Nora Creighton Downs is a 16 year old junior at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois. She has maintained Honors with Distinction status for the past five semesters. As a member on her school's varsity Dance Team, Nora was a 2007 Illinois Drill Team Rising Star. Her hip-hop squad is the 2007 State-Runner Up, and Nora has high hopes for the upcoming season!

Nora is also passionate about Latin American language and culture. She spent a month last summer in Costa Rica, working for Habitat for Humanity and the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, while enriching her knowledge of Spanish language. She one day hopes to pursue a career in business with a focus on Latin America.

Nora has lived in downtown Chicago for her whole life, with her mom, Maureen, her dad, Jim, and her older sister, Claire. The Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant last November, was Nora's first-ever competition. Nora made new friends and learned a lot about confidence, poise, and character during the exciting weekend. Nora is thrilled to represent Illinois at the Miss Teen USA pageant and preparing mentally and physically to bring the title back to the Land of Lincoln! Most of all, Nora is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a role model for her state, and plans to make the most out of every day as Miss Illinois Teen USA 2008!