Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Illinois USA and Teen USA pageants, from the first winner to the most recent. Get to know every single Miss and Teen titleholder with a full listing, hometown map and extensive photo archive, with state pageant photos, Miss USA and Teen USA competition photos and more.
18 • Chicago
1st runner-up
at Miss Universe
19 • Chicago
Semi-finalist
at Miss Universe
22 • Evanston
1st runner-up
at Miss Universe
19 • St. Charles
Semi-finalist
at Miss Universe
17 • Sleepy Hollow
22 • Chicago
Top 10
at Miss USA
20 • Chicago
3rd runner-up
at Miss USA
26 • Hermosa
4th runner-up & Miss Photogenic
at Miss USA
22 • Freeport
Semi-finalist
at Miss USA
24 • Hinsdale
Top 20
at Miss USA
Winner
Myrna Hansen (1953), Marite Ozers (1963), Amanda Jones (1973), Karen Morrison (1974)
2nd runner-up
Laura Bach (1985), Nichole Holmes (1995) Stacie Juris (2013)
3rd runner-up
June Pickney (1958), Debra Niego (1979) Jill Gulseth (2005), Sydni Dion Bennett (2021)
4th runner-up
Cecilia Dennis (1954), Angel Reyes (2022)
Top 5/6
Whitney Wandland (2017)
Semi-finalist
Diane Daniggelis (1955), Marianne Gaba (1957) Jean Donnelly (1962), Beverly Lacek (1967), Kathy Schmalen (1976), LaVonne Misselle (1984), Tricia Bach (1986), Joan Berge (1987), Gina Zordani (1988), Kelly Holub (1989), Karla Myers (1990), Kathleen Farrell (1994), Bernadette Przybycien (1996), Samantha Elliott (2023)
Top 8/10/11/12*
Olivia Pura (2020)
Top 15/16/20*
Catherine Warren (2006), Renee Wronecki (2015), Grace Rodi (2024)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Cheryl Setser (1966)
Photogenic
Elizabeth Curran (1977), Nichole Holmes (1995), Angel Reyes (2022)
State Costume
Tricia Bach (1986), Kelly Holub (1989)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2024 | Grace Rodi | Hinsdale | 24 | Top 20 | ||
 | 2023 | Samantha Elliott | Freeport | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2022 | Angel Reyes | Hermosa | 26 | 4th runner-up | Photogenic | |
 | 2021 | Sydni Dion Bennett* | Chicago | 20 | 3rd runner-up | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2018 (3RU Miss Teen USA) | |
 | 2020 | Olivia Pura* | Chicago | 22 | Top 10 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2016 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
 | 2019 | Alex Plotz* | Geneva | 23 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2012 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
 | 2018 | Karolina Jasko | Franklin Park | 20 | |||
 | 2017 | Whitney Wandland | Chicago | 25 | Top 5 | ||
 | 2016 | Zena Malak | Carol Stream | 24 | |||
 | 2015 | Renee Wronecki | Burbank | 22 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2014 | Lexi Atkins* | Champaign | 21 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2010 (1RU Miss Teen USA) | ||
 | 2013 | Stacie Juris* | Tinley Park | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2009 | |
 | 2012 | Ashley Hooks | Flossmoor | 25 | |||
 | 2011 | Angela Sparrow | Chicago | 26 | |||
 | 2010 | Ashley Bradarich | Homer Glen | 23 | Sister of Miss IA USA 2014 Carlyn Bradarich | ||
 | 2009 | Ashley Bond | Oswego | 24 | |||
 | 2008 | Shanon Lersch | Chicago | 25 | |||
 | 2007 | Mia Heaston | Chicago | 25 | |||
 | 2006 | Catherine Warren | Lake Forest | 23 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2005 | Jill Gulseth | Geneva | 21 | 3rd Runner-up | ||
 | 2004 | Molly Graham | Montgomery | 24 | |||
 | 2003 | Agnieszka Zakreta | Rolling Meadows | 24 | |||
 | 2002 | Amanda Reynolds | Marion | 23 | |||
 | 2001 | Rebecca Ambrosi | Chicago | 24 | |||
 | 2000 | Constance Stoetzer | Abingdon | 26 | |||
 | 1999 | Christina Lam | Makanda | 19 | |||
 | 1998 | Mandy Lane | Elizabethtown | 21 | Mother of Miss IL Teen USA 2023 Vivica Lewandowski | ||
 | 1997 | Jennifer Salinas | South Holland | 21 | |||
 | 1996 | Bernadette Przybycien | Chicago | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1995 | Nichole Holmes | Marion | 20 | 2nd runner-up | Photogenic | |
 | 1994 | Kathleen Farrell^ | Chicago | 24 | Semi-finalist | Previously Miss Illinois 1992; sister of Miss FL USA 1988 Monica Farrell | |
 | 1993 | Susie Park | Chicago | 25 | |||
 | 1992 | Leilani Magnussen | Glendale Heights | 21 | |||
 | 1991 | Lisa Morgan | Inverness | 21 | Finalist | ||
 | 1990 | Karla Myers | Chicago | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1989 | Kelly Holub | Buffalo Grove | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1988 | Gina Zordani | Palos Heights | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1987 | Joan Berge | Arlington Heights | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1986 | Tricia Bach | Elmhurst | 22 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss IL USA 1985 Laura Bach | |
 | 1985 | Laura Bach | Elmhurst | 23 | 2nd Runner-up | Sister of Miss IL USA 1986 Tricia Bach | |
 | 1984 | LaVonne Misselle | Toluca | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1983 | Vanessa Romine | Rockford | 24 | |||
 | 1982 | Carla Danielson | Chicago | 21 | |||
 | 1981 | Leslie Renfrow | Chicago | 21 | |||
 | 1980 | Karen Groat | Princeton | 18 | † 2021 | ||
 | 1979 | Debra Niego | Oak Lawn | 20 | 3rd Runner-up | ||
 | 1978 | Suzanne Piche | Lombard | 22 | |||
 | 1977 | Elizabeth Curran | Park Ridge | 21 | Photogenic | ||
 | 1976 | Kathy Schmalen | Oak Lawn | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1975 | Connie Reif | Wheeling | 18 | |||
 | 1974 | Melinda Staiger | Aurora | 19 | Succeeded Karen Morrison | ||
 | 1974 | KAREN MORRISON | St. Charles | 19 | Miss USA | ||
 | 1973 | Deanna Hanson | Aurora | 19 | Succeeded Amanda Jones | ||
 | 1973 | AMANDA JONES | Evanston | 22 | Miss USA | ||
 | 1972 | Jani Hall | Big Rock | 21 | |||
 | 1971 | Paulette Breen | Chicago | 21 | † 2015 | ||
 | 1970 | Carol Pepoon | Skokie | 18 | |||
 | 1969 | Christine Jalloway | Chicago | 23 | |||
 | 1968 | Sandra Wolsfeld | Wheaton | 21 | SF Miss World 1970 | ||
 | 1967 | Beverly Lacek | Chicago | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1966 | Cheryl Setser | Woodstock | 19 | Congeniality | ||
 | 1965 | Diane Gortz | Schiller Park | 18 | |||
 | 1964 | Karen Wiesbrook | Wheaton | 18 | |||
 | 1963 | MARITE OZERS | Chicago | 19 | Miss USA | ||
 | 1962 | Jean Donnelly | Dekalb | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1961 | Diane Duffey | Elmhurst | 19 | |||
 | 1960 | Patricia Thompson | Chicago | 21 | |||
 | 1959 | Arlene Kaye | Western Springs | 19 | † 2013 | ||
 | 1958 | June Pickney | Chicago | 22 | 3rd runner-up | † 2019 | |
 | 1957 | Marianne Gaba | Chicago | 18 | Semi-finalist | † 2016 | |
 | 1956 | Muriel "Mickey" Blair | Chicago | 23 | † 2013 | ||
 | 1955 | Diane Daniggelis | Chicago | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1954 | Celeste Ravel | Chicago | 21 | 4th runner-up | † 2013 | |
 | 1953 | MYRNA HANSEN | Chicago | 18 | Miss USA | ||
 | 1952 | Sherry Matulis | Peoria | 20 | † 2014 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Grace Rodi | Hinsdale | 24 | Top 20 | ||
| 2023 | Samantha Elliott | Freeport | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2022 | Angel Reyes | Hermosa | 26 | 4th runner-up | Photogenic | |
| 2021 | Sydni Dion Bennett* | Chicago | 20 | 3rd runner-up | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2018 (3RU Miss Teen USA) | |
| 2020 | Olivia Pura* | Chicago | 22 | Top 10 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2016 (SF Miss Teen USA) | |
| 2019 | Alex Plotz* | Geneva | 23 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2012 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 2018 | Karolina Jasko | Franklin Park | 20 | |||
| 2017 | Whitney Wandland | Chicago | 25 | Top 5 | ||
| 2016 | Zena Malak | Carol Stream | 24 | |||
| 2015 | Renee Wronecki | Burbank | 22 | Top 15 | ||
| 2014 | Lexi Atkins* | Champaign | 21 | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2010 (1RU Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 2013 | Stacie Juris* | Tinley Park | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss IL Teen USA 2009 | |
| 2012 | Ashley Hooks | Flossmoor | 25 | |||
| 2011 | Angela Sparrow | Chicago | 26 | |||
| 2010 | Ashley Bradarich | Homer Glen | 23 | Sister of Miss IA USA 2014 Carlyn Bradarich | ||
| 2009 | Ashley Bond | Oswego | 24 | |||
| 2008 | Shanon Lersch | Chicago | 25 | |||
| 2007 | Mia Heaston | Chicago | 25 | |||
| 2006 | Catherine Warren | Lake Forest | 23 | Top 15 | ||
| 2005 | Jill Gulseth | Geneva | 21 | 3rd Runner-up | ||
| 2004 | Molly Graham | Montgomery | 24 | |||
| 2003 | Agnieszka Zakreta | Rolling Meadows | 24 | |||
| 2002 | Amanda Reynolds | Marion | 23 | |||
| 2001 | Rebecca Ambrosi | Chicago | 24 | |||
| 2000 | Constance Stoetzer | Abingdon | 26 | |||
| 1999 | Christina Lam | Makanda | 19 | |||
| 1998 | Mandy Lane | Elizabethtown | 21 | Mother of Miss IL Teen USA 2023 Vivica Lewandowski | ||
| 1997 | Jennifer Salinas | South Holland | 21 | |||
| 1996 | Bernadette Przybycien | Chicago | 24 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1995 | Nichole Holmes | Marion | 20 | 2nd runner-up | Photogenic | |
| 1994 | Kathleen Farrell^ | Chicago | 24 | Semi-finalist | Previously Miss Illinois 1992; sister of Miss FL USA 1988 Monica Farrell | |
| 1993 | Susie Park | Chicago | 25 | |||
| 1992 | Leilani Magnussen | Glendale Heights | 21 | |||
| 1991 | Lisa Morgan | Inverness | 21 | Finalist | ||
| 1990 | Karla Myers | Chicago | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1989 | Kelly Holub | Buffalo Grove | 22 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1988 | Gina Zordani | Palos Heights | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1987 | Joan Berge | Arlington Heights | 21 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1986 | Tricia Bach | Elmhurst | 22 | Semi-finalist | Sister of Miss IL USA 1985 Laura Bach | |
| 1985 | Laura Bach | Elmhurst | 23 | 2nd Runner-up | Sister of Miss IL USA 1986 Tricia Bach | |
| 1984 | LaVonne Misselle | Toluca | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1983 | Vanessa Romine | Rockford | 24 | |||
| 1982 | Carla Danielson | Chicago | 21 | |||
| 1981 | Leslie Renfrow | Chicago | 21 | |||
| 1980 | Karen Groat† | Princeton | 18 | |||
| 1979 | Debra Niego | Oak Lawn | 20 | 3rd Runner-up | ||
| 1978 | Suzanne Piche | Lombard | 22 | |||
| 1977 | Elizabeth Curran | Park Ridge | 21 | Photogenic | ||
| 1976 | Kathy Schmalen | Oak Lawn | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1975 | Connie Reif | Wheeling | 18 | |||
| 1974 | Melinda Staiger | Aurora | 19 | Succeeded Karen Morrison | ||
| 1974 | KAREN MORRISON | St. Charles | 19 | Miss USA | ||
| 1973 | Deanna Hanson | Aurora | 19 | Succeeded Amanda Jones | ||
| 1973 | AMANDA JONES | Evanston | 22 | Miss USA | ||
| 1972 | Jani Hall | Big Rock | 21 | |||
| 1971 | Paulette Breen | Chicago | 21 | |||
| 1970 | Carol Pepoon | Skokie | 18 | |||
| 1969 | Christine Jalloway | Chicago | 23 | |||
| 1968 | Sandra Wolsfeld | Wheaton | 21 | SF Miss World 1970 | ||
| 1967 | Beverly Lacek | Chicago | 23 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1966 | Cheryl Setser | Woodstock | 19 | Congeniality | ||
| 1965 | Diane Gortz | Schiller Park | 18 | |||
| 1964 | Karen Wiesbrook | Wheaton | 18 | |||
| 1963 | MARITE OZERS | Chicago | 19 | Miss USA | ||
| 1962 | Jean Donnelly | Dekalb | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1961 | Diane Duffey | Elmhurst | 19 | |||
| 1960 | Patricia Thompson | Chicago | 21 | |||
| 1959 | Arlene Kaye | Western Springs | 19 | † 2013 | ||
| 1958 | June Pickney | Chicago | 22 | 3rd runner-up | † 2019 | |
| 1957 | Marianne Gaba | Chicago | 18 | Semi-finalist | † 2016 | |
| 1956 | Muriel "Mickey" Blair | Chicago | 23 | † 2013 | ||
| 1955 | Diane Daniggelis | Chicago | 18 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1954 | Celeste Ravel | Chicago | 21 | 4th runner-up | † 2013 | |
| 1953 | MYRNA HANSEN | Chicago | 18 | Miss USA | ||
| 1952 | Sherry Matulis | Peoria | 20 | † 2014 |
