Also this weekend, with a quite unique schedule, are the Miss Illinois USA & Miss Illinois Teen USA pageants! The Teen preliminary competition is on Friday, Miss preliminary competition on Saturday, and finals both on Monday, Teen in the afternoon at 3pm and Miss in the evening at 7pm (times all CST).
There are 68 Miss contestants, lower than last year but similar to 2015, the first year Vanbros took over Illinois. We already have a contender for best sash title of the year, Vanbros contestants can use local sponsors for their title and this year we have a "Miss Curry Hut"! In Teen, there is also "Miss The Wonder City". Teen contestants are up ten on last year but still well below years where there was 100+ in every pageant. Combined there are nine fewer contestants than last year but fifteen more than 2015.
It's been a decade since a newcomer won the Miss Illinois USA title - the last was Mia Heaston in 2007 and before her Christina Lam in 1999 - although my 1990s records are so full of holes I can't guarantee that may not have competed previously. In the Teen division there is less of a trend, although quite a few of the recent winners had been a non-finalist at some point before winning - Megan Riesner (2015) in 2013, Miranda Fenzau (2014) in 2011 (followed by two years as first runner-up), Alex Plotz (2012) also in 2011, Lexi Atkins (2010) in 2009 and Stacie Juris (2008) in 2007. So girls, if you don't place this year or you've missed the cut previously, don't give up hope!
Returning runners-up in Miss are 2016 second runner-up & 2015 1RU Gina Melchiorri, also a two-time runner-up in Iowa, 2016 & 2015 third runner-up Gemma Berto, who will be hoping to break the 3RU hoodoo of the past two years, and 2015 4th runner-up Gabriella Roth who was a semi-finalist last year. 2015 Teen first runner-up Kaitlyn Baughmann is competing in Miss for the first time. 2011 Teen 3RU Shenell Randall and past semi-finalist Shenna Woods have returned to compete in Illinois after both making the semi-finals in Missouri last year. Other 2016 Illinois semi-finalists who are back are Megan Vladic, Crystal Sims, Ashley Kamins and Abigail Taylor.
There are 68 Miss contestants, lower than last year but similar to 2015, the first year Vanbros took over Illinois. We already have a contender for best sash title of the year, Vanbros contestants can use local sponsors for their title and this year we have a "Miss Curry Hut"! In Teen, there is also "Miss The Wonder City". Teen contestants are up ten on last year but still well below years where there was 100+ in every pageant. Combined there are nine fewer contestants than last year but fifteen more than 2015.
It's been a decade since a newcomer won the Miss Illinois USA title - the last was Mia Heaston in 2007 and before her Christina Lam in 1999 - although my 1990s records are so full of holes I can't guarantee that may not have competed previously. In the Teen division there is less of a trend, although quite a few of the recent winners had been a non-finalist at some point before winning - Megan Riesner (2015) in 2013, Miranda Fenzau (2014) in 2011 (followed by two years as first runner-up), Alex Plotz (2012) also in 2011, Lexi Atkins (2010) in 2009 and Stacie Juris (2008) in 2007. So girls, if you don't place this year or you've missed the cut previously, don't give up hope!
Returning runners-up in Miss are 2016 second runner-up & 2015 1RU Gina Melchiorri, also a two-time runner-up in Iowa, 2016 & 2015 third runner-up Gemma Berto, who will be hoping to break the 3RU hoodoo of the past two years, and 2015 4th runner-up Gabriella Roth who was a semi-finalist last year. 2015 Teen first runner-up Kaitlyn Baughmann is competing in Miss for the first time. 2011 Teen 3RU Shenell Randall and past semi-finalist Shenna Woods have returned to compete in Illinois after both making the semi-finals in Missouri last year. Other 2016 Illinois semi-finalists who are back are Megan Vladic, Crystal Sims, Ashley Kamins and Abigail Taylor.
Contestants mentioned above and a few others that caught my eye... | Row 1: Gina Melchiorri, Gemma Berto, Gabriella Roth, Kaitlyn Baughmann, Shenell Randall, Shenna Woods | Row 2: Shenna Woods, Megan Vladic, Crystal Sims, Ashley Kamins, Abigail Taylor | Row 3: Katielynn Sutterlin, Whitney Wandland, Tara Bowles, Angel Reyes, Destiny Pinnick
There are two runners-up and plenty of semi-finalists back in the Teen division. The two runner-up from 2016 are third runner-up Leah Morris and fourth runner-up Serena Napolitano. Returning semi-finalists are Sara Hampsten, Hannah Kupferschmid, Harleigh Goodman, Briona Mogelberg, Isabella Trojanek, and Amanda Brockmeier.
Contestants mentioned above and a few others that caught my eye... | Row 1: Leah Morris, Serena Napolitano, Sarah Hampsten, Hannah Kupferschmid, Harleigh Goodman | Row 2: Briona Mogelberg, Isabella Trojanek, Amanda Brockmeier, Samantha Elliott, Grace Rodi | Row 3: Lauren Ridgway, Gracie Furlong, Lexi Hoffman, Riley Homer, Katelyn Meyer
2017 contestants are marked with asterisks in the photos below:
 2015 Miss Top Five | Gemma Berto* (3RU), Gina Melchiorri* (1RU), Renee Wronecki (Miss IL USA), Ashley Reid (2RU), Gabriella Roth* (4RU) (click to view full size) |  2016 Top Five | Leah Morris* (3RU), Caroline Campbell (1RU), Olivia Pura (Miss IL Teen USA), Ellie McGee (2RU), Serena Napolitano* (4RU) (click to view full size) |
For the full list of contestants click "read more" or scroll below.
Contestant lists
MISS CONTESTANTS (68)
Megan Vladic • Antioch (SF 16)
Lynn Mornes • Beverly
Lacey Honaker • Bloomington
Katielynn Sutterlin • Boone County (SF 16)
Natalie Foss • Capital City
Hannah Gowdy • Carmi (NF 16, SF 14, SF IL TUSA 13)
Blakelie Bordner • Central Illinois
Brittany Middlebrooks • Chicago (NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Trisha Kopchik • City of Lights (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 09)
Nicole LaCognata • Cook County
Kayley Hanson • Crystal Lake
Richa Basnet • Curry Hut Restaurant
Kathleen Cohen • Decatur
Mercy Rakow • DuPage County
Bayleigh Stockman • Effingham
Samantha Davalos • Elgin
Kaitlyn Baughman • Fighting Illini (1RU IL TUSA 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Jennifer Rich • Franklin County (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 14)
Alvinae Mitchell • Garden State
Gemma Berto • Glenview (3RU 16, 3RU 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Nicole Waddell • Grant Park
Whitney Wandland • Greater Chicago
Crystal Sims • Greater Midwest (SF 16)
Torrianna Blackwell • Heart of America
Kaylea Heideman • Iroquois County (NF 16)
Alexandria Tourville • Jackson County
Shenna Woods • Jewel of the Midwest (SF MO USA 16, NF MO USA 15, SF IL USA 14, NF IL TUSA 08)
Angelica Briese • Kane County
Kendrea Crite • Kankakee County (NF FL USA 15, NF FL USA 14)
Khansa Bibi • Lake County
Mireille Mukiza • Lake Forrest
Ashley Kamins • Lake Zurich (SF 16)
Madeline Wallingford • Lakeview
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Gina Melchiorri • Lincoln Park (2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Deketra Whitmore • Lion Pride
Crystal Sanchez • Little Village
Gabriella Roth • Lombard (SF 16, 4RU 15, NF 14)
Lili Klainer • Metro Chicago
Nicole Gallardo • Midway Chicago
Abigail Taylor • Nature's Acres (SF 16)
Dana Bezanis • Normal (SF IL TUSA 13)
Grace Kwon • Northbrook (NF 11)
Alexandria McBride • Northern Illinois
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago
Valerie Santillan Calderon • Norwood Park
Rachel McKane • Orland Park (SF 14, SF 13)
Paige Pierson • Palos Park
Alexis Sapp • Pekin
Jessica Nicosia • Pingree Grove
Michaela Strick • Rockford (NF 14)
Torene Harvin • Rogers Park
Degi Purev • Schaumburg
Sydney McIntyre • Show Me State
Claudia Price • Silver Creek (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 15)
Tyla Moore • South Chicago
Jenna Harner • Southern Illinois (NF 16)
Destiny Pinnick • Springfield
Alexandria Brown • Starling City
Tamekia Powell • Taste of Chicago
Abigail Anderson • Three Rivers
Alexis Benson • Washburn
Bethani Jacobsen • Waunconda
Taylor Hardy • Western Illinois (NF 16)
Hanna Poitras • Wheaton (NF IN USA 16, NF IN USA 15)
Baylee Callahan • Will County
Tara Bowles • Wilmette
Audra Whitney • Windy City
TEEN CONTESTANTS (56)
Gabriella Rago • Bensenville
Alexandria Epperson • Bloomington
Katelyn Meyer • Central Illinois
Logan Freeman • Champaign (NF 15)
Lexi Hoffman • Champaign County
Sydni Dion Bennett • Chicago
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota
Samantha Linek • Des Plaines
Grace Rodi • Downers Grove
Riley Holmer • Dupage County
Hannah Kupferschmid • Eureka (SF 16)
Kylee Schultz • Farina
Kiara Coats • Fox Valley
Harleigh Goodman • Glenview (SF 16)
Alexis Westwater • Greater Champaign
Briona Mogelberg • Greater Chicago (SF 16, NF 14)
Kaitlyn McGahan • Hampshire
Kerra Williams • Heart of Illinois
Sylvannah Lang • Heavenston
Lauren Ridgway • Hinsdale
Gabriella Hoxie • Hoffman Estates
Camille Paddock • Huntley
Ciara Evans • Hyde Park
Isabella Trojanek • Kane County (SF 16)
Hailee Harris • Kaneville
Zoe Brown • Lake County
Gracie Furlong • Land of Lincoln
Leah Morris • LaSalle County (3RU 16)
Chloe Szot • Lemont Township
Allison Nelson • Libertyville
Mummypraise Ovoh • Lynwood
Jaliesa Johnson • Metro Chicago
Amanda Brockmeier • Naperville (SF 16)
Alexis Pikul • New Lenox (NF 16)
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora
Jennifer Branch • Oakwood (NF 16)
Shannon Ryan • Park Ridge
Vedalya Joshua • Peoria
Jordan Doss-Watson • Peoria County
Kelisy Grob • Rend Lake (NF 16)
Kayla Spates • Rockford
Isabella Flores • Skyline
Kanya Merrills • South Chicago
Sidney Tookes • South Holland
Madelin Jennings • Southern Illinois
Tessa Gatewood • St. Clair
Claire Stillman • Suburban Chicago
Cassandra Schofield • The Heartland (NF 16)
Anna-Victoria Von Kerens • The Wonder City
Caitlin Nordstrom • Tinley Park
Ashton Curtis • Union County (NF 16)
Olivia Bohleber • White County
Miracle Maddox • Windy City
Hamanni Lee • Winnebago County
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (4RU 16)
Megan Vladic • Antioch (SF 16)
Lynn Mornes • Beverly
Lacey Honaker • Bloomington
Katielynn Sutterlin • Boone County (SF 16)
Natalie Foss • Capital City
Hannah Gowdy • Carmi (NF 16, SF 14, SF IL TUSA 13)
Blakelie Bordner • Central Illinois
Brittany Middlebrooks • Chicago (NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Trisha Kopchik • City of Lights (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 09)
Nicole LaCognata • Cook County
Kayley Hanson • Crystal Lake
Richa Basnet • Curry Hut Restaurant
Kathleen Cohen • Decatur
Mercy Rakow • DuPage County
Bayleigh Stockman • Effingham
Samantha Davalos • Elgin
Kaitlyn Baughman • Fighting Illini (1RU IL TUSA 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Jennifer Rich • Franklin County (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 14)
Alvinae Mitchell • Garden State
Gemma Berto • Glenview (3RU 16, 3RU 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Nicole Waddell • Grant Park
Whitney Wandland • Greater Chicago
Crystal Sims • Greater Midwest (SF 16)
Torrianna Blackwell • Heart of America
Kaylea Heideman • Iroquois County (NF 16)
Alexandria Tourville • Jackson County
Shenna Woods • Jewel of the Midwest (SF MO USA 16, NF MO USA 15, SF IL USA 14, NF IL TUSA 08)
Angelica Briese • Kane County
Kendrea Crite • Kankakee County (NF FL USA 15, NF FL USA 14)
Khansa Bibi • Lake County
Mireille Mukiza • Lake Forrest
Ashley Kamins • Lake Zurich (SF 16)
Madeline Wallingford • Lakeview
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Gina Melchiorri • Lincoln Park (2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Deketra Whitmore • Lion Pride
Crystal Sanchez • Little Village
Gabriella Roth • Lombard (SF 16, 4RU 15, NF 14)
Lili Klainer • Metro Chicago
Nicole Gallardo • Midway Chicago
Abigail Taylor • Nature's Acres (SF 16)
Dana Bezanis • Normal (SF IL TUSA 13)
Grace Kwon • Northbrook (NF 11)
Alexandria McBride • Northern Illinois
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago
Valerie Santillan Calderon • Norwood Park
Rachel McKane • Orland Park (SF 14, SF 13)
Paige Pierson • Palos Park
Alexis Sapp • Pekin
Jessica Nicosia • Pingree Grove
Michaela Strick • Rockford (NF 14)
Torene Harvin • Rogers Park
Degi Purev • Schaumburg
Sydney McIntyre • Show Me State
Claudia Price • Silver Creek (NF 16, NF IL TUSA 15)
Tyla Moore • South Chicago
Jenna Harner • Southern Illinois (NF 16)
Destiny Pinnick • Springfield
Alexandria Brown • Starling City
Tamekia Powell • Taste of Chicago
Abigail Anderson • Three Rivers
Alexis Benson • Washburn
Bethani Jacobsen • Waunconda
Taylor Hardy • Western Illinois (NF 16)
Hanna Poitras • Wheaton (NF IN USA 16, NF IN USA 15)
Baylee Callahan • Will County
Tara Bowles • Wilmette
Audra Whitney • Windy City
TEEN CONTESTANTS (56)
Gabriella Rago • Bensenville
Alexandria Epperson • Bloomington
Katelyn Meyer • Central Illinois
Logan Freeman • Champaign (NF 15)
Lexi Hoffman • Champaign County
Sydni Dion Bennett • Chicago
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota
Samantha Linek • Des Plaines
Grace Rodi • Downers Grove
Riley Holmer • Dupage County
Hannah Kupferschmid • Eureka (SF 16)
Kylee Schultz • Farina
Kiara Coats • Fox Valley
Harleigh Goodman • Glenview (SF 16)
Alexis Westwater • Greater Champaign
Briona Mogelberg • Greater Chicago (SF 16, NF 14)
Kaitlyn McGahan • Hampshire
Kerra Williams • Heart of Illinois
Sylvannah Lang • Heavenston
Lauren Ridgway • Hinsdale
Gabriella Hoxie • Hoffman Estates
Camille Paddock • Huntley
Ciara Evans • Hyde Park
Isabella Trojanek • Kane County (SF 16)
Hailee Harris • Kaneville
Zoe Brown • Lake County
Gracie Furlong • Land of Lincoln
Leah Morris • LaSalle County (3RU 16)
Chloe Szot • Lemont Township
Allison Nelson • Libertyville
Mummypraise Ovoh • Lynwood
Jaliesa Johnson • Metro Chicago
Amanda Brockmeier • Naperville (SF 16)
Alexis Pikul • New Lenox (NF 16)
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora
Jennifer Branch • Oakwood (NF 16)
Shannon Ryan • Park Ridge
Vedalya Joshua • Peoria
Jordan Doss-Watson • Peoria County
Kelisy Grob • Rend Lake (NF 16)
Kayla Spates • Rockford
Isabella Flores • Skyline
Kanya Merrills • South Chicago
Sidney Tookes • South Holland
Madelin Jennings • Southern Illinois
Tessa Gatewood • St. Clair
Claire Stillman • Suburban Chicago
Cassandra Schofield • The Heartland (NF 16)
Anna-Victoria Von Kerens • The Wonder City
Caitlin Nordstrom • Tinley Park
Ashton Curtis • Union County (NF 16)
Olivia Bohleber • White County
Miracle Maddox • Windy City
Hamanni Lee • Winnebago County
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (4RU 16)
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