Miss Italia facts for kids

The official logo for Miss Italia.

Miss Italia is a famous beauty pageant held every year in Italy. It gives awards to young women from all over the country. Since it first started in 1939, many contestants have become well-known in television and movies.

The Story of Miss Italia

How it all started (1927-1935)

Before the modern Miss Italia, there were similar contests from 1927 to 1935. Winners were often called "Miss Italy." These early contests helped choose Italy's representatives for international beauty pageants like "Miss Universe" and "Miss Europe."

Miss Smile (1939-1941)

The contest that led directly to Miss Italia was called Miss Sorriso (Miss Smile). It began in 1939. A toothpaste brand sponsored it, and Dino Villani started it. Contestants were judged by their photos, not on a stage.

The modern contest begins (1946-present)

After a break during World War II, the contest returned in 1946. It was then named Miss Italia. The first modern contest was held in Stresa. This town still had its hotels after the war. The location changed a few times. Eventually, Salsomaggiore Terme became the regular host city for many years.

Miss Italia has changed a lot, just like Italian society. In 1950, it was first heard on the radio. Since 1987, it has been shown live on television. In 1990, judges stopped measuring contestants' bodies. In 1994, the contest allowed women who were married or mothers to compete. (The 1987 winner had been disqualified when people found out she was married). In 1996, Denny Méndez became the first Miss Italia of color.

Many participants became famous in movies and entertainment. Some well-known names include Sophia Loren, Lucia Bosè, Stefania Sandrelli, and Martina Colombari. Not all of them won the main Miss Italia crown.

From 1959 to 1988, Enzo Mirigliani was the only organizer. He helped the contest become very successful. Famous people like Totò, Sophia Loren, and Marcello Mastroianni have been judges.

In 1989, Enzo Mirigliani and his daughter Patrizia Mirigliani worked together. Enzo stepped down in 2010 and passed away in 2011. Patrizia Mirigliani then became the sole organizer.

Besides the "Miss Italia" title, other awards are given. These include "Miss Elegance" and "Miss Cinema." In 1991, a separate contest started. It is called "Miss Italia nel Mondo" and is for Italian women living abroad.

Miss Italia no longer takes place in Salsomaggiore Terme. This change happened for financial reasons. Many cities wanted to host the pageant. Montecatini Terme hosted Miss Italia 2011. Fabrizio Frizzi became the host for that year. The pageant was shortened to two nights instead of three. The contest returned to national television in recent years. Alessandro Greco hosted the pageant in 2019 and 2020.

In 2021, the final competition was held in Venice for the first time ever. The contest introduced new challenges, like "talent show"-style tasks. It also allowed finalists who were eliminated to become judges. The 2021 winner was Zeudi Di Palma from Naples.

In July 2023, the rules for Miss Italia were updated. This change happened after another beauty contest had a winner who had changed their gender. Miss Italia decided to set clear rules about who could compete. This led to discussions about eligibility.

Miss Italia - Crown Revolution

Before the 2021 final, there was a five-episode mini-series. It was called Miss Italia - Crown Revolution. The series showed the finalists and the challenges they faced. It was filmed in a docu-reality style in Venice.

Who organized Miss Italia?

• Dino Villani (1939-1959)
• Enzo Mirigliani (1959-1988)
• Enzo Mirigliani and Patrizia Mirigliani (1989-2009)
• Patrizia Mirigliani (2010-present)

Regional Winners

Some regions in Italy have had more Miss Italia winners than others.

Titles	Region	Winning Years
12	Lazio	1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1993, 2000, 2015, 2020, 2022
11	Sicily	1954, 1966, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1995, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
11	Lombardy	1940, 1941, 1947, 1956–1960, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1990, 2019, 2023
6	Veneto	1957, 1964, 1989, 1992, 2002, 2007
6	Tuscany	1946, 1973, 1980, 1996, 2016, 2024
5	Friuli-Venezia Giulia	1948, 1970, 1974, 1984, 1987
5	Calabria	1955, 1968, 1997, 2009, 2011
5	Piedmont	1939, 1983, 2004, 2005, 2023
4	Campania	1959, 1986, 2001, 2021
4	Marche	1949, 1969, 1981, 2018
3	Emilia-Romagna	1958, 1991, 1998
2	Trentino-Alto Adige	2006, 2017
2	Umbria	1962, 2010
2	Sardinia	1963, 1994
2	Liguria	1961, 1975
1	Apulia	1999
1	Abruzzo	1979
0	Aosta Valley
0	Basilicata
0	Molise

Miss Italia Winners List

Here are the young women who have won the Miss Sorriso and Miss Italia titles over the years:

Hosts of the Show

Many famous people have hosted the Miss Italia pageant over the years. They help guide the show and introduce the contestants.

• Corrado Mantoni: 1946–56
• Nunzio Filogamo: 1952
• Enzo Mirigliani: 1959, 1961–78
• Renato Tagliani: 1960
• Mike Bongiorno: 1970, 1975, 2007
• Daniele Piombi: 1974
• Gabriella Farinon: 1974
• Pippo Baudo: 1976
• Alberto Lupo: 1977
• Vanna Brosio: 1979
• Andrea Giordana: 1980–1981, 1984, 1987
• Memo Remigi: 1982
• Ettore Andenna: 1983
• Michele Gammino: 1983
• Milly Carlucci: 1983, 2009, 2010
• Marco Columbro: 1986
• Fabrizio Frizzi: 1988–2002, 2011, 2012
• Carlo Conti: 2003–06, 2008
• Loretta Goggi: 2007
• Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice: 2010
• Massimo Ghini: 2013
• Cesare Bocci: 2013
• Francesca Chillemi: 2013
• Simona Ventura: 2014–2015
• Francesco Facchinetti: 2016–18
• Diletta Leotta: 2018
• Alessandro Greco: 2019-2020
• Alessandro Di Sarno: 2021
• Elettra Lamborghini: 2021
• Carolina Stramare: 2021
• Salvo Sottile: 2022
• Jo Squillo: 2023
• Andrea Dianetti: 2024

Other Related Contests

• Miss Universo Italia
• Miss Italia nel Mondo
• Miss World Italy