The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PAGEANT CELEBRATES CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Italian princess crowned queen
Madison Giovanna Maniaci, representing the Italian nationality, was crowned the 2017 Lorain International Queen during the 51st annual International Princess Pageant on June 22 at Lorain High School’s performing arts center.
Maniaci, 17, of Lorain, is a student at Magnificat High School in Rocky River and hopes to attend Kent State University to major in fashion design. She designed her costume to resemble a woman during the Italian renaissance period in using bright colors.
First runner-up and second runner-up, Lindsey Williams, 17, a student at Lorain High School and Octavia Whitfield, 16, a student at Early College High School, respectively, represented the African-American nationality.
The pageant’s third runner-up was Kassandra Rodriguez, 17, a student at Elyria High School who represented the Puerto-Rican nationality.
The 2017 Lorain International Queen and court
will represent the International City at festivals around the state and will be awarded with scholarships following the completion of their first semester of college.
The pageant is a staple of the Lorain International Festival going back to the beginning in 1967 as a celebration of the city’s cultural history. This year’s pageant featured 19 young women representing 13 nationalities.
“The pageant is more than a popularity contest. They have to demonstrate a willingness to represent our community,” said master of ceremonies Don Vincent.
The evening began with Vincent taking the opportunity to recognize and honor past pageant queens in attendance before welcoming this year’s princesses in a grand procession. The audience was filled with queens from years past going back to 1978.
Each of the princesses proceeded with a formal
introduction of themselves and the nationality they represent. Many contestants told their family’s immigration stories and their voyage to the United States and Northeast Ohio and the cultural traditions that continue to be carried forward.
In a statement, Lorain International Association President Ben Davey said the pageant was an opportunity to highlight Lorain’s identity as the International City.
“By exploring their heritage and learning about their families, they have come to better understand themselves and those qualities that make them unique,” Davey wrote.
The entertainment portion of the pageant began with a group dance number to honor the festival’s spotlight on the Italian nationality in addition to solo performances consisting of a variety of different modern dance styles, and finished with a group vocal performance of “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
The event was hosted by Vincent, sportscaster at WOBL and WDLW and sponsored by Lorain’s First Federal Savings of Lorain.