L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano N ot only is she t h e y o u n g e s t R o s e Q u e e n e v e r b u t Naomi Stilli- tano is also the first Italian to hold the title. S h e w a s c r o w n e d t h e 1 3 5 t h R o s e Q u e e n during a ceremony at the Tournament House steps in Pasadena, led by Alex Agha- j a n i a n , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e 2024 Tournament of Roses. Born and raised in Cosenza, Stillitano moved to the Unit- ed States with her family at the age of 7 and now resides in Arcadia with her father Piero Stillitano, mother Ner- ida Gonzalez, and brothers Toraino and Taaj. As Rose Queen, Naomi, along with six other girls f r o m t h e 2 0 2 4 P a s a d e n a Tournament of Roses Royal C o u r t , w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n various community events and serve as local ambas- sador before taking part in t h e J a n u a r y 1 s t R o s e P a r a d e a n d t h e R o s e B o w l g a m e . T h e s e v e n young women, each awarded a $7,500 scholarship, repre- s e n t a d i v e r s e m o s a i c o f backgrounds and cultures, r e f l e c t i n g t h e P a s a d e n a community through their dedication to family, school, and community. T h e t r a d i t i o n b e g a n i n 1905, and for over a century, t h e R o s e Q u e e n a n d h e r Court have been at the heart of the beloved New Year's Day Rose Parade. The first- e v e r q u e e n w a s H a l l i e W o o d s , w h o r o d e i n a horse-drawn carriage along Colorado Blvd. Since then, Rose Queens have achieved a broad spectrum of success- es, ranging from May Sut- ton, the 1908 queen who was the first American to win the Wimbledon singles title, to Sophia Bush, the 2 0 0 0 q u e e n , a n a c t r e s s n o m i n a t e d f o r a P e o p l e ' s Choice Award for her role in "Chicago P.D." T o d a y , t h e 1 9 4 0 R o s e Queen Margaret Huntley Main, holds the record as t h e o l d e s t l i v i n g R o s e Q u e e n , a t 1 0 2 y e a r s o l d . Residing in Northern Cali- f o r n i a , s h e w a t c h e d t h e crowning of Naomi Stillitano live on the Tournament of R o s e s ' Y o u T u b e c h a n n e l . During the coronation cere- mony, President Aghajanian p r e s e n t e d R o s e Q u e e n N a o m i S t i l l i t a n o w i t h a Mikimoto crown adorned w i t h o v e r 6 0 0 c u l t u r e d pearls and six carats of dia- monds. Stillitano currently serves as the co-president of the Italian Culture Club; she is also a dancer and actress with the Arcadia Stage The- ater, and a swimmer for the Rose Bowl Swim Team. Her interests include playing the guitar and piano, singing, traveling, cooking, drawing, roller skating, and cycling. Born and raised in Italy until the age of seven, Naomi is fluent in Italian and has a g o o d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f Spanish. With aspirations to establish her own fashion b r a n d , N a o m i i s k e e n o n studying fashion design and m a r k e t i n g a t p r e s t i g i o u s institutions like the Fashion Institute of Design and Mer- chandising, Milano Fashion Institute, Pasadena City Col- lege, or the University of Southern California. N a o m i , h o w d i d t h e selection process start? I t s t a r t e d w i t h f o u r rounds of interviews. The first interview is open to all Pasadena residents aged 17- 21, and about 600 girls par- ticipated this year. As each round progressed, fewer and fewer were called back, lead- ing up to the final selection. Why did you decide to apply, was it a dream of yours? My parents always called m e t h e i r l i t t l e p r i n c e s s . When I moved here, the first thing I saw was the princess float, and I thought, "Some- day, that could be me." As a little girl, I really wanted to do this, but then I forgot about it. My mom reminded me last year, and I thought, "Okay, let's take the risk. Nothing bad can happen." I saw it as a good opportunity for future job experiences and university interviews. Were you nervous? I was very nervous at the first interview because I did- n't know what to expect. I just dove in headfirst, and it went really well! I was very e x c i t e d a n d h o p e d t o b e called back for the second round. When that happened, I was thrilled. I wasn't ner- vous, but excited to return to this place and to see the new friends I had made during the process. H o w w a s t h e announcement made? It was very quick. I tried to enjoy the moment: it went by so fast, but I made the most of it. The next day we w e r e a l r e a d y a t w o r k , w e w e n t t o D i s n e y l a n d , a n d t h e n w e m o v e d f r o m o n e event to another, so it was a very rapid process, but I will always remember it. How did you feel? Extremely happy, I cried tears of joy. It was my dream to be a princess. How did the dress fit- ting go? It was on the day I was announced as queen. I saw the dress and thought it was w o n d e r f u l . I t ' s a u n i q u e gown; in fact, it's different for every queen. What does it mean to be a princess? The tradition dictates that I wear a white dress when I r i d e o n t h e p a r a d e f l o a t , even though we are all lead- ers. So, nothing has really changed among us. It's just the title that has changed: now I am the queen and the o t h e r s i x g i r l s a r e t h e princesses, but we are still all leaders together. We all a t t e n d t h e s a m e e v e n t s together. The whole process is a team effort, and it's a big tradition here in Pasadena. The parade is watched all over the world on TV. The queen and her court have been going on for quite some time. We also go to football games and do many differ- ent events, including volun- t e e r w o r k , i n a d d i t i o n t o being ambassadors for the importance of the past. Do you have any spe- cial message you want to convey in this regard? T o y o u n g w o m e n w h o want to try or to anyone who w a n t s t o t r y , I s a y : d o i t b e c a u s e n o t h i n g b a d c a n h a p p e n . B e a u t i f u l t h i n g s happen when you try. Do you ever return to Italy? Yes, I still have friends and my grandmother living there in Cosenza. I always have a lot of fun when I visit. I can't wait to go back, I'm literally counting the days! Pasadena: Naomi Stillitano is the 2024 Rose Queen SILVIA NITTOLI Naomi Stillitano is crowned Rose Queen in Pasadena. Rose Tournament photo. LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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