Miss Italia: 78th edition, Mirigliani "we defend beauty"
Rome - As always, the Miss Italia beauty pageant returns at the same time of year. The 78th edition of the contest, held at the Pala Arrex in Jesolo, will choose the successor of Rachele Risaliti, elected one year ago. The final evening of the contest will be broadcast live on Saturday, September 9 from 8.40pm and, for the fifth year in a row, on the TV channel La7 with Francesco Facchinetti confirmed as the presenter. "Francesco has managed to bring out my humorous side: I want to be a patron that keeps up with the times. This year we will have plenty of good laughs", explained Patrizia Mirigliani, who has taken over the event after her father Enzo died in 2011. As Miss Italia changes with time, the new approach of the 2017 edition will focus on a "democracy of sizes", with curvy and classic contestants competing together. "I began presenting a very solid TV program, which, however, needed a change - Facchinetti stated -. This year we will continue in this direction. In my opinion, a beautiful woman is in harmony with her own self, hence the decision to no longer make women compete in separate categories." The members of the jury (who will account for 50% of votes along with televoting) will include President Christian De Sica and TV personalities such as Gabriel Garko, Nino Frassica, Manuela Arcuri and former Miss Italia Francesca Chillemi. Another jury, which will award the title of Miss Italia Social, will be formed by iPantellas, Chiara Nasti, Angelica Massera and Giulia Valentina. In the opening credits of the final evening, 30 contestants between the ages of 18 and 27 "will dance and sing songs from the movie La La Land, dressed in 1950s inspired clothing to highlight their showgirl skills", Patrizia Mirigliani continued, who defends beauty in itself. "We defend beauty and a woman's right to express it however she wants," the patron points out with yet another provocative statement.