Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss Teen USA, see Miss Illinois Teen USA

Miss Illinois
Formation2005
TypeBeauty pageant
Location
Membership
Miss America's Outstanding Teen
Official language
English
Key people
Claire Thorpe Klinskey (Executive Director)
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss Illinois' Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Illinois in the Miss America's Teen pageant.

Isabella Waggoner of Ramsey was crowned Miss Illinois' Teen on June 10, 2023 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center in Marion, Illinois. She will compete for the title of Miss America's Teen 2024 in January 2024.

In January of 2023, the official name of the pageant was changed from Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen, to Miss Illinois’ Teen, in accordance with the national pageant.

Results summary

The year in parentheses indicated year of Miss America's Outstanding Teen competition the award/placement was garnered.

Awards

Preliminary awards

  • Preliminary Talent: MerrieBeth Cox (2008)
  • Preliminary Evening Wear/On-Stage Question: MerrieBeth Cox (2008), Summer Robbins (2012)

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Evening Wear/OSQ: Peyton Newman (2019)
  • Non-finalist Interview: Summer Robbins (2011), Imani P. Muse (2020)

Winners

YearNameHometownAgeLocal titleTalentPlacement at MAO TeenSpecial scholarships at MAO TeenNotes
2023Isabella Waggoner[1]Ramsey17Miss Capital City's TeenViolin
2022Mia Fritsch-AndersonChicago17Miss Chicago's Outstanding TeenIrish Dance
2021Kylie Ryder[2]Sycamore18Miss Windy City's Outstanding TeenLyrical Dance, "Who You Are"
2020Victoria ShoreMarion18Miss Land of Lincoln's Outstanding Teen 2019VocalN/AAssumed title when Imani Muse stepped down after a year of service. Later became Miss Missouri Volunteer 2022.
2019Imani P. Muse[3]Illinois City16Miss Chicago's Outstanding TeenVocal, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La ManchaNon-finalist Interview AwardFirst African-American to be named Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen

Miss Birmingham 2024

2018Peyton Newman[4]Vernon Hills16Vocal, "Vienna"Non-finalist Evening Wear/OSQ Award[5]Previously National American Miss Junior Pre Teen 2012[6]

Previously Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Pre-Teen 2014


Semi-finalist at Miss Illinois Teen USA 2020[7]

2017Maddie Mazzella[8]Chicago17Vocal “On my Way”
2016Christine Bryant[9]Marion17Miss Southern Illinois' Outstanding TeenVocal, “Hallelujah”
2015Peyton Tucker[10]Moline17Miss Windy City's Outstanding TeenVocal
2014Grace Etzkorn[11]Lisle17VocalCompeted at the Jimmy Awards in 2015[12]

2nd runner-up at Miss Illinois 2018 pageant[13]
2013Isabelle Hanson[14]Glen Ellyn17Miss Northern Suburbs' Outstanding TeenViolinDr. Glenn Harman Instrumental Talent AwardLater Miss Illinois 2021, Miss America 2022 Top 10 Finalist, Miss America 2022 Talent Preliminary Award Winner [15]
2012Grace Khachaturian[16]Champaign15Miss Central Illinois' Outstanding TeenDanceLater Miss Illinois 2018[13][17]
2011Summer Robbins[18][19]Coffeen16Miss Southern Illinois' Outstanding TeenViolin, "Classical Gas"Non-finalist Interview Award[20]

Preliminary Evening Wear/OSQ Award[20]
2010Kaitlyn Wehr[21]Moline16Miss Blackhawk Valley's Outstanding TeenJazz Dance
2009Andrea Novak[22]Arlington Heights17Miss Dupage County's Outstanding TeenDance/Twirl
2008Emily Travis[23]Metropolis17Miss Metropolis' Outstanding TeenPianoDiagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome as an infant[24]
2007MerrieBeth Cox[25]Roselle16Miss Greater Woodfield's Outstanding TeenBaton TwirlingPreliminary Evening Wear/OSQ Award

Preliminary Talent Award
Later Purdue University's 27th Golden Girl[26]

Later Miss Indiana 2012[27]
Top 12 at Miss America 2013 pageant[28]
2006Campbell Hunt[29]MarionMiss John A. Logan's Outstanding TeenVocal with American Sign Language interpretation, "The Rose"
2005Kathryn Strause[30]Rock Island17Miss Blackhawk Valley's Outstanding TeenClassical Piano

References