life would have had been like, I don’t know that I would have believed you.
I think I had an idea of what being Miss Massachusetts USA was going to be like, but I didn’t imagine it would be this from being in a Dunkin Donuts commercial to also making a television appearance and a Fox TV show as Miss Massachusetts USA, to all of the public appearances I made throughout Boston. The Celtics parade, at Celtics courtside, being able to go to different classrooms throughout the state and New England to speak about what I advocate for, it has just been so fulfilling.
It has been amazing to meet the people of the state and every single time I meet someone, every time I hear someone’s story and being able to connect with the people, it just makes it makes it all so worth it. It makes me so proud to represent the state on such a big stage in this upcoming week. So really is just been the time of my life and I’m ready to continue that as Miss USA and hopefully Miss Universe.
