Miss Illinois USA


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.
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. 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. The most recent placement was Grace Rodi placing Top 20 in 2024.
Nikolina Vujcic of Des Plaines was crowned Miss Illinois USA 2025 on May 25, 2025, at Braden Auditorium in Normal. She represented Illinois at Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USAs: Myrna Hansen, Marite Ozers, Amanda Jones, Karen Morrison
  • 2nd runners-up: Laura Bach, Nichole Holmes, Stacie Juris
  • 3rd runners-up: June Pickney, Debra Niego, Jill Gulseth, Sydni Dion Bennett
  • 4th runners-up: Celeste Ravel, Angel Reyes
  • Top 5/'6: Lisa Morgan, Whitney Wandland
  • Top 10/12: Kathy Schmalen, LaVonne Misselle, Tricia Bach, Joan Berge, Gina Zordani, Kelly Holub, Carla Myers, Kathleen Farrell, Bernadette Przybycien, Olivia Pura
  • Top 15: Dianne Daniggelis, Marianne Gaba, Jean Donnelly, Beverly Lacek, Catherine Warren, Renee Wronecki
  • Top 20: Samantha Elliott, Grace Rodi
Illinois' holds a record of 33 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Elizabeth Curran, Nichole Holmes, Angel Reyes
  • Best State Costume: Kelly Holub

    Titleholders

;Color key
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Nikolina VujcicDes Plaines23Miss Des Plaines
2024Grace RodiHinsdale23Miss Dupage CountyTop 20
2023Samantha ElliottFreeport22Miss FreeportTop 20
2022Angeliz "Angel" ReyesChicago25Miss Hermosa4th runner-upMiss Photogenic
  • Later Miss Charm USA 2024
    • 2021Sydni Dion BennettAlgonquin20Miss Greater Midwest3rd runner-up
  • Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2018
  • *3rd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2018
    • 2020Olivia PuraDeer Park22Miss North ShoreTop 10
  • Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2016
  • *Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2016
  • Longest reigning Miss Illinois USA at
    • 2019Alexandra PlotzGeneva24Miss Geneva
  • Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012
  • *Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2012
  • Later Miss Illinois World 2019
  • *Top 25 at Miss World America 2019
    • 2018Karolina JaskoFranklin Park20Miss Franklin Park
    2017Whitney WandlandChicago24Miss Greater ChicagoTop 5Chicago Bulls Luvabull
    2016Zena MalakCarol Stream23Miss Carol Stream
  • Previously Miss Illinois Galaxy 2011
    • 2015Renee WroneckiBurbank22Miss BurbankTop 15
    2014Lexi AtkinsChampaign21
  • Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2010
  • *1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2010
    • 2013Stacie JurisTinley Park222nd runner-up
  • Previously Miss Illinois Teen USA 2009
    • 2012Ashley HooksFlossmoor25
    2011Angela SparrowChicago26Indiana Pacers Pacemate
    2010Ashley BradarichHomer Glen23Sister of Carlyn Bradarich, Miss Iowa USA 2014
    2009Ashley BondOswego24Chicago 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
  • Miss Tourism International 1999 as Miss Polonia
    • 2002Amanda ReynoldsMarion23Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001
    2001Rebecca AmbrosiChicago24
    2000Constance StoetzerAbingdon26
    1999Christina LamMakanda19
  • Later Mrs. Tennessee America 2007 under her married name, Christina Ryan
  • *1st runner-up at Mrs. America 2007
    • 1998Mandy LaneElizabethtown21Contestant in Fear Factor USA Christmas Edition & Fear Factor USA Second Chance Episode
    1997Jennifer SalinasSouth Holland21
    1996Bernadette PrzybycienChicago24Semi-finalist
    1995Nichole HolmesMarion202nd runner-up
    1994Kathleen FarrellChicago24Top 10 Semi-finalist
  • Miss Illinois 1992
  • Sister of Monica Farrell, Miss Florida USA 1988 who was 3rd runner up at Miss USA 1988
    • 1993Susie ParkChicago25First Asian American to win the title of Miss Illinois USA
    1992Leilani MagnussenGlendale Heights21
    1991Lisa MorganInverness21Top 6
  • Miss Teenage America 1986.
    • 1990Karla MyersChicago22Top 12
    1989Kelly HolubBuffalo Grove22Semi-finalistBest State Costume
    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 Marie 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 HansonAurora19Succeeded Amanda Jones as Miss Illinois USA
    1973Amanda JonesEvanston22Miss USA 1973
  • 1st runner up at Miss Universe 1973
    • 1972Jani HallBig Rock21
    1971Paulette BreenChicago24
    1970Carol PepoonSkokie18
    1969Christine JallowayChicago23
    1968Sandra Ann "Sandie" WolsfeldWheaton21
  • Miss World USA 1970, semifinalist in Miss World 1970
    • 1967Beverly LacekChicago23Semi-finalist
    1966Cheryl SetserWoodstock19
    1965Diane GortzSchiller Park18
    1964Karen WiesbrookWheaton18
    1963Marite OzersChicago19Miss USA 1963
  • Semifinalist at Miss Universe 1963, represented Chicago, IL in Miss USA World 1962, did not place. Born in Latvia.
    • 1962Jean DonnellyDekalb20Semi-finalist
    1961Dianne DuffeyElmhurst19
    1960Patricia ThompsonChicago
    1959Arlene KayeWestern Springs19
    1958June PickneyChicago223rd Runner-up
    1957Marianne GabaChicago18Semi-finalistPlayboy playmate September 1959
    1956Muriel BlairChicago23
    1955Diane DaniggelisChicago18Semi-finalistWinner 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 MatulisPeoria20