This weekend kicks off the main Miss USA & Teen USA 2019 state pageant season... who else is excited! I've previously posted a rundown of the Texas contestants... and now the Illinois contestants have just been posted too! Check out the contestant photos here.
This year there are a smaller number of contestants in the Miss division - just 53 - and just over half of those have competed previously. Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012 Alex Plotz, who was a semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA and first competed in Miss last year making the top fifteen is having her second attempt at the Miss IL USA title. Returning from last year's top five are second runner-up Gina Melchiorri, a six-time previous runner-up in both Illinois & Iowa who is having her last shot at a title (go Gina!), third runner-up Michela Moe and fourth runner-up Missy Galvin. 2017 fourth runner-up Angel Reyes, who was a semi-finalist last year, is back, and 2015 & 2016 Mississippi third runner-up Chandler Short is returning to compete in Illinois where she was 2RU to Alex at Miss IL Teen USA 2012. Other past Teen runners-up are Taiylore Merriweather, 3RU in 2013 and Shenell Randall, 3RU in 2011. Shenell was a Miss semi-finalist in 2017 & 2018 and in Missouri in 2016. Other returning semi-finalists are Allison Seyes (2018), Ashley Kamins (2016), Shay Mayweather (2015). Savannah Preuss is the daughter of Andrea Ballengee Preuss who was Miss Virginia Teen USA 1992 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA), briefly a Miss Virginia, and Mrs United States.
This year there are a smaller number of contestants in the Miss division - just 53 - and just over half of those have competed previously. Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012 Alex Plotz, who was a semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA and first competed in Miss last year making the top fifteen is having her second attempt at the Miss IL USA title. Returning from last year's top five are second runner-up Gina Melchiorri, a six-time previous runner-up in both Illinois & Iowa who is having her last shot at a title (go Gina!), third runner-up Michela Moe and fourth runner-up Missy Galvin. 2017 fourth runner-up Angel Reyes, who was a semi-finalist last year, is back, and 2015 & 2016 Mississippi third runner-up Chandler Short is returning to compete in Illinois where she was 2RU to Alex at Miss IL Teen USA 2012. Other past Teen runners-up are Taiylore Merriweather, 3RU in 2013 and Shenell Randall, 3RU in 2011. Shenell was a Miss semi-finalist in 2017 & 2018 and in Missouri in 2016. Other returning semi-finalists are Allison Seyes (2018), Ashley Kamins (2016), Shay Mayweather (2015). Savannah Preuss is the daughter of Andrea Ballengee Preuss who was Miss Virginia Teen USA 1992 (semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA), briefly a Miss Virginia, and Mrs United States.
Contestants mentioned above & a few others that caught my eye: Alex Plotz, Gina Melchiorri, Michela Moe, Missy Galvin, Angel Reyes, Chandler Short, Taiylore Merriweather, Shenell Randall, Allison Seyes, Ashley Kamins, Shay Mayweather, Ava Mashouf, Tiffany Gabriel, Mia Lee, Savannah Preuss
In contrast, the vast majority of the Teen contestants are competing for the first time. There are two 2018 runners-up back, and three returning semi-finalists (all from different years!). 2018 first runner-up & 2016 fourth runner-up Serena Napolitano is one of the two returning from last year's top five; the other is third runner-up Samantha Elliott (also SF 2017). Other previous semi-finalists are A'Maiya Allen (2018), Zoe Brown (2017) and Sara Hampsten (2016).
Contestants mentioned above & a few others that caught my eye: Serena Napolitano, Samantha Elliott, A'Maiya Allen, Zoe Brown, Sara Hampsten, Simone Chadda, Sydney Bitar, Victoria Rhemrev, Chloe Karanovich, Bella Rose
 2018 Miss top five: Missy Galvin (4RU), Michaela Moe (3RU), Karolina Jasko (Miss IL USA), Marisa Bucheit (1RU), Gina Melchiorri (2RU). All but Marisa are returning. |  2018 Teen top five: Madeline Zamora (4RU), Samantha Elliott (3RU), Olivia Bohleber (Miss IL Teen USA 2017), Sydni Dion Bennett (Miss iL Teen USA 2018), Serena Napolitano (1RU), Abigail Battin (2RU). Samantha & Serena are returning. |
Click "read more" below right to view the full list of contestants with notes of past placements.
Contestant lists
MISS ILLINOIS USA (53)
Ava Mashouf • 63 Laser & Skin Clinic
Joanna Antonik • Bannockburn
Sankhya Amaravadi • Bloomington
Haley Duden • Central Illinois (NF 18, NF IL TUSA 15, NF IL TUSA 14)
Nicole Gallardo • Chicago (NF 18, NF 17)
Gina Melchiorri • Chicago Athletic Club (2RU 18, 3RU 17, 2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Nikelle Delgado • Chicago Heights
CaraAnn Demonbreun • Chicagoland
Samantha Pacyga • City of Orland Park (NF 18)
Taiylore Merriweather • Cook County (3RU IL TUSA 13, NF 11)
Kristin Dreasler • District of Quincy
Mikayla Stanfield • Downstate Illinois
Jacqueline La Rocco • DuPage County
Dena Khalafallah • Edgewater (NF 18)
Mackenzie Rogers • Edwardsville
Elizabeth Jefferson • Evanston (NF 18)
Alexandra Plotz • Geneva (SF 18, IL TUSA 12, NF 11)
Tiffany Gabriel • Greater Chicago (NF 16)
Raquel Davis-Santana • Hermosa
Mia Lee • Hinsdale
Sierah Ruffner • Kaskaskia River
Shay Mayweather • Kelvyn Park (SF 15)
Ashley Kamins • Lake Zurich (NF 17, SF 16)
Jaclyn Torrento • Lakeview
Stephanie Dearwester • Land of Lincoln
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF 18, SF 17, SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Savannah Preuss • Lincoln Park
Chandler Short • Little Egypt (3RU MS USA 16, 3RU 15, 2RU IL TUSA 12)
Madalaina Hlava • Madison County
Yajaira Vera • Melrose Park
Pauline Kulka • Metro Chicago
Alyscia Whitley • Monee
Caitlin del Rosario • Montgomery (NF 16)
Angela Serrano • Norridge
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora (SF IL TUSA 18, NF 17)
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago (SF 18, 4RU 17)
Michela Moe • Oak Brook (3RU 18)
Adrianna Unzueta • O'Hare (SF IL TUSA 11)
Paige Pierson • Palos Park (NF 17)
Cecilia Gomez • Prairie State (NF 14)
Lluvia Lopez • Renewal By Anderson (NF IL TUSA 14)
Aryssa Joel • Rosemont (NF TX TUSA 11)
Gautami Galpalli • Solapur
Brionna Middlebrooks • South Holland (NF 18, NF 17, NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Jennifer Rich • Southern Illinois (NF 17, NF 16, NF IL TUSA 14)
Michalina Karpisiak • Streamwood
Katelyn Drake • Tremont
Haley Heeg • Trinity (NF IL TUSA 15)
Allison Seys • Twin Cities (SF 18)
Kenya Washington • Village of Frankfort
Missy Galvin • Wicker Park (4RU 18)
Whitney Scasny • Will County
Tamekia Powell • Windy City (NF 17)
MISS ILLINOIS TEEN USA (36)
Gianna Kontos • Arlington Heights
Simone Chaddha • Aurora
Shannon Stevens • Barrington
Brooke Barlow • Bartlett
Shanley Kearney • Bloomington
Sydney Bitar • Chicago
Amanda Pasternak • Cook County
Giulia De Chiara • Crystal Lake
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (NF 17, SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota (3RU 18, SF 17)
Taylor Andrews • DuPage County
Kaley Luna • Evanston
A'Maiya Allen • Greater Bolingbrook (SF 18)
Brianna Buccellato • Greater Chicago
Mara Bekta • Hannah's Boutique
Zoe Brown • Lake County (SF 17)
Lonnie Camer • Lemont
Ashley Brady • Long Grove
MaKenzie Garland • Madison County (NF 18)
Adrian Hamm • McClean County
Karolina Kozbial • Metro Chicago
Noelle Maher • Naperville
Victoria Rhemrev • North Shore
Julissa Unzueta • O'Hare
Chloe Karanovich • Pekin
Sydney Kirin • Plainfield
Elizabeth Larsen • Putnam County
Allie Bowlyou • Quad-Cities
Courtney Larsen • Schaumburg
Bella Rose • Twin Cities
Elba Pittman • Violet State
Bailey Burke • Wauconda
Emma Janulis • Will County
Shaniyah Myers • Williamson County
Ashley Fernandez • Windy City
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (1RU 18, NF 17, 4RU 16)
Ava Mashouf • 63 Laser & Skin Clinic
Joanna Antonik • Bannockburn
Sankhya Amaravadi • Bloomington
Haley Duden • Central Illinois (NF 18, NF IL TUSA 15, NF IL TUSA 14)
Nicole Gallardo • Chicago (NF 18, NF 17)
Gina Melchiorri • Chicago Athletic Club (2RU 18, 3RU 17, 2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Nikelle Delgado • Chicago Heights
CaraAnn Demonbreun • Chicagoland
Samantha Pacyga • City of Orland Park (NF 18)
Taiylore Merriweather • Cook County (3RU IL TUSA 13, NF 11)
Kristin Dreasler • District of Quincy
Mikayla Stanfield • Downstate Illinois
Jacqueline La Rocco • DuPage County
Dena Khalafallah • Edgewater (NF 18)
Mackenzie Rogers • Edwardsville
Elizabeth Jefferson • Evanston (NF 18)
Alexandra Plotz • Geneva (SF 18, IL TUSA 12, NF 11)
Tiffany Gabriel • Greater Chicago (NF 16)
Raquel Davis-Santana • Hermosa
Mia Lee • Hinsdale
Sierah Ruffner • Kaskaskia River
Shay Mayweather • Kelvyn Park (SF 15)
Ashley Kamins • Lake Zurich (NF 17, SF 16)
Jaclyn Torrento • Lakeview
Stephanie Dearwester • Land of Lincoln
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF 18, SF 17, SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Savannah Preuss • Lincoln Park
Chandler Short • Little Egypt (3RU MS USA 16, 3RU 15, 2RU IL TUSA 12)
Madalaina Hlava • Madison County
Yajaira Vera • Melrose Park
Pauline Kulka • Metro Chicago
Alyscia Whitley • Monee
Caitlin del Rosario • Montgomery (NF 16)
Angela Serrano • Norridge
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora (SF IL TUSA 18, NF 17)
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago (SF 18, 4RU 17)
Michela Moe • Oak Brook (3RU 18)
Adrianna Unzueta • O'Hare (SF IL TUSA 11)
Paige Pierson • Palos Park (NF 17)
Cecilia Gomez • Prairie State (NF 14)
Lluvia Lopez • Renewal By Anderson (NF IL TUSA 14)
Aryssa Joel • Rosemont (NF TX TUSA 11)
Gautami Galpalli • Solapur
Brionna Middlebrooks • South Holland (NF 18, NF 17, NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Jennifer Rich • Southern Illinois (NF 17, NF 16, NF IL TUSA 14)
Michalina Karpisiak • Streamwood
Katelyn Drake • Tremont
Haley Heeg • Trinity (NF IL TUSA 15)
Allison Seys • Twin Cities (SF 18)
Kenya Washington • Village of Frankfort
Missy Galvin • Wicker Park (4RU 18)
Whitney Scasny • Will County
Tamekia Powell • Windy City (NF 17)
MISS ILLINOIS TEEN USA (36)
Gianna Kontos • Arlington Heights
Simone Chaddha • Aurora
Shannon Stevens • Barrington
Brooke Barlow • Bartlett
Shanley Kearney • Bloomington
Sydney Bitar • Chicago
Amanda Pasternak • Cook County
Giulia De Chiara • Crystal Lake
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (NF 17, SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota (3RU 18, SF 17)
Taylor Andrews • DuPage County
Kaley Luna • Evanston
A'Maiya Allen • Greater Bolingbrook (SF 18)
Brianna Buccellato • Greater Chicago
Mara Bekta • Hannah's Boutique
Zoe Brown • Lake County (SF 17)
Lonnie Camer • Lemont
Ashley Brady • Long Grove
MaKenzie Garland • Madison County (NF 18)
Adrian Hamm • McClean County
Karolina Kozbial • Metro Chicago
Noelle Maher • Naperville
Victoria Rhemrev • North Shore
Julissa Unzueta • O'Hare
Chloe Karanovich • Pekin
Sydney Kirin • Plainfield
Elizabeth Larsen • Putnam County
Allie Bowlyou • Quad-Cities
Courtney Larsen • Schaumburg
Bella Rose • Twin Cities
Elba Pittman • Violet State
Bailey Burke • Wauconda
Emma Janulis • Will County
Shaniyah Myers • Williamson County
Ashley Fernandez • Windy City
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (1RU 18, NF 17, 4RU 16)
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