FORMER volleyball star and Miss Universe contestant Cindy Marina has taken her talents to the world of football presenting.
The 25-year-old presents Serie A coverage for Oversport TV and has become a household name over in Italy.
In an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport, she confessed that she has been a lover of Italian culture her whole life, despite growing up in Albania.
She told Gazzetta: "I have loved Italy since I was little: my relatives lived in your country and I spent almost every summer with them: I love Italian food, the architecture and the history behind the corners of each city.
"The people are kind, passionate and love to enjoy life.”
Before entering the presenting world, she competed in college volleyball in the US.
While studying for a degree in International Relations and Business at The University of South California, she played as a senior setter for the collegiate team.
After graduating, she won Miss Universe as the contestant representing Albania.
But she says that now her focus is fully on football presenting.
When asked what she loves most about presenting the Serie A, she said: "It's exciting to be just a few steps from the pitch and feel the energy of the fans. In the future I would like to be part of a large network full time in Italy or the USA.
"I have already had the opportunity to collaborate part-time with the Milan Channel and with CBS Sports, one of the most important television networks in America: it was a great result for my career."
When asked on how she prepares for a game, she said: "Since the calendar is defined, I have been studying the teams I will have to follow live, staying updated on daily developments.
"Weekends are always dedicated to watching matches. Obviously it is tradition to read the Gazzetta dello Sport for any last minute information."
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All football fans right now