Former St. Emilian parishioner is crowned Miss Czech-Slovak U.S.

WILBUR, Neb. — Anna Tombazzi, a former parishioner of St. Emilian Church in Brunswick, Ohio, was the first Byzantine Catholic to be crowned National Queen at the 33rd Annual Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Pageant, held during the Czech Heritage Days Festival in Wilber, Nebraska, Aug. 4. She is also the first woman of Rusyn heritage to win the pageant. The young rocket scientist currently works for The Spaceship Company in Mojave, California, and attends St. Mary Church in Sherman Oaks. Tombazzi also won the top three individual awards: Authentic Kroj (costume) Award, Oratory Award and the Grand Talent Award. She played “The Valleys of the Mountains” on her great-grandfather’s violin. As queen, Tombazzi will travel to various U.S. states, as well as to Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Caption: Anna Tombazzi poses with her mother, Laurel Tombazzi (right), and her aunt, Christine Bratnick (left), after being crowned Miss Czeck-Slovak U.S. 2019-2020. A reception was held in her honor Nov. 30 in Brecksville, Ohio. ( Photo: Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Pageant/Evening Blush Photography )
 
As published in Horizons, Dec. 8, 2019.
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