Across the United States, there are over 18 million individuals of Italian descent. According to the National Italian American Foundation, Rhode Island boasted a population of 199,077 Italian Americans in 2024, making it home to one of the highest per capita population of Italian Americans in the nation.

Celebrated for its vibrant Italian American community, is became the birthplace of the competition, initially launched as Miss RI ITALIA in 2014. Over a few years, the pageant expanded and began accepting participants from throughout the country in 2017.