Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Gianna Tuminello was crowned queen of the Columbus Day Parade at an intimate pageant in September at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
Sponsored by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and chaired by Ron Onesti, the pageant featured in-depth conversations with each contestant. “I wanted to focus on the girls’ personalities and public presence,” Onesti said.
Tuminello credited the love and guidance of her Italian-American mom with making her the young woman she is today.
Tuminello will take part in the parade and other events in the community in the company of her court: Giuliana Bartucci, Isabella Belsito, Gianna Caci, Elizabeth DeVito and Nicolette Di Piazza.
“It was so hard to choose,” said Ariana Savalas, one of four pageant judges and emcee of the YouTube hit “Postmodern Jukebox.”
Longtime pageant creative director and choreographer Marilyn Cusimano Fredericks received a special recognition at the event. “Marilyn has always been such a big part of this event, and still is to this day,” Onesti noted. “That’s why the
‘Marilyn Fredericks Crown’ will be placed on the head of the queen from this day forward.”
