Pageant
Introduction:
Hello,
and welcome to our website! We trust that our site will
provide you additional information that will answer many
of your questions. Each year we work to provide a fair
environment in which young women have the opportunity to
compete not against others, but against themselves. We
trust the pageant encourages the contestants to build self-confidence,
individual pride, and a greater self-awareness.
The
focus for this program is to provide an opportunity for young
women to better themselves; the pageant encourages the contestants
to gain self-awareness, self-confidence, individual pride, and
greater social awareness. Each contestant should be able to improve
their ability to communicate effectively, to speak in front of
people comfortably, and to stand up for what they believe in.
We encourage our contestants to find causes or issues they feel
strongly about, and to become involved in those organizations
that speak closest to their hearts. Each young lady who
enters has different ideals and goals and strives hard in their
personal quest for excellence.
We are
pleased that a majority of contestants each year have never participated
in a pageant and they find it to be a rewarding and worthwhile
experience. Many contestants have won their first time
out, and many others return because of the positive experience
they had in our program. We like to think that each young
woman walks away from our program a little more ready to deal
with the world around her, and more importantly, the world ahead
of her.
Our
philosophy for the Miss Illinois USA & Miss Illinois Teen
USA program is not about encouraging young women to "win" a
pageant, but to encourage young women to develop life skills
that will ultimately help them win in life by being their personal
best in everything they do.
Pageant
Weekend:
While our program places an emphasis on excellence, achievement and personal
growth, we also strive to make the pageant experience FUN! The pageant is
a three-day event, and will be held December 5 - 7, 2008, in Chicago , IL
.
FRIDAY
On the first day, our Teen and Miss delegates will check-in and then have
their Preliminary Interview. During the interviews, each contestant has
the opportunity to meet individually with the entire judging panel for
approximately three minutes. Each contestant has the opportunity to convince
the judges she is right for the job of MISS ILLINOIS USA or MISS ILLINOIS
TEEN USA.
The
contestants enjoy getting to know the pageant staff and other
participants. The contestants will also begin rehearsals on arrival
day because we put on a high quality production. Rehearsals with
our staff in the hotel’s main ballroom are also being held
concurrently that afternoon. We bring in a choreographer and
a producer who work to make the rehearsals productive, but fun.
As a result, the shows are always incredible! The day concludes
with dinner and a group meeting before bed check.
SATURDAY
After breakfast, the contestants will have the opportunity to listen to a
motivational speaker who will once again drive home the message of becoming
your personal best. Saturday morning and afternoon is spent in rehearsals
which prepares them for that day’s stage shows - the Miss Illinois
Teen USA presentation show and the Miss Illinois USA presentation show.
During the Presentation Show, each contestant is 'presented' to the judges
in the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competitions. By now the
pressure is off, and the day ends with a dinner and evening of fun, dancing,
and making new friendships.
SUNDAY
The third day begins again with rehearsals and concludes with the final competitions.
At the end of each of the final shows, we will have a new Miss Illinois
USA & Miss Illinois Teen USA for 2009. The winner of MISS ILLINOIS
USA will advance to the nationally televised MISS USA pageant, and the
winner of the MISS ILLINOIS TEEN USA title will advance to the MISS TEEN
USA pageant. Should MISS ILLINOIS USA go on to win MISS USA, she would
then advance to the ultimate contest ... the internationally televised
MISS UNIVERSE Pageant.
Pageant
Competition:
Each Contestant will compete in three equal phases of preliminary competition:
Friday’s interview, plus Saturday’s swimsuit and evening gown.
The results from these preliminary phases of competition are added up, and
the contestants with the highest composite scores become semifinalists. The
number of semifinalists will be determined by the total number of contestants
in the competition and is typically between 10 and 15. Scoring is based on
the following:
-
Interview :
Preliminary interviews are conducted individually in front
of the entire judging panel. You will have a two to three-minute
interview with the panel of 5 or 7 judges. It's very comfortable
and conversational. Contestants are scored on their communication
skills, and personality. They are NOT scored on their opinions
or personal beliefs.
- Swimsuit :
Each contestant is evaluated on her physical fitness, stage-presence
and overall impression.
- Evening
Gown : Each contestant is evaluated on grace,
poise, style, stage presence, the confidence with which
she carries herself and overall-impression. Judges are
instructed to evaluate the contestant, not the dress she
is wearing.
Preliminary
results are tallied and audited on Saturday night after the show
concludes. On Sunday, the MISS ILLINOIS USA & MISS ILLINOIS
TEEN USA Final Competition kicks off with the opening production
number followed by the parade of evening gowns. Soon after, the
semi-finalists are announced and they will again compete in swimsuit
and evening gown and the judges will narrow the field to a group
of five finalists. One
final on-stage question for the remaining Top-5 will be conducted
by the Emcee. They
will then appear on
stage for group judging and have a spotlighted “Final Look” when
each judge will independently select their winner, 1st runner-up,
2nd runner-up, 3rd runner-up, and 4th runner-up in each age group.
These events lead up to the crowning of the new Miss Illinois
USA and Miss Illinois Teen USA! All contestants will participate
on stage several times during the show. Even if they are not
selected as Semi-Finalists, there will be several other honors
to award that evening.
Pageant Wardrobe:
Each contestant will need rehearsal clothing (sweats, sweatshirts, jeans,
tennis shoes, etc.) in addition to a fun outfit to wear to the Saturday night
dinner and dance. The required competition and stage wardrobe is as follows:
-
Swimsuit: Contestants
choose their own swimsuit. TEEN contestants are required
to wear a solid colored one-piece suit, however, MISS contestants
may chose between a solid colored one or two-piece suit.
Adequate coverage is required; Brazilian cuts and thongs
are not allowed. Swimsuits may be any appropriate style,
and design, and there are no color restrictions. Although
we ask that the suit be solid in color, there may be a small
embellishment or trim of another color.
-
Evening
Gown: All contestants must have a full-length
evening gown of their choice. The style, design, and color
are up to you. It can be elaborate, or very simple. Choose
something that makes you feel beautiful. Your gown should
represent YOUR own personality and taste. Remember that
you can look like a million bucks without spending a million
bucks! Teens are encouraged to wear gowns that reflect
a more youthful style and look than the Miss contestants
How
to Enter:
After reviewing all of the information on our website, if you have an interest
in becoming a contestant, please click on the Apply Today starburst under
the menu bar and follow the instructions. There is NO fee required to apply.
Once we receive your application, it will be forwarded along with all other
pertinent information to the pageant committee. If your application is approved,
you will need to participate in either a personal interview, or a phone interview
before being accepted as an official contestant. This truly could be the
chance of a lifetime, so don't delay, apply today!
Conclusion:
Hopefully, our website has provided you with a sense about our program and
the many opportunities it offers. We hope it has answered most of your
questions about the pageant competition as well. Nevertheless, we realize
there is no way we can adequately convey answers to all of your questions,
or our genuine passion for this program without speaking to you in person.
Please, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
We are here for YOU! We sincerely hope you will decide to
become a part of our "pageant family!"
