Miss Illinois

Last updated
Miss Illinois
Formation1922
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Marion
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
Key people
Dr. Susan Shea (Executive Director)
Website Official website

The Miss Illinois is a pageant program affiliated with Miss America, which is competition for women models representing the state of Illinois.

Contents

The first "Miss Illinois" sent to the national pageant was Lois Delander who subsequently won the Miss America title. Including Delander, five Miss Illinois representatives have won the Miss America title.

Jessica Tilton of Washington, IL was crowned Miss Illinois 2023 on June 10, 2023, at the Marion Cultural Arts & Civic Center in Marion. She will represent Illinois and compete for the title of Miss America 2024.

Results summary

Lois Delander, Miss Illinois 1927 and Miss America 1927 Lois Delander Miss America 1927.jpg
Lois Delander, Miss Illinois 1927 and Miss America 1927

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Illinois titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Awards received by contestants competing as Miss Chicago at the national pageant are denoted with a "*".

Placements

Illinois holds a record of 36 placements at Miss America.[ citation needed ]

Awards

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Talent: Audra Deckmann* (1959), Margaret McDowell* (1961), Vicky Joyce Nutter (1961), Donnalyn Freund* (1963), Dulcie Scripture (1970), Debra Carlson (1979), Blythe Sawyer (1981), Cindi Hodgkins (1988), Cheryl Majercik (1992), Kathleen Farrell (1993), Sara Martin (1994), Chuti Tiu (1995), Amanda Jo Meadows (1999), Jenny Powers (2001)

Other awards

Winners

YearNameHometownAgeLocal TitleMiss America TalentPlacement at Miss AmericaSpecial scholarships at Miss AmericaNotes
2023 Jessica Tilton [1] Washington 25Miss Quad CitiesColor Guard
2022 Monica Nia Jones [2] Chicago 26Miss Windy CityViolinTop 11America's Choice
2021 Isabelle Hanson [3] Glen Ellyn 25Miss Northern SuburbsViolinTop 10Preliminary Talent AwardPreviously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2013 [4]
2019–20 [lower-alpha 1] Ariel Beverly [6] [7] Springfield 24Miss East CentralVocalEquity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalist [8]
2018 Grace Khachaturian [9] Champaign 21Miss Capital CityLyrical Dance, "You Raise Me Up"Previously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2012 [10]
2017 Abby Foster [11] Danville 21Miss East CentralJazz Dance, Grease medleyTop 15 [12] America's Choice [12] Former NFL cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts [13]
2016 Jaryn Franklin[ citation needed ] East Moline 23Miss Blackhawk ValleyVocal, "Dream a Little Dream of Me"STEM Scholarship Award
2015 Crystal Davis Anna 22Miss Southern IllinoisVocal, "That's Life"
2014 Marisa Buchheit [15] Chicago 24Miss ChicagoOperatic Vocal, "Je veux vivre" from Roméo et Juliette Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship [16]
2013 Brittany Smith Elmhurst 23Miss Northern SuburbsIrish Step Dancing, "Lord of the Dance"
2012 Megan Jo Ervin [10] Rushville 23Miss QuincyDance, "Faithfully"Top 10Preliminary Swimsuit AwardContestant at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant
2011 Hannah Smith [17] Huntley 20Miss Windy CityBallet en Pointe, "Palladio"Top 10
2010 Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky New Baden 22Miss River to RiverTap Dance, "On the Dance Floor"
2009 Erin O'Connor Evergreen Park 20Miss MacombBallet en Pointe, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody Remix"
2008 Katie Lorenz Chicago 24Miss ChicagoLyrical Dance, "Footprints in the Sand"
2007 Ashley Hatfield [18] Anna 24Miss HeartlandVocal, "To Love You More"
2006 Heidi Ekstrom Mundelein 24Miss Kane CountyBallet en Pointe, "Ride"
2005 Lauren Allen Batavia 21Miss Western SuburbsFreestyle Gymnastics, "Rhythm of the Night"
2004 Michelle LaGroue Naperville 24Miss ChicagoVocal, "I Know the Truth" from Aida Previously held the title of Miss Illinois in 2002 after Harold was named Miss America 2003
2003 Andrea Fritz Schaumburg 21Lyrical Dance, "Dance With My Father"
2002 Michelle LaGroue Naperville Miss Tinley ParkDid not compete; later assumed the title after Harold won Miss America 2003
Erika Harold Urbana 22Miss Land of LincolnClassical Vocal, "Habanera"WinnerPreliminary Interview Award

Preliminary On-stage Interview Award

Overall Interview Award
2001 Kristin Castillo Macomb 18Miss MacombClassical Violin, "Praeludium & Allegro"
2000 Jenny Powers Andover, Massachusetts 21Miss Northern IllinoisClassical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'"Preliminary Talent Award

Non-finalist Talent Award
Was eligible to compete for Miss Illinois as a student at Northwestern University
1999 Jade Smalls Evanston 21Miss ChicagoClassical Piano, "Etude in C Minor"1st runner-up
1998 Amanda Jo Meadows Sycamore 20Miss MacombBaton, "María"Non-finalist Talent Award
1997 Ashley Eisenhauer Herrin Miss John A. LoganDid not compete; later assumed the title after Shindle won Miss America 1998
Katherine Shindle Evanston 20Miss Lake-CookVocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade"WinnerPreliminary Talent Award
1996 Tania Gibson Lake Barrington 19Miss Fox River ValleyVocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard
1995 Tracy Hayes Wheaton 22Miss Greater DuPage CountyVocal, "Tonight"4th runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit Award
1994 Chuti Tiu [19] Chicago 24Miss KankakeeClassical PianoNon-finalist Talent AwardPreviously America's Junior Miss 1987 [20]
1993 Sara Martin [21] Schaumburg 20Miss SchaumburgVocal, "Hello, Young Lovers"Non-finalist Talent AwardPreviously America's Junior Miss 1990 [22]
1992 Kathleen Farrell Chicago 23Miss KankakeeClassical Piano, "Danza No. 5"Non-finalist Talent AwardSister of Miss New York 1984, Mary-Ann Farrell and Miss Florida 1985, Monica Farrell

Later Miss Illinois USA 1994

Top 10 at Miss USA 1994 Mother of Miss Ohio 2022, Elizabetta Nies

1991 Cheryl Majercik Niles 26Miss ChicagoClassical Vocal, "O Mio Babbino Caro"Non-finalist Talent Award

Quality of Life Award
1990 Jaclyn Greer Granite City Miss Madison CountyDid not compete; later assumed the title after Vincent won Miss America 1991
Marjorie Vincent Oak Park 25Miss KankakeeClassical Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu WinnerPreliminary Talent Award
1989 Jeri Lynn Zimmermann Evanston 21Miss Northwestern UniversityVocal, "On My Own"3rd runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit AwardBest known for playing the Borg Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager [23]
1988 Dawn Spicuzza Collinsville 22Miss Mississippi ValleyVocal, "If I Loved You"
1987 Cindi Hodgkins Schaumburg 22Miss ChicagoVocal Medley, "My Man" & "But the World Goes Round"Non-finalist Talent Award
1986 Lisa Heussner Pekin 21Miss PekinDramatic Interpretation, "Emily Dickinson, Portrait of a Poet"
1985 Karen Moncrieff Chicago 21Miss Northwestern UniversityPopular Vocal, "Through the Eyes of Love" from Ice Castles
1984 Ruth Booker21Miss ChicagoVocal, "Kiss Me In the Rain"
1983 Rebecca Bush24Vocal, "It's My Turn"Played Detective Katie Grant on Jake and the Fatman [ citation needed ]
1982 Jaleigh Jeffers Mt. Carmel 21Miss Southern IllinoisPiano, '"Bumble Boogie"
1981 Sandra Truitt Evanston 25Miss North ShoreClassical Vocal, "Près des remparts de Séville" from Carmen 1st runner-upPreliminary Talent Award
1980 Blythe Sawyer Naperville 22Miss ChicagoClassical Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from Faust Non-finalist Talent Award
1979 Elizabeth Russell Pekin 20Miss Heart of IllinoisClassical Vocal, "O Luce di Quest'Anima" from Linda di Chamounix Assumed title after original winner, Shanna McNeill, was stripped of the title [24] [25]
1978 Debra Carlson Ottawa 19Miss OttawaFlute, "Carnival of Venice"Non-finalist Talent Award
1977 Nancy Beatty Avon 22Miss MacombClassical Vocal, "Voices of Spring"
1976 Betsy Jamison Mundelein 24Miss Lake CountyPopular Vocal, "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver!
1975 Jean Waters Tuscola 22Miss Crossroads CountryGymnastic Dance / Trampoline, "High School Cadets"
1974 Jean Ahern Hinsdale 21Miss Hinsdale-Clarendon HillsBallet en Pointe, "Kitri's Variation" from Don Quixote 2nd runner-upPreliminary Talent Award
1973 Colleen Metternich Carthage 23Miss Heart of IllinoisPiano, "Variations on a Twelve Note Theme"Top 10Preliminary Talent Award
1972 Carolyn Paulus Elmhurst 20Miss MacombClassical Vocal, "Glitter And Be Gay" from Candide
1971 Anita Pankratz Chicago 21Miss ChicagoVocal / Piano, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
1970 Lynn Alexander Loami 18Miss SpringfieldClassical Vocal, "Vissi d'arte"
1969 Dulcie Scripture Elgin 20Miss ElginPiano, "Khachaturian's Toccata"Non-finalist Talent Award
1968 Sharon Mitchell Westchester 19Miss Bellwood-WestchesterDid not compete; later assumed the title after Ford won Miss America 1969
Judith Ford Belvidere 18Miss Boone CountyAcrobatic Dance & Trampoline, "The Blue Danube"WinnerPreliminary Swimsuit Award

Preliminary Talent Award
1967 Kathryn Myers Aurora 20Miss Fox ValleyDramatic Reading from Ion
1966 Mary Lee Inzerello Elk Grove 19Miss Adams CountyModern Dance
1965 Kathleen Oros Granite City 20Miss Granite CityPopular Vocal, "Just You Wait" from My Fair Lady
1964 Patricia Quillen North Aurora 21Miss Fox ValleyClarinetFinalist at National Press Photographers' Pageant 1962[ citation needed ]
1963 Judith Schlieper Decatur 20Miss DecaturSiamese Dance
1962 Donnalyn Freund Winnetka 20Miss ChicagoVocal, "I Enjoy Being a Girl"Non-finalist Talent AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Pamela Gilbert Carbondale 21Miss IllinoisDramatic ReadingPreliminary Swimsuit Award
1961 Nancy Kesler Oak Park 18Miss ChicagoModern DanceMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Jacqueline Bingert Winthrop Harbor 21Miss IllinoisTap Dance & India Ink Sketching
1960 Margaret McDowell Evanston 21Miss ChicagoDramatic ReadingNon-finalist Talent AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Vicky Joyce Nutter Vandalia 18Miss IllinoisPresentation of Fashion DesignsNon-finalist Talent Award
1959 Carol Rubin Chicago 18Miss ChicagoModern Jazz DanceMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Suzanne Ingeborg Johnson Chicago 21Miss IllinoisVocal, "Hello, Young Lovers"Top 10Preliminary Talent Award
1958 Audra Deckmann Chicago Miss ChicagoDanceNon-finalist Talent AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Anita Ruth Olson River Forest Miss IllinoisPiano, "Rhapsody in G Minor" by Johannes Brahms
1957 Bette Lieb Chicago Miss ChicagoDramatic Monologue from Romeo and Juliet Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Jeannie Beacham Downers Grove Miss IllinoisDrama, "The Great Debates"
1956 Sandra Jean Stuart Chicago Miss ChicagoWater Ballet Video PresentationTop 10Preliminary Swimsuit AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Tillie Micheletto Collinsville Miss IllinoisVocal
1955 Florence Gallagher Chicago Miss ChicagoSemi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It"2nd runner-upMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Marian Elizabeth Cox Oak Park Miss IllinoisVocal, "If I Loved You"
1954 Regina Dombeck Chicago Miss ChicagoDramatic Monologue from Mary of Scotland by Maxwell Anderson Top 10Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Patsy Bruce Carbondale Miss IllinoisDramatic ReadingMiss Congeniality
1953 Carol Segermark Chicago Miss ChicagoVocalMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Jacquie Dumbauld Alton Miss IllinoisPiano / Dance
1952 Jo Hoppe Chicago Miss ChicagoTap Dance4th runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Glenna Marie Pohly Rock Falls Miss IllinoisFlute
1951 Adrianne Falcon Chicago Miss ChicagoVocal & DanceTop 10Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Doris King Granite City Miss IllinoisDance
1950 Marjorie Adams Chicago Miss ChicagoMonologue, "To the Lovely Margaret"Top 16Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Catherine Kleinschmidt Granite City Miss IllinoisVocal, "Come to the Fair"
1949 Teresa Giorgian Chicago Miss ChicagoVocal, "Jealousy"Top 15Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Trudi Germi Chicago Miss IllinoisClassical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"2nd runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit Award
1948 Lois Nettleton Chicago Miss ChicagoDramatic Monologue from Saint Joan Top 15Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Viola Ruth Hutmacher Quincy Miss IllinoisClassical Vocal, "Italian Street Song"
1947 Joan Hiatt Chicago Miss ChicagoVocal, "Kiss In the Dark"Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Maree Evans Joliet Dress Design & Art
1946 Cloris Leachman Chicago Miss ChicagoComic Sketch, "One Man Radio Program"Top 16Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Patricia Frye Pekin Miss IllinoisVocal / Tap Dance, "I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do"Top 16
1945 Lee Mercer Wieland Chicago Miss ChicagoMonologue, "A Lesson With a Fan"Top 13Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Beverly Long Joliet
1944 Elaine Steinbach Chicago Miss ChicagoVocal, "You'll Never Know"3rd runner-upMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Betty June King Bloomington Miss IllinoisAcrobatic Dance, "Stardust"Top 12
1943 Marjorie Nelson Chicago Miss ChicagoRhythmic BalletTop 10Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Dorothy Belle Kohrt Ottawa, Illinois Miss Illinois
1942 Bette Brunk Chicago Miss ChicagoHula, "Hawaiian War Chant"1st runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit AwardMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Patricia Hayes Rochelle Miss IllinoisDramatic RecitationTop 10
1941 No Illinois representative at Miss America pageant [26] [27]
1940
1939 Ethel Lorraine Lodbell Chicago Miss ChicagoMonologue, "From the Diary of a Contestant"Top 15No Miss Illinois

Competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1938 No Illinois representative at Miss America pageant [28] [29]
1937
1936 Genevieve Anderson Chicago Miss ChicagoMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Arlene Causey Chicago Miss Cook County3rd runner-upBest Model
Virginia Moeller Springfield
1935 No Illinois representative at Miss America pageant [30]
1934No national pageant was held [31]
1933 Lillian Mary Kroener18N/ADisqualified because she resided in St. Louis, Missouri
1932No national pageants were held [31]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 Myrtle Valsted Chicago Miss ChicagoN/A [32] Multiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Gladys Vile Danville Miss Danville
Lois Delander Joliet 16Miss IllinoisWinner
Anna G. Bernard Springfield Miss Springfield
1926 Mae Greene Chicago Miss ChicagoCompeted under local title at national pageant
1925 Margarita GonzalesMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Lucille Burns Elgin Miss Elgin
1924 Margaret Leigh Chicago Miss Chicago4th runner-upMultiple Illinois representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Virginia Lipscomb Decatur Miss Decatur
1923 Corrine Dellefield [33] Chicago Miss ChicagoCompeted under local title at national pageant
1922 Georgia Hale [34] 22Competed under local title at national pageant

Later starred in Charlie Chaplin's 1925 film, The Gold Rush , [35] and the 1926 silent film, The Great Gatsby [36]
1921
No Illinois representative at Miss America pageant [37]
Notes
  1. Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic [5] [6]

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References

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  3. O' Dell, Les (June 19, 2021). "Isabelle Hanson crowned Miss Illinois 2021". The Southern Illinoisan . Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. "Chicago-area woman crowned Miss Illinois; Miss Quincy wins service, academic award". Herald-WHIG. June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. Kuperinsky, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
  6. 1 2 Jacob, Brittany; Ladd, Jessica (May 18, 2020). "Miss Illinois 2020 delayed 1 year; City of Marion impacted". KFVS-TV . Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  7. "Former Glenwood art teacher crowned Miss Illinois 2019". WICS/WRSP News. June 17, 2019.
  8. Brunetti, Michelle (December 14, 2019). "Miss America scholarships finalists to be interviewed in public at Mohegan Sun". Press of Atlantic City.
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  13. "Top of the Morning, June 16, 2017". The News-Gazette. June 16, 2017.
  14. http://www.wgfaradio.com/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4313:vermilion-county-s-abby-foster-crowned-miss-illinois-fair-queen&catid=53&Itemid=106 [ dead link ]
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  25. "Shanna McNeill talks about her short reign as Miss Illinois".
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  29. "1938 Candidates". Miss America. 5 July 2018.
  30. "1935 Candidates". Miss America. 5 July 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS .
  32. Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  33. "Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 12 via Newspapers.com.
  34. Goering, Laurie (March 25, 1990). "Mere Beauty Doesn't Win Pageant". Chicago Tribune.
  35. Feaster, Felicia. "The Gold Rush". Turner Classic Movies.
  36. "The Great Gatsby". Variety. Vol. 85, no. 6. New York City. November 24, 1926. p. 14.
  37. "1921 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.