Miss Illinois USA explained

Miss Illinois USA
Formation:1952
Type:Beauty pageant
Headquarters:Shawnee
Location:Kansas
Membership:Miss USA
Language:English
Key People:John M. Vannatta
Jason Vannatta
Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher, State Pageant Director

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]

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
  • Declared as Winner
  • Ended as runner-up
  • Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
width=5% Yearwidth=15%Namewidth=15%Hometownwidth=3%Agewidth=12%Local titlewidth=14%Placement at Miss USAwidth=17%Special awards at Miss USAwidth=31%Notes
2024Grace RodiHinsdale23Miss Dupage County Top 20
2023Samantha ElliottFreeport22Miss Freeport Top 20
2022Angeliz "Angel" ReyesChicago25Miss Hermosa 4th runner-upMiss Photogenic
2021Sydni Dion BennettAlgonquin20Miss Greater Midwest 3rd runner-up
2020Olivia PuraDeer Park22Miss North Shore Top 10
2019Alexandra PlotzGeneva24Miss Geneva
2018Karolina JaskoFranklin Park20Miss Franklin Park
  • Previously Miss Polonia Illinois USA 2017[3]
2017Whitney WandlandChicago24Miss Greater ChicagoTop 5Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2016Zena MalakCarol Stream23Miss Carol Stream
  • Previously Miss Illinois Galaxy 2011
2015Renee WroneckiBurbank22Miss BurbankTop 15
2014Lexi AtkinsChampaign21
2013Stacie JurisTinley Park222nd runner-up
2012Ashley HooksFlossmoor25
2011Angela Sparrow Chicago26Indiana Pacers Pacemate
2010Ashley Bradarich Homer Glen23Sister of Carlyn Bradarich, Miss Iowa USA 2014
2009Ashley BondOswego24 Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2008Shanon LerschChicago25Chicago Bulls Luvabull
2007Mia HeastonChicago25
2006Catherine WarrenLake Forest23Top 15Contestant on The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman
2005Jill GulsethGeneva213rd runner-up
2004Molly GrahamMontgomery24
2003Agnieszka ZakretaRolling Meadows24
2002Amanda ReynoldsMarion23Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001
2001Rebecca AmbrosiChicago24
2000Constance StoetzerAbingdon26
1999Christina LamMakanda19
  • Later Mrs. Tennessee America 2007 under her married name, Christina Ryan
1998Mandy LaneElizabethtown21Contestant in Fear Factor USA Christmas Edition (4th place) & Fear Factor USA Second Chance Episode (2nd place)
1997Jennifer SalinasSouth Holland21
1996Bernadette PrzybycienChicago24Semi-finalist
1995Nichole HolmesMarion202nd runner-up
1994Kathleen FarrellChicago24Top 10 Semi-finalist
1993Susie ParkChicago25First Asian American to win the title of Miss Illinois USA
1992Leilani MagnussenGlendale Heights21
1991Lisa MorganInverness21Top 6
1990Karla MyersChicago22Top 12
1989Kelly HolubBuffalo Grove22Semi-finalistBest State Costume award
1988Gina ZordaniPalos Heights23Semi-finalist
1987Joan BergeArlington Heights21Semi-finalist
1986Tricia BachElmhurst22Semi-finalist
  • Miss Teen All American 1983, sister of Miss Illinois USA 1985
1985Laura BachElmhurst232nd Runner-up
  • 1st runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1986
  • Sister of Miss Illinois USA 1986
1984LaVonne MisselleToluca19Semi-finalist
1983Vanessa RomineRockford24
1982Carla DanielsonChicago21
1981Leslie RenfrowChicago21
  • 4th runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1980
1980Karen GroatPrinceton18
1979Debra NiegoOak Lawn203rd Runner-up
  • Miss Oktoberfest 1979
1978Suzanne PichéLombard22Represented Illinois at Miss World USA 1974.
1977Elizabeth CurranPark Ridge21Miss Photogenic
1976Kathy SchmalenOak Lawn18Semi-finalist
1975Connie ReifWheeling18
1974Melinda StaigerAurora19Succeeded Karen Morrison as Miss Illinois USA
1974Karen MorrisonSt. Charles19Miss USA 1974Semifinalist at Miss Universe 1974
1973Deanna Hanson[5] Aurora19Succeeded Amanda Jones as Miss Illinois USA
1973Amanda JonesEvanston22Miss USA 1973
1972Jani HallBig Rock21
1971Paulette BreenChicago24
1970Carol PepoonSkokie18
1969Christine JallowayChicago23
1968Sandra WolsfeldWheaton21
1967Beverly LacekChicago23Semi-finalist
1966Cheryl SetserWoodstock19
1965Diane GortzSchiller Park18
1964Karen WiesbrookWheaton18
1963Marite OzersChicago19Miss USA 1963
1962Jean DonnellyDekalb20Semi-finalist
1961Dianne DuffeyElmhurst19
1960Patricia ThompsonChicago21
1959Arlene KayeWestern Springs19
1958June PickneyChicago223rd Runner-up
1957Marianne GabaChicago18Semi-finalist Playboy playmate September 1959
1956Muriel BlairChicago23
1955Diane Daniggelis[6] Chicago18Semi-finalist Winner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant
1954Celeste RavelChicago234th Runner-up
1953Myrna HansenChicago17Miss USA 1953
  • 1st runner up at Miss Universe 1953; had been a finalist in the National Press Photographers pageant in 1953
1952Sherri Matulis[7] Peoria20

External links

Notes and References

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

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Miss Illinois USA".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.