The first pageant to kick off the 2018 state pageant season will be Miss Illinois USA/Teen USA as Whitney Wandland and Olivia Bohleber crown their successors. (Texas was due to crown the first Miss this weekend but due to Hurricane Harvey Miss Texas USA has to be postponed to a later date.) There are 65 Miss contestants which you can view here. There are 39 Teen contestants, viewable here, down slightly from 56 last year. The Miss numbers are staying relatively steady only down 3 from last year,
There is an overwhelming number of returning contestants in Miss and Teen. 18 are returning in Miss, including all 4 runner ups, 1st Runner Up Degi Purev, 2nd Runner up Hanna Poitras, 3rd Runner Up Gina Melchiorri, and 4th Runner Up Angel Reyes. Semifinalists returning are Gemma Berto, Dana Bezanis, Shenell Randall and Megan Vladic. Also competing in Miss is Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012 Alexandra Plotz and Miss Illinois 2014 Marisa Buchheit. There are 10 returning contestants in Teen including last year's 1st Runner up Grace Rodi and 2nd runner up Sydni Bennett. Semifinalists returning include Samantha Elliott, Ciara Evans and Gabriella Hoxie.
There is an overwhelming number of returning contestants in Miss and Teen. 18 are returning in Miss, including all 4 runner ups, 1st Runner Up Degi Purev, 2nd Runner up Hanna Poitras, 3rd Runner Up Gina Melchiorri, and 4th Runner Up Angel Reyes. Semifinalists returning are Gemma Berto, Dana Bezanis, Shenell Randall and Megan Vladic. Also competing in Miss is Miss Illinois Teen USA 2012 Alexandra Plotz and Miss Illinois 2014 Marisa Buchheit. There are 10 returning contestants in Teen including last year's 1st Runner up Grace Rodi and 2nd runner up Sydni Bennett. Semifinalists returning include Samantha Elliott, Ciara Evans and Gabriella Hoxie.
Miss Contestants (65)
Alexis Smith • Arlington Heights
Ariel Dowdy • Beverly
Katie Stapleton • Bloomingon (NF 14)
Alexis Clutts • Cardinal Nation
Haley Duden • Central Illinois
Julia Benson • Champaign (NF 16)
Darcelle Murray • Chatham
Kenisha Adams • Chi-Town
Nicole Gallardo • Chicago (NF 17)
Gina Melchiorri • Chicago Athletic Clubs (3RU 17, 2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Victoria Ng • Chinatown
Lauren Dalecky • City of Lake Forest
DaNaija Little • Cook County
Kaylea Heideman • Crescent City (NF 17, NF 16)
Melissa Zbroszcyzk • Des Plaines
Missy Galvin • DuPage
Catherine Love • DuPage County (NF IL TUSA 10)
Dena Khalafallah • Edgewater
Courtney Koester • Effingham
Bayleigh Stockman • Effingham County (NF 17)
Arielle Dennis • Elmhurst
Vineela Sukasi • Forest Park
Kardina Jasko • Franklin Park
Montanna Neisen • Gem City (SF MO USA 17 SF IL TUSA 14)
Alexandra Plotz • Geneva (Miss IL Teen USA 2012, NF 11)
Gemma Berto • Glenview (SF 17, 3RU 16, 3RU 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Whitney Powell • Gold Coast
Alexandria Brown • Golden State (NF 17)
Kennedy Starcevich •Greater Chicago (NF 16, NF 15)
Brittany Middlebrooks • Greater Midwest (NF 17, NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Samantha Pacyga • Hazel Crest
Natalie Craig • Heart of the South
Chenel Lewis • Hoffman Estates
Elan Jordan • Huskie
Megan Kelly • Irving Park
Alyssa Reinhardt • Jackson County
Angie Briese • Kane County (NF 17)
Karah West • Lake County (NF IL TUSA 15)
Emily Lymberopoulos • Land of Lincoln (NF IL TUSA 15, SF 14)
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF 17, SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Alvinae Mitchell • Lawndale (NF 17)
Marisa Buchheit • Lincoln Park (Miss IL 14, SF IL TUSA 07, SF 06)
Priscilla Perez • Logan Square
Anndi Partridge • Madison County
Amber Campen • McLean County (SF IL TUSA 15, NF 14)
Megan Vladic • Melrose (SF 17, SF 16)
Akadia Rasho • Metro Chicago
Dana Bezanis • Normal (SF 17, SF IL TUSA 13)
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago (4RU 17)
Michela Moe • Oak Brook
Karly House • Palatine
Sammantha Kammerman • Quad Cities
Daniella Gogoiu • River North (NF 13)
Degi Purev • Schaumburg (1RU 17)
Claudia Price • Silver Creek (NF 17, NF 16,NF IL TUSA 15)
Hannah Gowdy • Southern Illinois (NF 17, MF 16, SF 14, SF IL TUSA 13)
Isabella Brooker • Tonica
Allison Seys • Twin Cities
Naomi Schitkovitz • Vernon Hills
Anna Ochab • West Chicago
Taylor Hardy • Western Illinois (NF 17, NF 16)
Hanna Poitras • Wheaton (2RU 17, NF IN USA 16, NF IN USA 15)
Caroline Campbell • White County (1RU IL TUSA 16, 2RU 15, SF 13)
Chelsea Tayui • Windy City
Elizabeth Jefferson • Wrigleyville
Teen Contestants (39)
Taylor Castro • Algonquin
Sydni Dion Bennett • Chicago (2RU 17)
McKenna Tutor • Columbia
Emmani Bailey • Cook County
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (NF 17, SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota (SF 17)
Grace Rodi • Downers Grove (1RU 17)
Maryn Ellis • Eden Township
Ellen Schulte • Edwardsville
Gabriella Hoxie • Elgin (SF 17)
Angel Landry • Elk Grove Village
Harleigh Goodman • Glenview (NF 17, SF 16)
A'Maiya Allen • Greater Bolingbrook
Brianna Buccellato • Greater Chicago
Alexis Hauser • Hoffman Estates
Jaylah Jones • Homewood
Ciara Evans • Hyde Park (SF 17)
Makenzie Garland • Integrated Medical
Carolina Aponte-Crespo • Kendall County
Raya Plata • Lake County
Imani Dunn • Lake in the Hills
Jessica Maciorowska • Land of Lincoln
Gabrielle Zeretsky • Libertyville
Kassandra Kramer • Metro Chicago
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora (NF 17)
Jennifer Branch • Oakwood (NF 17)
Haley DeCocker • Orland Park
Alexandra Metrou • Oswego
Medeline Zamora • Prairie State
McKayla Rosenburg • Quincy
Sydney Bitar • Sauganash Chicago
Courtney Larsen • Schaumburg
Lauren Mitchel • Sleepy Hollow
Abigail Battin • St. Charles
Haley Ceschin • Stillman Valley
Kendall Reid • Wheaton
Aiyana Thompson • Windy City
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (NF 17, 4RU 16)
Alexis Smith • Arlington Heights
Ariel Dowdy • Beverly
Katie Stapleton • Bloomingon (NF 14)
Alexis Clutts • Cardinal Nation
Haley Duden • Central Illinois
Julia Benson • Champaign (NF 16)
Darcelle Murray • Chatham
Kenisha Adams • Chi-Town
Nicole Gallardo • Chicago (NF 17)
Gina Melchiorri • Chicago Athletic Clubs (3RU 17, 2RU 16, 1RU 15, 3RU IA USA 14, 3RU IA USA 13)
Victoria Ng • Chinatown
Lauren Dalecky • City of Lake Forest
DaNaija Little • Cook County
Kaylea Heideman • Crescent City (NF 17, NF 16)
Melissa Zbroszcyzk • Des Plaines
Missy Galvin • DuPage
Catherine Love • DuPage County (NF IL TUSA 10)
Dena Khalafallah • Edgewater
Courtney Koester • Effingham
Bayleigh Stockman • Effingham County (NF 17)
Arielle Dennis • Elmhurst
Vineela Sukasi • Forest Park
Kardina Jasko • Franklin Park
Montanna Neisen • Gem City (SF MO USA 17 SF IL TUSA 14)
Alexandra Plotz • Geneva (Miss IL Teen USA 2012, NF 11)
Gemma Berto • Glenview (SF 17, 3RU 16, 3RU 15, SF 14, NF 13)
Whitney Powell • Gold Coast
Alexandria Brown • Golden State (NF 17)
Kennedy Starcevich •Greater Chicago (NF 16, NF 15)
Brittany Middlebrooks • Greater Midwest (NF 17, NF 16, NF 13, NF 12)
Samantha Pacyga • Hazel Crest
Natalie Craig • Heart of the South
Chenel Lewis • Hoffman Estates
Elan Jordan • Huskie
Megan Kelly • Irving Park
Alyssa Reinhardt • Jackson County
Angie Briese • Kane County (NF 17)
Karah West • Lake County (NF IL TUSA 15)
Emily Lymberopoulos • Land of Lincoln (NF IL TUSA 15, SF 14)
Shenell Randall • Lansing (SF 17, SF MO USA 16, NF IL TUSA 13, SF 12, 3RU 11, NF 10, NF 09)
Alvinae Mitchell • Lawndale (NF 17)
Marisa Buchheit • Lincoln Park (Miss IL 14, SF IL TUSA 07, SF 06)
Priscilla Perez • Logan Square
Anndi Partridge • Madison County
Amber Campen • McLean County (SF IL TUSA 15, NF 14)
Megan Vladic • Melrose (SF 17, SF 16)
Akadia Rasho • Metro Chicago
Dana Bezanis • Normal (SF 17, SF IL TUSA 13)
Angel Reyes • Northwest Chicago (4RU 17)
Michela Moe • Oak Brook
Karly House • Palatine
Sammantha Kammerman • Quad Cities
Daniella Gogoiu • River North (NF 13)
Degi Purev • Schaumburg (1RU 17)
Claudia Price • Silver Creek (NF 17, NF 16,NF IL TUSA 15)
Hannah Gowdy • Southern Illinois (NF 17, MF 16, SF 14, SF IL TUSA 13)
Isabella Brooker • Tonica
Allison Seys • Twin Cities
Naomi Schitkovitz • Vernon Hills
Anna Ochab • West Chicago
Taylor Hardy • Western Illinois (NF 17, NF 16)
Hanna Poitras • Wheaton (2RU 17, NF IN USA 16, NF IN USA 15)
Caroline Campbell • White County (1RU IL TUSA 16, 2RU 15, SF 13)
Chelsea Tayui • Windy City
Elizabeth Jefferson • Wrigleyville
Teen Contestants (39)
Taylor Castro • Algonquin
Sydni Dion Bennett • Chicago (2RU 17)
McKenna Tutor • Columbia
Emmani Bailey • Cook County
Sara Hampsten • Cumberland County (NF 17, SF 16)
Samantha Elliott • Dakota (SF 17)
Grace Rodi • Downers Grove (1RU 17)
Maryn Ellis • Eden Township
Ellen Schulte • Edwardsville
Gabriella Hoxie • Elgin (SF 17)
Angel Landry • Elk Grove Village
Harleigh Goodman • Glenview (NF 17, SF 16)
A'Maiya Allen • Greater Bolingbrook
Brianna Buccellato • Greater Chicago
Alexis Hauser • Hoffman Estates
Jaylah Jones • Homewood
Ciara Evans • Hyde Park (SF 17)
Makenzie Garland • Integrated Medical
Carolina Aponte-Crespo • Kendall County
Raya Plata • Lake County
Imani Dunn • Lake in the Hills
Jessica Maciorowska • Land of Lincoln
Gabrielle Zeretsky • Libertyville
Kassandra Kramer • Metro Chicago
Morgan Braxton • North Aurora (NF 17)
Jennifer Branch • Oakwood (NF 17)
Haley DeCocker • Orland Park
Alexandra Metrou • Oswego
Medeline Zamora • Prairie State
McKayla Rosenburg • Quincy
Sydney Bitar • Sauganash Chicago
Courtney Larsen • Schaumburg
Lauren Mitchel • Sleepy Hollow
Abigail Battin • St. Charles
Haley Ceschin • Stillman Valley
Kendall Reid • Wheaton
Aiyana Thompson • Windy City
Serena Napolitano • Wood Dale (NF 17, 4RU 16)