‘Miss Italia 2016’ from Prato

After 20 years since the last victory, that of Dominican-Italian beauty queen Deny Méndez, Miss Toscana was awarded the crown of the most beautiful woman in Italy in the early morning hours of September 11.  A native of Prato, Rachele Risalti lives in Florence and studies Fashion Marketing Management at the Polimoda institute.  She plans to earn a masters abroad and work eventually as a Trend Forecaster.

A fan of the Fiorentina soccer team, the green-eyed beauty competed in the sport of artistic gymnastics for 11 years, which, according to her, “formed my character, helping me to learn lessons of discipline, respect and sacrifice.”  Her parents split when she was three, (I don’t have any memories of them together and this has made me suffer,” she said), divorced and both remarried (“it is OK now, I have four parents”), unusual for Italy.  Her mother is a certified physical therapist and works in rehabilitation and works for the local health department; her father sells car parts.  She has a passion for art and photography.

Prior to her victory, Risaliti already had 11,000 followers on Instagram.

This is the fifth time that Miss Toscana won the national title; prior to Deny Méndez, Cinzia Lenzi was Miss Italia in 1980.

To see read more and see photos, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.