Christina Cotuno ruled as the queen at Monday’s 2008 Columbus Day Parade. We caught up with the 23-year-old Naperville resident before her 2-minute, three-block float ride down South Columbus Drive.
Q. So is this an average day for you, sitting on a golden throne and waving to your subjects?
A. Hardly. I’ve never done anything like this before. My mom’s friend signed me up. I’m more of a sweat pants, baseball cap kind of girl. I’m an analyst for an executive recruiting agency.
Q. How did you get picked?
A. There was a pageant with 26 girls.
Q. What did you do in the pageant?
A. We danced. I’m a horrible dancer too. We had to answer some questions, like, “How do you define success?”
Q. How do you define success?
A. I said it depends on your definition, like if you want a family or want to work.
Q. That’s a great non-answer. You should be up in the front with the politicians.
A. [Laughs] I liked it too!
Q. Did you have to perform a talent?
A. No.
Q. If you did, what would your talent have been?
A. The only thing I can do is chug a beer real fast. My mom is going to kill me for saying that, but it’s true — seriously, I can beat the boys.
Q. No drinking today though, I hope.
A. Oh no, we’ve been getting ready all morning. I got up at 5 a.m.
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Q. Are you involved in a lot of Italian-American activities?
A. Before this, no — I only ate at Italian restaurants. Meeting the other girls in the court, though, has been great, and I think I’m going to do a lot more. This whole experience has just been fantastic.