Miss Italy 2021 is Zeudi di Palma, a 20-year-old sociology student and model from the southern city of Naples.
The 5 ft 7 model competed in the Miss Italy 2021 final as Miss Naples, her hometown.
Di Palma represented the Neapolitan capital in the final, having previously defeated Miss Napoli 2021.
The announcement was made during the finale in Venice on Sunday night after the competition had been postponed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. It was supposed to happen in December 2021. The proclamation was made during a live broadcast from the Venice Casino on the Helbiz Live platform on OTT, hosted by Elettra Lamborghini (one of the competition’s youngest presenters) and Alessandro di Sarno.
Di Palma is from Scampia, a Naples suburb known for its high crime rates, mafia wars, and poverty. In an interview with Corriere Della Sera, she also discussed her experiences growing up in Scampia and the social issues she is passionate about. “In Scampia, I attended elementary and middle school. The boys here put in double the effort to be free of certain labours, and as a result, I want the state to be more present to assist them. “It applies to all more complicated realities, not just ours,” she clarified.
She is a Diplomata at the ski school and a Sociology student at the University of Naples. She has a number of important projects in the works for the future, from the completion of studies to the desire to make a name for oneself in the world of fashion as an entrepreneur.
Her victory was dedicated to her mother, Maria Rosaria. She spoke movingly about her mother, who had raised her since she was ten years old after their grandmother died, working a thousand jobs and overcoming adversity. Palma’s mother was an inspiration to her in all aspects of life. The victory was dedicated to her mother and brothers (she has an older sister and a brother). “I adore that,” said the newly elected Miss. “My father, Pasquale, abandoned us when I was two, and she raised three children alone,” she explained to Corriere Della Sera. A mother who is an inspiration and who is now a councillor in Naples’ eighth municipality, and the founder of the Lamp of Scampia association.
“She’s my hero, and she taught me to be strong in the face of adversity.” Palma, shortly after receiving the throne.
Di Palma’s mother founded La Lanterna di Scampia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to keeping local children off the streets.
The competition’s final stages were made even more dramatic when di Palma was mistakenly eliminated from the final three – an error that was quickly corrected.
“Congratulations to Zeudi di Palma, Miss Italia 2021, Pride of Scampia and all of Naples.” Gaetano Manfredi, the mayor of Naples, tweeted on Sunday.
Di Palma is the fourth woman from the southern region of Campania to win the Miss Italy title and the first since Roberta Capua in 1986.
“Miss Italia is a family, and it is a path that I wish for every girl, even if she does not win.” “The girls were wonderful, and a beautiful friendship was born with some of them, which I intend to cultivate and preserve,” Di Palma said of her rivals for the title.
And the moment of victory was beautiful and full of emotions for Zeudi Di Palma, as it was for all the misses who have made the history of this prestigious competition.
To celebrate the new Miss Italy’s victory. After the proclamation, Zeudi Di Palma was photographed smiling and calmly preparing to cut a massive cake.
The day after her victory, the newly elected Miss Italy 2021 took a boat ride down Venice’s Grand Canal. She looked stunning in a green suit that emphasised the Mediterranean colours, basking in the glory of having won this coveted crown.
Zeudi Di Palma is an active Instagrammer who shares her daily life, such as reaching the finals of Italy’s most important beauty contest, as well as reflections and shots as a model.
Di Palma is someone with many interests who, in addition to studying, working in an office, and participating in social and sporting activities. Football is one of her passions; she describes herself as “a model who loves football,” but not just because she draws and plays. In short, the young Miss Italy 2021 has a wide range of interests and passions.
Sicily, Lombardy, and Lazio have the most titles, with 11 each. Veneto came in first with six, followed by Friuli and Calabria with five, Piedmont, Tuscany, Marche and Campania with four, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Sardinia and Umbria with two, and Puglia and Abruzzo with a single miss. Basilicata, Molise, and Valle d’Aosta have never won the title.
During the evening, the title of Miss Italia Social was also presented to Chiara Manca, a twenty-one-year-old dental hygiene student at the University of Cagliari from Oristano. Chiara Manca was crowned Miss Sardinia in the finals of Miss Italy.
Martina Sambuchini, Miss Italia 2020, is currently pursuing a career in acting.