Miss RI Italia Announces 2016 Winners

Miss RI Italia Announces 2016 Winners

Miss Rhode Island Italia has announced the 2016 titleholders from the 3rd Annual Miss RI Italia Pageant that was held on May 22 at the Providence Marriott Downtown. 

The winners include Little Miss Rhode Island Italia Lola Paolissi,  Miss Rhode Island Pre-Teen Italia Marie Balemian, Miss Rhode Island Teen Italia Jenna Rose Rambone, Miss Rhode Island Italia Ariana Salera, Ms. Rhode Island Italia Melinda Witt Psilopoulos.

See the Winners in the Slideshow Below 

The event was created in 2014 to celebrate the beauty and culture of Rhode Island's Italian American Community. Rhode Island ranks 2nd in the country with highest percentage of Italian Americans per capita behind only New Jersey. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

“There are over 200,000 Italian-Americans who live in Rhode Island. We are family and community oriented and are proud to have our titleholders stand for “beauty with a purpose”.  A dedication of the May 22nd event was made to Isabella Corcelli, one of the first Miss Rhode Island Italia titleholders who sadly lost her battle to cancer in February 2016 at the age of 21. Our continued goal is to celebrate our ancestry and it's beauty in a positive manner. Since the events' conception, our titleholders have done wonderful things to “give back” and I expect nothing less from our newly crowned beauties!" said event director Pat Paolino-Cruz

Miss RI Italia 2016

The event was hosted by Cindy burke, a former Miss Rhode Island, and judges included Tara Bounanno Williams, Psychologist, Mrs. Massachusetts and former Ms Rhode Island Italia Titleholder; Sean Holly, Entertainment Attorney, Professor at Johnson and Wales University and entrepreneur and; Giovanni Feroce, CEO of Benrus, recipient of Sons of Italy Merit Award and Davinci Center Humanitarian Award.

Division winners will take part in parades and events throughout the state during their year long reign including the Columbus Day Weekend Parade in Providence. 

They will also participate and support various charities and fund-raising events as well as host an Annual Clothing Drive for MAE Organization for the Homeless this fall. 

For more information on Miss RI Italia, click here. 

See the Winners in the Slideshow Below