Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Aubry Bozzano and Sofia Console were crowned Miss Illinois United States and Little Miss Illinois United States respectively at a March pageant at the Copernicus Center in Chicago.
The daughter of Anthony and Sherry Bozzano, 28-year-old Aubry lives in Chicago and manages integrated marketing campaigns for clients at a downtown ad agency. “I felt so honored among all of the other delegates to be chosen as the representative,” she says. “It was all a blur when it happen, but it shows hard work and determination pay off. I couldn’t be more excited to represent my state.”
Aubry attended Mother McAuley High School and Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a B.A, in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management and a minor in dance.
A veteran of the pageant circuit, Aubry was crowned Miss Teen Illinois in 2005, National American Miss Illinois 2007, and Miss Illinois International 2011, earning third runner up honors at the Miss International pageant in 2011.
“I hadn’t competed in a couple years and I was approaching the age limit so I decided it was my chance to go for it,” she explains. “I chose the United States system because the reigning Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, is an inspiring role model and because of the modern and fashionable appeal the system has. I felt like it really embodied who I was and the sort of system that I would be honored to represent.”
The daughter of Pete and Leila Console, 9-year-old Sofia lives and attends grade school in South Barrington.
Sofia is new to the circuit, having competed for about two years, having won four state titles and 1 national title in that brief span. In her first pageant ever, she competed against 146 girls and was named 1st runner up.
“Doing pageants has built Sofia’s self esteem and confidence; it has taught her how to interview, and speak on stage,” her mother explains. “It’s also open so many doors for Sofia, including modeling for big designers, participating in charity events and making her more aware of how it important it is to give back to our community.”
Pageant contestants were asked to commit to a charitable “platform.” Aubry chose Cancer Prevention, serving as spokesperson for Project Early Awareness, which educates young women on high-risk areas of breast health. Sofia chose to help children in her community, lending a hand with Kids Feeding Kids, Barrington Children’s Charity, and the WINGS program and the Beautiful Things with Wings calendar. “Any one can have a crown,” Sofia says. “It’s what you do with it that matters most.”
The pair will compete on the national level at a pageant over the Fourth of July weekend in Washington, D.C., with the winners going on to compete in the Miss World Pageant.
Photos with red backdrop by Eva Flis Photography.
Photos of Sofia Console by Dawn Graves of Light Drawn Studios.
To find out more about the WINGS program and the Beautiful Things with Wings calendar, click here.
