words by Carol King
Editor in chief of ‘Vogue Italia’, Franca Sozzani, has received the America Award presented by the Fondazione Italia USA (Italy-USA Foundation).
The award recognises Sozzani’s achievements in the publishing sector for her role as editor in chief of ‘Vogue Italia’ and ‘Vogue.it’. The awards judges also acknowledged Sozzani’s “impressive results” achieved through the United Nations Fashion 4 Development campaign, which she heads in her capacity as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Sozzani wrote in the ‘Huffington Post’: “I have received the America Award for helping Italian fashion become well known in America through the pages of ‘Vogue Italia’. This award is, therefore, dedicated to the magazine and to all the people who work there. Being considered No. 1 of foreign magazines in America makes me very proud, of course, and makes me also feel a great sense of responsibility.”
The Fondazione Italia USA was established to honour the friendship between Italians and Americans. The America Awards are in their fourth year. They acknowledge initiatives aimed at favouring relationships between Italy and the USA. Prominent personalities of any nationality who stand out for their work and results in promoting transatlantic friendship are considered. The America Award ceremony was held in Rome at the Italian Parliament in the Chamber of Deputies at the Palazzo dei Gruppi Parlamentari Hall, under the auspices of the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano.
The jury also awarded singer Andrea Bocelli; director of TV’s Rai 3, Antonio Di Bella; president of luxury-goods firm Ferragamo USA, Massimo Ferragamo; actress and showgirl Justine Mattera; Bulgarian TV producer, and former model and actress, Darina Pavlova; founder and president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, Jeremy Rifkin; and Gerard R. Ford Foundation committee member, and former US Ambassador to Italy, Peter F. Secchia. A special award was conferred in memory of film producer Dino De Laurentiis.
