The Miss Illinois is a pageant program affiliated with Miss America, which is competition for women models representing the state of Illinois.
The first "Miss Illinois" sent to the national pageant was Lois Delander who subsequently won the Miss America title. Including Delander, five Miss Illinois representatives have won the Miss America title.
Violinist Kate Dimmett of Zionsville, IN was crowned Miss Illinois on June 13, 2026, at the Marion Cultural Arts and Civic Center in Marion, Illinois. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida and placed 2nd runner-up.
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Illinois titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Awards received by contestants competing as Miss Chicago at the national pageant are denoted with a "*".
Placements Miss Americas: Lois Delander (1927), Judith Ford (1969), Marjorie Vincent (1991), Katherine Shindle (1998), Erika Harold (2003) 1st runners-up: Bette Brunk* (1942), Sandra Truitt (1982), Jade Smalls (2000) 2nd runners-up: Trudi Germi (1949), Florence Gallagher* (1956), Jean Ahern (1975), Kate Dimmett (2027) 3rd runners-up: Arlene Causey (1936), Elaine Steinbach* (1944), Jeri Zimmermann (1990) 4th runners-up: Margaret Leigh (1924), Jo Hoppe* (1953), Tracy Hayes (1996) Top 10: Patricia Hayes (1942), Marjorie Nelson* (1943), Adrianne Falcon* (1952), Regina Dombeck* (1955), Sandra Jean Stuart* (1957), Suzanne Ingeborg Johnson (1960), Colleen Metternich (1974), Hannah Smith (2011), Megan Jo Ervin (2012), Isabelle Hanson (2022) Top 11: Monica Nia Jones (2023), Nitsaniyah Fitch (2026) Top 12: Betty June King (1944) Top 13: Lee Mercer Wieland* (1945) Top 15: Ethel Lorraine Lodbell (1939), Lois Nettleton* (1948), Teresa Giorgian* (1949), Abby Foster (2018) Top 16: Patricia Frye (1946), Cloris Leachman* (1946), Marjorie Adams* (1951)
Illinois holds a record of 36 placements at Miss America.
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Bette Brunk* (1942), Trudi Germi (1949), Jo Hoppe* (1953), Sandra Stuart* (1957), Pamela Gilbert (1963), Judith Ford (1969), Jeri Zimmermann (1990), Tracy Hayes (1996), Megan Jo Ervin (2013) Preliminary Talent: Suzanne Ingeborg Johnson (1960), Judith Ford (1969), Colleen Metternich (1974), Jean Ahern (1975), Sandra Truitt (1982), Marjorie Vincent (1991), Katherine Shindle (1998), Jenny Powers (2001), Isabelle Hanson (2021) Preliminary Interview: Erika Harold (2003) Preliminary On-Stage Interview: Erika Harold (2003) Preliminary Evening Gown: Nitsaniyah Fitch (2026)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Audra Deckmann* (1959), Margaret McDowell* (1961), Vicky Joyce Nutter (1961), Donnalyn Freund* (1963), Dulcie Scripture (1970), Debra Carlson (1979), Blythe Sawyer (1981), Cindi Hodgkins (1988), Cheryl Majercik (1992), Kathleen Farrell (1993), Sara Martin (1994), Chuti Tiu (1995), Amanda Jo Meadows (1999), Jenny Powers (2001)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: Patsy Bruce (1955) America's Choice: Abby Foster (2018), Monica Nia Jones (2023) Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship: Marisa Buchheit (2015), Jessica Tilton (2023) Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalists: Ariel Beverly (2020) Overall Interview Award: Erika Harold (2003) Quality of Life Award Winners: Cheryl Majercik (1992) STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Jaryn Franklin (2017) AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner: Nitsaniyah Fitch (2026) Quality of Life Award Finalist: Kate Dimmett (2027)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Kate DimmettZionsville, IN23Miss ChicagoViolin 2nd runner-upQuality of Life Award FinalistPreviously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 20212025Nitsaniyah FitchChicago26Miss Windy City VocalTop 11Preliminary Evening Gown AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner2024Breana BagleyDecatur26Miss Land of Lincoln Lyrical Dance, "A New Day Has Come"2023 Jessica Tilton Washington 25 Miss Quad Cities Color Guard/Flag Performance, "The Call" Charles & Theresa Brown ScholarshipFirst woman in history to compete a flag performance as a talent at Miss America.2022Monica Nia JonesChicago26Miss Windy CityViolinTop 11America's Choice 2021 Isabelle Hanson Glen Ellyn 25 Miss Northern SuburbsTop 10Preliminary Talent AwardPreviously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 20132019–20 Ariel BeverlySpringfield24Miss East CentralVocalEquity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalist2018Grace KhachaturianChampaign21Miss Capital CityLyrical Dance, "You Raise Me Up" Previously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2012 2017 Abby Foster Danville 21 Miss East Central Jazz Dance, Grease medley Top 15 America's Choice Former NFL cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts 2016 Jaryn Franklin East Moline 23 Miss Blackhawk Valley Vocal, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" STEM Scholarship Award 2015 Crystal Davis Anna 22 Miss Southern Illinois Vocal, "That's Life" 2014 Marisa BuchheitAssociated Press. June 16, 2014. Chicago 24 Miss Chicago Operatic Vocal, "Je veux vivre" from Roméo et Juliette Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship 2013 Brittany Smith Elmhurst 23 Miss Northern Suburbs Irish Step Dancing, "Lord of the Dance" 2012 Megan Jo Ervin Rushville 23 Miss Quincy Dance, "Faithfully" Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant 2011 Hannah Smith Huntley 20 Miss Windy City Ballet en Pointe, "Palladio" 2010 Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky New Baden 22 Miss River to River Tap Dance, "On the Dance Floor" 2009 Erin O'Connor Evergreen Park 20 Miss Macomb Ballet en Pointe, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody Remix" 2008 Katie Lorenz Chicago 24 Miss Chicago Lyrical Dance, "Footprints in the Sand" 2007 Ashley Hatfield Anna Miss Heartland Vocal, "To Love You More" 2006 Heidi Ekstrom Mundelein Miss Kane County Ballet en Pointe, "Ride" 2005 Lauren Allen Batavia 21 Miss Western Suburbs Freestyle Gymnastics, "Rhythm of the Night" 2004 Michelle LaGroue Naperville 24 Miss Chicago Vocal, "I Know the Truth" from Aida Previously held the title of Miss Illinois in 2002 after Harold was named Miss America 2003 2003 Andrea Fritz Schaumburg 21 Lyrical Dance, "Dance With My Father" 2002 Michelle LaGroue Naperville Miss Tinley Park colspan=3 Erika Harold Urbana 22 Miss Land of Lincoln Classical Vocal, "Habanera" Winner Preliminary Interview AwardPreliminary On-stage Interview AwardOverall Interview Award 2001 Kristin Castillo Macomb 18 Miss Macomb Classical Violin, "Praeludium & Allegro" 2000 Jenny Powers Andover, Massachusetts 21 Miss Northern Illinois Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" Preliminary Talent AwardNon-finalist Talent Award Was eligible to compete for Miss Illinois as a student at Northwestern University 1999 Jade Smalls Evanston 21 Miss Chicago Classical Piano, "Etude in C Minor" 1st runner-up 1998 Amanda Jo Meadows Sycamore 20 Miss Macomb Baton, "María" Non-finalist Talent Award 1997 Ashley Eisenhauer Herrin Miss John A. Logan colspan=3 Katherine Shindle Evanston 20 Miss Lake-Cook Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" Winner Preliminary Talent Award 1996 Tania Gibson Lake Barrington 19 Miss Fox River Valley Vocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard 1995 Tracy Hayes Wheaton 22 Miss Greater DuPage County Vocal, "Tonight" 4th runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1994 Chuti Tiu Chicago 24 Miss Kankakee Classical Piano Non-finalist Talent Award Previously America's Junior Miss 1987 1993 Sara Martin Schaumburg 20 Miss Schaumburg Vocal, "Hello, Young Lovers" Previously America's Junior Miss 1990 1992 Kathleen Farrell Chicago 23 Miss Kankakee Classical Piano, "Danza No. 5"Sister of Miss New York 1984, Mary-Ann Farrell and Miss Florida 1985, Monica FarrellLater Miss Illinois USA 1994 Top 10 at Miss USA 1994