Downers Grove native Felisa Wiley to compete in Miss Illinois USA pageant

Downers Grove resident Felisa Wiley will be vying for the title of Miss Illinois USA on March 28 at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Felisa, niece of the Rev. Marvin E. Wiley of Maywood's Rock of Ages Baptist Church, may be new to the pageant world but is not new to competition. In 2014, she competed in "The Face," a reality TV competition series on Oxygen alongside supermodels Naomi Campbell and Anne V.

Since then, Wiley has modeled in New York and Los Angeles with one of the top agencies in the world. She currently works with Foursquare, the leading location data company, and is planning to attend law school in the near future.

Wiley is excited to be representing Downers Grove in the pageant. She is seeking local business, community and individual sponsors to help support her journey to the crown.

"This pageant is less about me and more about representing and standing with my community, especially in such uncertain times. My hope is to raise enough money and keep pageant costs down, so I can make substantial donations to these nonprofits: Alzheimer's Association, Reading Partners and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. I've held past charity events and fundraisers for the Alzheimer's Association in loving memory of my grandmother. I cherished my volunteering experiences with Reading Partners, a children's literacy organization, where I tutored a young boy named Kevin. With schools closed, jobs lost and virus infection rates rising, my hope is that support for the Greater Chicago Food Depository will provide food security for those who need it most."

If you'd like to support her in this journey, you can donate to her GoFundMe campaign. If you'd like info on a business ad sponsorship, call or email Felisa directly using the above contact info.