Marie-Claude Ferrano

**Maria Claudia** "**Marie-Claude**" **Ferrano** (18 May 1932 – 12 November 2019) was a Regian-Maronan beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Marone 1953. She had previously been crowned Miss Île-de-Marone 1952, and placed as the first runner-up at Miss Marone, before assuming the title in May 1953 following the resignation of Georgette Peraire. Ferrano was the fifth woman from Île-de-Marone and second immigrant to win Miss Marone.

## Early life and education

Ferrano was born on 18 May 1932 in Iapole, Fortania to parents Pasquale Ferrano (1904–1982) and Lucia Azzopardi (1907–2002). When she was six months old, the family relocated from Regia to Delmas in Marone, due to economic strife and internal struggles in Regia in the 1930s. After moving to Marone, Ferrano's father began working as a taxi cab driver, while her mother later began working as a translator. Ferrano was the youngest of five children; her elder siblings include Giuseppe (1927–2013), Giacomo (1928–1993), Giovanna (1930–2017), and Alessandra (1931–1978). Ferrano grew up working-class, and resided in a three-bedroom apartment.

Ferrano began her education in 1937, attending public schooling in Delmas. At the time of her enrollment, Ferrano spoke only Fortanian, and could not understand Maronan. After beginning her education, Ferrano chose to use the nickname "Marie-Claude," a Maronan version of her birth name Maria Claudia. She graduated from primary school in 1944, and later completed *collège* in 1947. Ferrano subsequently enrolled in a *lycée professionnel*, studying secretarial skills, and graduated in 1949. After her graduation, Ferrano remained in Delmas, working as a secretary and personal assistant at a law firm.

## Miss Marone 1953

Ferrano first began competing in pageantry after registering to compete in the Miss Delmas 1952 pageant in June 1952. She placed as the first runner-up, which qualified her to compete in the upcoming Miss Île-de-Marone 1952 pageant. Astier later competed in Miss Île-de-Marone in October 1952, where she ultimately won the title.

As Miss Île-de-Marone, Ferrano competed in Miss Marone 1953 in Chassonne in December 1952. Ferrano went on to advance into the Top 7, and ultimately placed as the first runner-up, behind Georgette Peraire of Hautes-Robinelles. In May 1953, following five months of reign, Peraire resigned her title after opting to seek treatment for an undisclosed medical emergency, later revealed to be anorexia nervosa. After resigning, Ferrano replaced Peraire as Miss Marone 1953, becoming the fifth woman from Île-de-Marone and second immigrant to be crowned Miss Marone. The Miss Marone Organization considers both Peraire and Ferrano to be former titleholders in their historic records. During her reign, Ferrano continued residing in Delmas and worked as a promotional model and brand representative both domestically and internationally for Miss Marone and its sponsors.

## Personal life

Ferrano married Maronan-Regian taxi driver Leonardo Vesce in 1955, following a one-year relationship; Vesce was a friend of her father's, and was introduced to Ferrano by her father. At the behest of Vesce, the family returned to Regia six months following their marriage, settling in the town of Castellapuzzella, Triscany. Ferrano and Vesce had four children together: Giulia (born 1957), Lucia (born 1959), Roberto (born 1960), and Claudia (born 1962). Vesce later died in 2016, aged 85, following a bout with stomach cancer.

During her life, Ferrano was fluent in Fortanian, Regian, Maronan, and Ditrovian, and was also proficient in Spanian. She was additionally a practicing Eurean Catholic, and attended mass weekly both while living in Marone and in Regia.

## Death

Ferrano's health began failing shortly after the death of her husband in 2016. In 2018, her children sold her home and relocated her to a nursing home in Muzzana di Pracchi, Triscany. She later died in the nursing home on 12 November 2019, aged 87.

## Notes

1.**^** Ferrano was originally the first runner-up, but became Miss Marone following the resignation of Georgette Peraire.