Barrington girls vie for Miss Teen Illinois All America

There is new royalty in Illinois — and a host of others who are special in their own right.

That designation was given when Junior Miss and Miss Teen Illinois All America and Mrs. Illinois America were crowned after competing in Feb. 11’s pageant production held at Bolingbrook Performing Arts Auditorium.

In the junior teen division (ages 12-15), the appointed winner was Kennedy Ann Niewolny. The Miss Teen All American winner (ages 16-18) was Miss Madeline Sell. The St. John Military escorted the contestants and added a patriotic ambience to the evening.

Krista Lea Cline, 16, a junior at Barrington High School competed for the first time and won the award of Miss Congeniality. The contestants vote for this during competition.

Cline’s passions include music and working with children. She has taken piano for 11 years and enjoys singing and performing. She volunteered at summer school for elementary-aged children and is also passionate about an organization called Toms, a shoe manufacturer that donates one pair of shoes to children in need for each one purchased.

Also competing from Barrington was Ashlie Zimmerman, 17, of Barrington High School, who has the passion to make life better for others. She is involved in several human rights clubs, including STAND, UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity.

She is interested in photography and is also a member of the Barrington High School girls cross country team.

The Mrs. Illinois America winner was Zara Johnson of Plainfield.

All contestants compete in an interview comprising 50 percent of their score, 25 percent beauty in swim wear, and 25 percent beauty of face and walk in gown.

The Classic Pageants and their producers arrange a production to include dancers and an array of women who compete and are proud of their education, passions, values and family life. The judges are selected from many professional fields, including beauty, fitness, photography, business and entertainment.