Aurora woman celebrates Mrs. Illinois crown

Girls who compete in dozens of pageants as they grow up dream of walking across the stage at a big competition, receiving a bouquet of flowers and wearing the crown.

Lisa Sonnenberg experienced all that over the weekend when she was crowned Mrs. Illinois, but says she competed in her first pageant just five months earlier.

The 32-year-old Aurora resident and mother of four admits she always wanted to enter some type of competition, but wasn’t a fan of pageants where you have to demonstrate a stage talent.

“My attitude going into this was completely wanting to be an advocate for my platform — depression and mental health awareness,” she said. “I had 45 seconds to share whatever I wanted. I shared what my drive was.”

Sonnenberg says she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression as a result of having premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She says she wants to help erase the negative stigma that comes with it.

“I’ve had a great life and I’ve been happy, but now that I’m aware what’s going on, I’m flourishing and thriving. I want to get that across to women — that you can still flourish and thrive with a mental illness.”

Sonnenberg defeated 10 other contestants from around the state to win the pageant, which was held Sunday at Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. Entrants were judged on evening gown and swimsuit competitions.

In November, she took first place at the OCB Midwest States figure competition in DeKalb. The month after, she decided to apply for the Mrs. Illinois pageant.

Sonnenberg, a homemaker, has been busy raising her four kids — ages 2, 4, 6 and 7. Her husband, Scott, is senior director of corporate partnerships for the Chicago Bulls, and the family goes to games together every so often.

Sonnenberg boasts of her chocolate chip cookies, which she bakes every Sunday with her kids and gives out to family and friends. The tasty treats have earned rave reviews, so Sonnenberg has been in talks with a Naperville bakery to sell them there.

“I appreciate a good chocolate chip cookie,” she says.

She will now vie for the Mrs. America crown along with winners of the other 49 state competitions (plus the District of Columbia). She says she’ll find out later this week where and when the national competition will be this spring.