20-year-old Clarissa Marchese from Sicily is the new Miss Italia.
Clarissa was crowned last night in Jesolo. This is the third consecutive year Miss Italia hails from Sicily and the 11th Sicilian winner overall. The ceremony was brodcast live on La7 TV channel - since last year, RAI has stopped airing the beauty pageant, judging it a thing of the past and degrading for women.
Clarissa was born in Sciacca, in the province of Agrigento, and grew up in Ribera. She is 1.78 meters tall and has brown hair and eyes. She studies speech therapy in Parma and hopes to work with children. Her father owns a pizzeria. Her mother is American with Sicilian ancestry and Marissa has spent time in the U.S. She is very close to her sister Erica, who is 24 years old and who Marissa describes as her biggest fan.
Clarissa beat Sara Nervo from Veneto, who got second place, and Giulia Salemi, from Emilia-Romagna, who placed third.
Sophia Loren, who is turning 80 this week, was declared Miss Italia ad honorem. The actress took part in Miss Italia when she was 14 years old. She placed among the finalists, but did not win.
