Suburban pageant application deadline extended

Miss Northern Suburbs Organization officials have extended the application deadline for the 2012 Miss Northern Suburbs Pageant has been extended to Jan. 8.

The Miss Northern Suburbs Organization is looking for contestants to compete in the divisions of Miss Northern Suburbs (ages 17-24), Miss Northern Suburbs' Outstanding Teen (ages 13-17) and Miss Northern Suburbs' Outstanding Pre-Teen (ages 10-12).

For details and applications, visit www.missnorthernsuburbs.com.

The 2012 Miss Northern Suburbs pageant will be held on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. and will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, 26225 N. Riverwoods Blvd. in Mettawa/Lake Forest.

Established in 2008, the Miss Northern Suburbs Scholarship Organization provides opportunities for young women to achieve their personal and professional ambitions. Contestants also participate in community service activities and develop leadership skills that help them excel in their chosen career and life goals.

A nonprofit affiliate of the Miss America Organization, the Miss Northern Suburbs Scholarship Organization has made available more than $27,700 in scholarships and in-kind funds to nine young women throughout the northern Illinois area including Lake and McHenry counties.

Winners of the annual Miss Northern Suburbs Competition are eligible to compete in the Miss Illinois Competition, held each year in Marion, IL in June.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Each year, the Miss America Organization makes available more than $40 million in cash and tuition scholarship assistance.

Based in Linwood, N.J., the Miss America Organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of unique nationwide community-based programs.

On an annual basis, Miss America state and local titleholders, along with the Organization's network of volunteers, participate in more than 12,000 community-service projects, providing in excess of 500,000 service hours to worthy causes.

For more information about the Miss America Organization visit www.missamerica.org.