Nov. 8 – This year’s edition of Miss Universe, the international beauty contest organized by the Miss Universe Organization, is held in Moscow, Russia, at Crocus City Hall where the final will take place tomorrow evening. Italo Fontana will also be the only Italian judging the beautiful participants as was announced by Donald J. Trump and Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. Alongside Steven Tyler, Tara Lipinsk, Carol Alt and chef Nobu, the organizing committee of the contest, run by the American tycoon Donald Trump, has chosen Lucca-native Fontana, of U-Boat watches fame. Fontana will dote upon the new Miss Universe by giving her a watch from the new U -Boat Ladies collection. Luna Isabella Voce, born in 1988, will represent our country in the competition: half Dutch and half Calabrian, the model crushed the competition of the other 26 potential Italian candidates. Born in Amsterdam from an Italian father and only 25 years old, she has won more than 30 beauty pageant titles in the world, has worked for some of the best agencies in Milan, such as Elite Model Management and Why Not Model Management, and is now Miss Universe Italy Yamamay 2013.

ITALO FONTANA

Italo Fontana was born in Lucca in 1965, where he lives to this day with his family. He started working in the family activity, in the field of clothing. He later specialized in accessories and contemporary furnishing. He later decided to devote himself to his true dream: watch creation. His grandfather’s sketches, which depicted a futuristic watch, with the crown on the left for better wrist movement, gave Italo the strength to start a new adventure. A little over a decade ago Fontana brought he project back to the light and for seven years he worked patiently to redefine the concept of watches: artisan pieces with a strong identity, large in size and readable markings. The result is U-Boat. In just a couple of years, the brand distinguished itself internationally by opening 17 flagship stores around the world. Today, the brand has plans to accelerate its international development: U -Boat recently opened its third Italian boutique brand in Milan, in Corso Como 9, the first in Milan after the stores in Florence and Forte dei Marmi; it also opened a flagship store in Beijing, and a third store in Hong Kong. Fontana’s timeless creations continue to win many world-famous celebrities and jet set personalities. As a designer, Italo Fontana is not interested in selling thousands of watches nor being present everywhere in the world – but he is always thrilled to learn that an important person wants a U –Boat. Sylvester Stallone has four and had asked to meet with Italo, Schwarzenegger asked for one engraved with the words "Governor of California," Armani bought one in Mykonos, Kenzo, David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Capirossi also have it, as well as Victoria Beckham and Lindsay Lohan.