Miss McHenry: 'I'm just freaking out right now'

This year's Miss McHenry County loves roller coasters, was an English tutor in Venezuela, and believes that Illinois has so much to offer that it can be anyone's playground.

Samantha Bolet, 17, of Lake in the Hills prevailed among 16 contestants ages 16-20 who participated in the Miss McHenry County Fair Queen contest Wednesday evening at the county fairgrounds in Woodstock.

“I'm exuberant. I'm just freaking out right now, I'm so happy,” Samantha said as a crowd of well-wishers surrounded her, many snapping photos.

Samantha, who will be a senior at Crystal Lake South High School, said she wants to study broadcast journalism to become a news anchor. In response to a judge's question, she said that it's OK for employers to have access to employees' social media accounts. “If you have nothing to hide, then what's to lose?” she said.

Many in the ever-cheering audience were relatives and friends of the contestants, like Kayla Mitchell, 15, and her mother Kristine, who came to support a fellow Cary resident. “I think it looks like a lot of fun. It's a chance to represent your town,” Kayla said.

Pageants are indeed a lot of fun, said Morgan Thome of Harvard, who came with four friends to cheer for a fellow 2011 graduate of Marian Central High School. Morgan competed in last year's McHenry County Fair pageant. “It's a confidence builder, and a really good way to meet people,” she said.

Ali Barr, 11, of Huntley, came to watch the contest with a contingent of young women who had won various titles at this year's Miss Fox Valley scholarship pageant. Ali, a princess, said she would have liked a talent show to be part of Wednesday's event. “I wanted to see what their inner self is,” she said.

Although women made up most of the audience, the occasional group of men could be spotted. Dillion Lalor, of Hebron, said that watching the pageant is a yearly “must” for him and his friends.

“I like to comment on it — what they talk about, what they're wearing,” Dillion said. “They are interesting to watch — for multiple reasons.”

Bolet won a $2,000 scholarship and the opportunity to compete in the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant at the Illinois State Fair. The first and second runners-up, Caitlin Theros, 16, of Crystal Lake, and Kathryn Gadomski, 19, of Lakewood, received $750 and $250 in scholarship money, respectively.

The 63rd annual McHenry County Fair runs through Sunday. This year, it features barn renovations for 4-H, bigger demo derbies and tractor pulls, plus nonstop games and events. The fair attracts more than 80,000 people each year.