A Bermuda teenager placed highly in a European beauty competition celebrating Italian heritage.

Christina Troja, 18, came eighth out of 50 contestants from around the world in the prestigious Miss Italia Nel Mondo 2007 competition held in June in Italy.

“It was a lot of work,” said Miss Troja shortly after her return from Italy this week. “The whole experience was good, but we just did a lot of work.”

The competition took girls of Italian heritage from around the world, ages 17 to 26. Miss Troja was one of the youngest contestants. Before the competition she said she was planning to capitalise on her youth.

“We had to buy a cocktail dress, so I am trying to pick a youthful dress,” Miss Troja said. “Contest organisers came here, because contest sponsors include Italian designer Sasch which has a store in Bermuda. They don’t usually pick someone from Bermuda. This was the first time.”

Miss Italia organisers picked Miss Troja when she took part in a Sasch fashion show held at the White Party at Splash nightclub in April. At the same time, another girl, Danielle Smith, was crowned Miss Sasch 2007 Modella Domani Bermuda.

“I was surprised when I was chosen to represent Bermuda,” said Miss Troja. “I didn’t even know it was an option or that contest organisers were there.”

For the competition, Miss Troja was sent to Jesolo, Italy, a beach town near Venice. There she spent two weeks with 50 other girls who were at least fourth generation Italian.

They did activities, learned about their heritage and spent time being pampered. The competition aspect took up three days at the end of the trip.

Before the competition, Miss Troja was told to prepare to demonstrate a talent. She chose singing.

“I am taking extra singing lessons,” she said, shortly before leaving for Italy. “They are looking for everything, personality, looks, talents. It is a lot. I went to boarding school in Canada, and I joined the choir and really enjoyed it. I had fun.

“Back here in Bermuda I joined the St. John’s Choir. So when they asked for a talent, I thought of singing. It prepared me a little bit when I was in school, because we had to do a solo every month.

“It was scary getting up in front of my whole class and performing, but that was good practise for this.

“For the competition there will be in front of a lot more people watching. It will be on television on the Italian channel RAI.”

Unfortunately, when Miss Troja returned to Bermuda after Miss Italia, she said her singing talents were never needed.

“During the whole thing we just did dancing for the performance aspect,” she said, “although we sang the Italian anthem. The competition wasn’t really what I expected. It was kind of easy. I wasn’t expecting to win, but I got pretty far and I was happy. It was definitely a worthwhile experience. I learned a little, and I matured a bit too.”

She said she wanted to be in the competition because she is interested in a career in the fashion industry, probably in modelling. She is planning to be in the upcoming JaKoMa Fashion Show on July 15 in Bermuda.

Miss Troja is the daughter of Ermete and Anna Marie Troja.

Her father’s family are originally from Sicily, and her father previously owned Speciality Inn, but sold it a few years ago. He now runs the City Café.

“My father always stresses education, because he had to work from a young age,” she said. “His father died when he was young and he had to support the family. I did go back to Italy often when I was younger.

“Unfortunately, my grandmother died a few years ago, and after that we didn’t go back as much. I love Italy. When we went to Italy in the summertime, it was my favourite time of the year.”

While in Italy, Miss Troja visited with relatives, and an aunt came to see her in the competition. “They are so loving in Italy,” she said. “It seems like everyone has so much love for each other. They care. My grandmother would have been so proud of me.”

She said the lifestyle in Italy is much more relaxed, and the people more openly affectionate.

“I feel more myself there, and I can relax and not worry about what everyone’s thinking of me,” she said. “I went to school there for a while. The day was you get up, you work until 1 p.m. Then the shops close until 4. You have lunch and go to sleep.

“Then the shops open up around 4 or 5 p.m. and open until 9 p.m. And then everyone walks around town and talks and gets a drink of coffee. People are friendly.”

She said people her age act differently, and it isn’t uncommon to see boys holding arms or linking arms. “The food is different,” she said. “They have really long lunches. We loved going out to dinner. My friends and I would get all dressed up every Friday and go out to this one restaurant. It felt good because I was experiencing my culture and living there.”

Miss Troja said she understands Italian and could speak very well when she lived there.

“Since I have been back, I have lost it,” she said. “I would love to live in Italy permanently.”

She said although you wouldn’t expect it, there is a strong community of Italians in Bermuda, which is what attracted the Miss Italia organisers to the Island in the first place.

“For the World Cup last year we went to Splash to watch the game,” she said. “My father was with all of his Italian friends.

“He was getting all excited and happy. When they won, everyone was in their streets and screaming and spraying champagne.”