Miss Illinois USA

Last updated

Miss Illinois USA
Formation1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Shawnee
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
John M. Vannatta
Jason Vannatta
Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher, State Pageant Director
Website Official website

The Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by Vanbros and Associates and is previously directed by D&D Productions from 2001 to 2014 before becoming part of Vanbros organization in 2014, headquartered in Shawnee. [1]

Contents

Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only four states to win two Miss USA titles in consecutive years. All four winners came from the early history of the competition, with their last Miss USA being Karen Morrison, who held the title in 1974. The pageant's most successful years were from 1984 to 1996, when all but two delegates made the cut at Miss USA. That period was followed by many years without a placement.

In 1986, sisters Tricia and Laura Bach won the title consecutively, the first occasion of this in the history of the Miss Universe organization. [2] Later on, in 1994, Kathleen Farrell, sister of Miss Florida USA 1988, won the title, making the state pageant the first to have two sisters compete in Miss USA.

Until 2013, no Illinois delegate had previously competed at Miss Illinois Teen USA but one was previously competed in Miss Illinois, Stacie Juris became the first former Teen titleholder to appear a crossover in Miss USA, the second-to-the last state to do so (Washington would make its first Teen to Miss crossover four years later). The most recent placement was Samantha Elliott placing Top 20 in 2023.

Samantha Elliott of Freeport was crowned Miss Illinois USA 2023 on May 28, 2023 at Braden Auditorium in Normal. She represented Illinois at Miss USA 2023 and placed Top 20.

Results summary

Placements

Illinois holds a record of 32 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Titleholders

Color key
YearNameHometownAge [lower-alpha 1] Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2024 TBATBATBATBATBA
2023 Samantha Elliott Freeport 22Miss FreeportTop 20
2022 Angeliz "Angel" Reyes Chicago 25Miss Hermosa4th runner-upMiss Photogenic
2021 Sydni Dion Bennett Algonquin 20Miss Greater Midwest3rd runner-up
2020 Olivia Pura Deer Park 22Miss North ShoreTop 10
2019 Alexandra Plotz Geneva 24Miss Geneva
2018 Karolina Jasko Franklin Park 20Miss Franklin ParkPreviously Miss Polonia Illinois USA 2017 [3]
2017 Whitney Wandland Chicago 24Miss Greater ChicagoTop 5 Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2016 Zena Malak Carol Stream 23Miss Carol StreamPreviously Miss Illinois Galaxy 2011
2015 Renee Wronecki Burbank 22Miss BurbankTop 15
2014 Lexi Atkins Champaign 21
2013 Stacie Juris Tinley Park 222nd runner-upPreviously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2009
2012 Ashley Hooks Flossmoor 25
2011 Angela Sparrow Chicago 26 Indiana Pacers Pacemate
2010 Ashley Bradarich Homer Glen 23Sister of Carlyn Bradarich, Miss Iowa USA 2014
2009 Ashley Bond Oswego 24 Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2008 Shanon Lersch Chicago 25Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2007 Mia Heaston Chicago 25
2006 Catherine Warren Lake Forest 23Top 15Contestant on The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman
2005 Jill Gulseth Geneva 213rd runner-up
2004 Molly Graham Montgomery 24
2003 Agnieszka Zakreta Rolling Meadows 24Miss Tourism International 1999 as Miss Polonia
2002 Amanda Reynolds Marion 23Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001
2001 Rebecca AmbrosiChicago24
2000 Constance Stoetzer Abingdon 26
1999 Christina LamMakanda19
  • Later Mrs. Tennessee America 2007 under her married name, Christina Ryan
1998 Mandy LaneElizabethtown21Contestant in Fear Factor USA Christmas Edition (4th place) & Fear Factor USA Second Chance Episode (2nd place)
1997 Jennifer SalinasSouth Holland21
1996 Bernadette PrzybycienChicago24Semi-finalist
1995 Nichole Holmes Marion 202nd runner-up Miss Photogenic
1994 Kathleen Farrell Chicago 24Top 10 Semi-finalist
1993 Susie ParkChicago25First Asian American to win the title of Miss Illinois USA
1992 Leilani MagnussenGlendale Heights21
1991 Lisa Morgan Inverness 21Top 6 Miss Teenage America 1986. [4]
1990 Karla MyersChicago22Top 12
1989 Kelly Holub Buffalo Grove 22Semi-finalistBest State Costume award
1988 Gina Zordani Palos Heights 23Semi-finalist
1987 Joan Berge Arlington Heights 21Semi-finalist
1986 Tricia Bach Elmhurst 22Semi-finalistMiss Teen All American 1983, sister of Miss Illinois USA 1985
1985 Laura BachElmhurst232nd Runner-up1st runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1986, sister of Miss Illinois USA 1986
1984 LaVonne MisselleToluca19Semi-finalist
1983 Vanessa Romine Rockford 24
1982 Carla DanielsonChicago21
1981 Leslie RenfrowChicago214th runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1980
1980 Karen GroatPrinceton18
1979 Debra Niego Oak Lawn 203rd Runner-upMiss Oktoberfest 1979
1978 Suzanne Piché Lombard 22Represented Illinois at Miss World USA 1974.
1977 Elizabeth Curran Park Ridge 21Miss Photogenic
1976 Kathy Schmalen Oak Lawn 18Semi-finalist
1975 Connie Reif Wheeling 18
1974Melinda Staiger Aurora 19Succeeded Karen Morrison as Miss Illinois USA
1974 Karen Morrison St. Charles 19Miss USA 1974Semifinalist at Miss Universe 1974
1973Deanna Hanson [5] Aurora 19Succeeded Amanda Jones as Miss Illinois USA
1973 Amanda Jones Evanston 22Miss USA 19731st runner up at Miss Universe 1973
1972 Jani Hall Big Rock 21
1971 Paulette BreenChicago24
1970 Carol PepoonSkokie18
1969 Christine JallowayChicago23
1968 Sandra WolsfeldWheaton21 Miss World USA 1970, semifinalist in Miss World 1970
1967 Beverly LacekChicago23Semi-finalist
1966 Cheryl SetserWoodstock19
1965 Diane GortzSchiller Park18
1964 Karen WiesbrookWheaton18
1963 Marite Ozers Chicago 19Miss USA 1963Semifinalist at Miss Universe 1963, represented Chicago, IL in Miss USA World 1962, did not place. Born in Latvia.
1962 Jean DonnellyDekalb20Semi-finalist
1961 Dianne DuffeyElmhurst19
1960 Patricia ThompsonChicago
1959 Arlene KayeWestern Springs19
1958 June PickneyChicago223rd Runner-up
1957 Marianne Gaba Chicago18Semi-finalist Playboy playmate September 1959
1956 Muriel BlairChicago23
1955 Diane Daniggelis [6] Chicago18Semi-finalistWinner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant
1954 Celeste RavelChicago234th Runner-up
1953 Myrna Hansen Chicago17Miss USA 19531st runner up at Miss Universe 1953; had been a finalist in the National Press Photographers pageant in 1953
1952 Sherri Matulis [7] Peoria20 [7]
  1. ↑ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

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References

  1. ↑ "Contact - MISS ILLINOIS USA® and MISS ILLINOIS TEEN USA®". www.missillinoisusa.com. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  2. ↑ "Sisters reign, Bach to Bach". Chicago Sun-Times. 1986-02-25. p. 24.
  3. ↑ "Karolina Jasko - Miss Illinois USA 2018". Pageant Update. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  4. ↑ Purdom, Candace (21 April 1991). C-h-e-e-r-s, Chicago Tribune
  5. ↑ "The New Miss Illinois". Chicago Tribune. 7 June 1973. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Here's Official List of Miss Universe Charmers". Long Beach Press-Telegram. 17 July 1955. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. 1 2 "U.S. Beauty List". Long Beach Independent. 22 June 1952. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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