Miss Illinois crowned Saturday night in St. Charles

As of Saturday, Erin O'Connor's term as Miss Illinois will officially come to a close.

The 21-year-old Macomb resident, crowned last year, will preside over the 2010 Miss Illinois pageant, which continues from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles.

The pageant is a scholarship-based event, where winners in each category will receive funding toward their education.

KL Daly, board president for the Illinois Scholarship Association, said competition between the 24 women this year will be fierce, due to the personalities and characteristics of each contestant.

"The girls are all very talented and, let's face it, all very beautiful. The unique characteristics that each girl is bringing this weekend makes them one of a kind," Daly said.

In order to vie for Miss Illinois, a contestant must be between 17 and 24, reside in Illinois and meet all eligibility requirements as stated on the Miss Illinois website.

Corina Hardwood, Miss Northern Suburbs, and Kaitlyn Millner, Miss Mundelein, will represent Lake County. Imani Josey, Miss Cook County, and Debbie Dobbins, Miss Western Suburbs, will represent Cook and Kane counties, respectively.

The newly crowned Miss Illinois, presented Saturday night, will participate in local and state community service projects, while expanding her platform and visit various organizations, businesses and locations around the state.

On Jan. 15, 2011, she will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Miss America pageant, a program that provides personal and professional opportunities for young women to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community.

Daly said the six-month hiatus between the state and national competitions ensures the maximum amount of time Miss Illinois will have in her state, as well as develop and prepare for the national competition.

Although the state competition will not be televised, Daly said pictures and video will be available on the pageant's website, missillinois.org, after the competition ends.

Tickets are available by phone at (630) 584-7200 or at the Norris box office. For single day admission, tickets are $30. For two-night packages, tickets are $55.

For more information about the state pageant, visit missillinois.org.