Jeannette girl wins age division in 2019 Little Miss Italy pageant

Sophia Lawry, 7, performed her heart out when she took the stage to compete in the 2019 Miss Little Italy pageant during Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days, said her mom, Gina.

And her performance won her the title Miss Little Italy, Princess division.

“It’s based on confidence, and she walked out there and she waved and had an Italian flag,” Lawry said. “They did ask a question: ‘Why do you want to be Miss Italy?’ And she said because she’s Italian and she loves Pittsburgh. And that’s very true. … She’s really interested in hearing about her heritage.”

The granddaughter of Tony and Kathy Rocco, third generation, full-blooded Italians, Sophia has the opportunity to hear about the country and how her family came to live in Jeannette.

The annual pageant, this year set on an outdoor stage near West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, is divided into three categories — Miss Little Italy, princess for contestants ages 4 to 7; Miss Little Italy, junior for contestants ages 8 to 11 and Miss Little Italy, senior for contestants ages 12 to 17.

Sophia stepped onstage in a red gown, with multi-colored tulle on the bottom, red shoes and a red bow in her hair.

“She just kind of had fun with it,” her mother said. “I try to not put too much pressure on her. I just tell her to go have fun, do the best you can and smile.”

Lawry said Sophia decided to try out for pageants after seeing a friend she made in kindergarten travel to compete. Sophia competed in her first pageant last year at Westmoreland Mall, where she won her age division.

Sophia is involved in dance, gymnastics and cheerleading. She also participates in Stage Right!, a Greensburg performance arts group.

With her newly obtained title, Sophia will participate in Pittsburgh’s Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 12. Gina Lawry said she is keeping her eye out for local parades that Sophia could participate in and any community service opportunities.

“I was so proud of her,” Lawry said of watching Sophia perform onstage.

This year’s Little Italy Days ran from Aug. 15 to Aug. 18.