Rosanna, a Chicago resident and the daughter of Carmela and Patrick Capriati, is the winner of the Miss Italia Nel Mondo Nord America 2009 title. The competition was held aboard the beautiful Italian cruise ship MSC Orchestra.

Miss Italia nel Mondo is an international pageant created in 1991 by Enzo Mirigliani open to young ladies of Italian descent between the ages of 17 and 26 living outside of Italy. The Illinois coordinator of Miss Italia nel Mondo is Mr. Elio Bartolotta.

As Miss Italia Nord America 2009, Rosanna will participate in the finals of the Miss Italia Nel Mondo (Miss Italy World Pageant) competition in Jesolo (Venice), Italy. The finals will be a weeklong competition in late June where she will compete with other winners from all over the world for the Miss Italia Nel Mondo title. Rosanna will depart for Jesolo, Italy during the first week of June with the final to be broadcasted live on Rai Uno and around the world on RaiItalia on June 27th.

“I am very proud to have been a participant in Miss Italia USA.  This competition allows young Italian-American women to represent the country of their ancestors.  It provided me the opportunity to show Italians living abroad how the richness of my parents’ Italian culture has enriched my personal and professional life and how I have benefitted from being a product of two cultures, Italian and American.

“It is especially gratifying for me to be the North American representative in the finals of Miss Italia nel Mondo because I believe that this competition recognizes not only beauty, but also the intelligence of today’s young women of Italian descent,” says Capriati.

Capriati and her younger sister, Costantina, are first-generation Italian-Americans.  Costantina is currently completing her studies at Loyola University and will be entering the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Pharmacy to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Their parents, Pat and Carmela (Mallardi) Capriati were both born in Italy in the region of Puglia in towns very close to one another. They both came to America with their respective families as children. Both parents have always shared their love of their Italian heritage with others – especially their daughters. “Both Pat and I feel that one of the most precious gifts that we can pass on to our children is our dual identity as we are the byproduct of two great cultures,” Carmela says.

“I have a strong commitment to my Italian heritage. My parents were always involved in the Italian community, which prompted me to start an Italian youth organization with several other young professionals called Giovani Pugliesi Association Chicago.  I’m Vice President working toward getting other young people involved in preserving our Italian heritage.

“I’m also especially proud of the fact that I have made a commitment, since a very young age, to learn the Italian language.  I knew that it would provide me with a better understanding and appreciation of my Italian roots,” says Capriati.

Pat and Carmela Capriati have not only cultivated great pride of heritage in their daughter but have also applauded her personal efforts and commitments. “My parents have always been very supportive of me and have always encouraged me to participate in events that are a celebration of my Italian heritage like JCCIA’s Heritage Ball, the Columbus Day Queen pageant, Miss Puglia USA, Miss Italia USA/North America, and now Miss Italia nel Mondo.”  In 2007 Capriati was honored as Miss Puglia USA in New York City.

Capriati is a graduate of Elmhurst College with a degree in Professional Communications and a minor in foreign language.  Currently, she is the Vice President of the U.S. Representative Office of Afidamp Servizi, an Italian Trade Association in the professional cleaning sector whose headquarters are in Milan, Italy.

“I owe my current management position in an Italian-based trade organization not only to my degree, but also to my ability to speak Italian,” Capriati says.  “I’m living proof that being bilingual and bi-cultural is a wonderful gift because it has made me a more complete person and has prepared me to better face the challenges of living in an international community.”

Miss Italia nel Mondo will be broadcast live on Rai Uno and around the world on RaiItalia on June 27th.

(Pictured above Rosanna Capriati at Italian Embassy in Washington with Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta) (Pictures by Francesco Isgro)