Butler raised in Standish, Maine. She is the daughter of Industrialists Walter and Debra Butler. Marisa graduated from Stonehill College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Business. While at Stonehill College, Marisa was on their soccer, and lacrosse teams, as well as their club cheering team. She now is living and working in California.
Pageantry
Butler began her pageantry career in 2011 representing Bonny Eagle in the Miss Maine Teen USA 2012 competition. Marisa placed as first runner up to winner Molly Fitzpatrick. Marisa then went on to compete in the Miss Maine Scholarship Program, which selects the representative of Maine to the Miss America pageant. Marisa placed fourth runner up to Miss Maine 2012, Molly Bouchard, and was first runner up to both Miss Maine 2013, Kristin Korda, and Miss Maine 2014 Audrey Thames. Following her placement as first runner up in 2013, she was invited to represent Maine at the National Sweetheart Pageant where she won the People's Choice award. Marisa then returned to the Miss USA system, representing her home town of Standish and was crowned as the winner Miss Maine USA 2016 succeeding outgoing Miss Maine USA 2015 Heather Marie Elwell. She represented Maine at Miss USA 2016 pageant that was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 5, 2016. The pageant was won by Deshauna Barber of District of Columbia. Marisa then moved to San Diego, California where she competed for and won the title of Miss San Diego 2018, which was the organization's 100th anniversary. At Miss San Diego, she won the Interview Award, The Talent Award, and Miss Photogenic. She then went on to compete in the Miss California competition, where she won the Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit Preliminary award, and placed in the Top 15. On 19 September 2018, Butler was crowned as Miss World America 2018, succeeding the outgoing Miss World America 2017 and Miss World 2017 Top 40 semifinalist, Clarissa Bowers. As Miss World America, Butler represented the United States at Miss World 2018 pageant in Sanya, China. Marisa placed in the top 18 of the Miss World Talent competition singing Puccini's aria, Nessun Dorma. She also won the Miss World Sports Challenge Fast Track Event, granting her a place in the Top 30 of Miss World 2018 final. The competition was won by Miss Mexico, Vanessa Ponce De León.
