One of the most thrilling and glamorous events in the Chicago-area Italian-American community is the contest to determine who will reign as La Bella Regina of the Columbus Day Parade. Sponsored by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, this year's Columbus Day Queen Contest will be held on Sept. 20 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.

The event will be chaired by Ron Onesti and choreographed by Marilyn Cusimano Fredericks. In addition to the crown, the winner of the contest will walk away with $1,000 in cash plus other prizes. Contestants must be single and never married, between the ages of 18 and 23, at least 50 percent of Italian descent and a resident of the Chicago metropolitan area.

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Fonte: Fra Noi