After months of preparation, the time has come for two young Bermudian women to represent their country on the international fashion stage. “Christina Troja has a good chance at winning the ‘Miss Italia nel Mondo’ pageant,” Marco Pesci of Sasch Bermuda told The Royal Gazette>recently of 18-year-old Miss Troja, who was crowned Miss Sasch Bermuda at an event organised by store owner, Yvonne Cacace, earlier this year.

Miss Troja is currently in Jesolo, Italy preparing for the pageant — contestants are required to be at least fourth generation Italian. In its 17th year, the pageant is run very similarly to the Miss Universe pageant, with 50 women competing to win the title of “Miss Italia nel Mondo”.

In the first round, the contestants are narrowed down to half, and from there, three more rounds eliminate all but two finalists. Nearly 40 countries are represented in this year’s competition, with contestants hailing from such countries as the USA, Greece and Germany. Miss Troja has also been featured in the online photo gallery of the official Miss Italia nel Mondo website, www.missitalianelmondo.it.

The website also includes biographies on all 50 contestants, as well as a few photos of each girl modeling Sasch fashions. The final round of this event will be televised tomorrow on Cablevision channel 109 (Rai International), and the winner will be awarded a contract with Sasch to do some promotional work.

Danielle Smith, who was named “Miss Sasch 2007 Domani Bermuda” at the same event, will be in Florence, Italy from July 5 to July 16 in order to participate in fittings, fashion shows and presentations of the Spring-Summer 2008 collection.

“It’s something that we’re proud of,” said Mr. Pesci. “It’s an eye opener for the local girls here, having a chance to go out there and professionally model.”

“We’re very pleased to have these two girls represent Bermuda in Italy,” Ms Cacace said.