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.

Grace Rodi of Hinsdale was crowned Miss Illinois USA 2024 on May 26, 2024, at Braden Auditorium in Normal. She will represent Illinois at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements

Illinois holds a record of 33 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Titleholders

Color key
YearNameHometownAge [a] Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2024 Grace Rodi Hinsdale 23Miss Dupage CountyTop 20
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 Park
  • Previously Miss Polonia Illinois USA 2017 [3]
2017 Whitney Wandland Chicago 24Miss Greater ChicagoTop 5 Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2016 Zena Malak Carol Stream 23Miss Carol Stream
  • Previously Miss Illinois Galaxy 2011
2015 Renee Wronecki Burbank 22Miss BurbankTop 15
2014 Lexi Atkins Champaign 21
2013 Stacie Juris Tinley Park 222nd runner-up
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 24
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
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-finalist
  • Miss Teen All American 1983, sister of Miss Illinois USA 1985
1985 Laura BachElmhurst232nd Runner-up
  • 1st 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 RenfrowChicago21
  • 4th runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1980
1980 Karen GroatPrinceton18
1979 Debra Niego Oak Lawn 203rd Runner-up
  • Miss 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 1973
1972 Jani Hall Big Rock 21
1971 Paulette BreenChicago24
1970 Carol PepoonSkokie18
1969 Christine JallowayChicago23
1968 Sandra WolsfeldWheaton21
1967 Beverly LacekChicago23Semi-finalist
1966 Cheryl SetserWoodstock19
1965 Diane GortzSchiller Park18
1964 Karen WiesbrookWheaton18
1963 Marite Ozers Chicago 19Miss USA 1963
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 1953
  • 1st 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

Related Research Articles

The Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group since 1992.

The Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas. In 2002, Nebraska joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Kansas USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Kansas USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 1992, the state joined the Vanbros group, under the directorship of Miss Kansas 1998 Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher.

The Miss Missouri USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Missouri in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by Vanbros and Associates, based in Lenexa, Kansas. In 1993, Missouri joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system.

Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions.

Miss Arkansas USA, previously known as Miss Arkansas Universe, is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates.

The Miss Michigan USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions.

The Miss Utah USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Utah for the Miss USA pageant. From 2001 to 2007, it was produced by Red Curtain Productions. Casting Crowns Productions directed the pageant from 2007 to 2018 under the directorship of former Miss Missouri USA Britt Boyse. Smoak Productions became the new director for Miss and Teen pageants in 2019 under executive director and Miss USA 1995 Shanna Moakler.

The Miss West Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of West Virginia in the Miss USA pageant. This pageant is independently conducted and produced by Empower2 Productions LLC. and is formerly directed by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Arkansas Teen USA</span> American beauty pageant competition

The Miss Arkansas Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Georgia Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Georgia Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Georgia in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant is directed Greenwood Productions under the ownership of Miss Tennessee USA 1989 Kim Greenwood. The pageant is hosted in McDonough, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Kansas Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Kansas Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant has been part of the Vanbros organisation since 1992, and in 2006, they celebrated their fifteen-year anniversary with a reunion of former titleholders at the 2007 pageant. For the first time, all the judges for both the Miss Kansas USA and Miss Kansas Teen USA pageants were former titleholders from the Vanbros states: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Nebraska Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Nebraska Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nebraska in the Miss Teen USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas. In 2002, Nebraska joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system. In 2022, Nebraska became the 28th state that won the Miss Teen USA title for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss North Carolina Teen USA</span> Beauty contest

The Miss North Carolina Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of North Carolina in the Miss Teen USA pageant and is part of the RPM Productions group.

The Miss North Dakota Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of North Dakota in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Oregon Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Oregon Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Oregon in the Miss Teen USA pageant and the name of the title held by that winner. It is currently produced by Pageant NW Productions based in Puyallup, Washington and is previously produced by ABC Pageant Productions based in Bend, Oregon until 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Vermont Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Vermont Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Vermont in the Miss Teen USA pageant. It is formerly directed by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia from 2004 to 2017 before GDB Theatre and Pageant Productions becoming the new directors of the stage pageant since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Virginia Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Virginia Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

The Miss Washington Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Wisconsin Teen USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Wisconsin Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Wisconsin in the Miss Teen USA pageant. It is currently produced by Future Productions based in Savage, Minnesota since 2007.

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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.