Lisle to host national pageant

Lisle's newest attraction might truly be its most attractive, as the village welcomes the 2011 Miss, Ms. and Mrs. U.S. Beauties National Pageant Parade.

The parade is scheduled to step off at 7 p.m. July 8, 2011, after contestants arrive from throughout the country to compete at the pageant on July 10. Roughly 50 contestants are expected to cruise down Main Street in convertibles as the parade merges with downtown Lisle's annual "Oldies But Goodies" Cruise Night.

"I think it's very exciting for something like this to be happening in our downtown, especially since it's just been renovated," said Diane Homolka of the Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I think this will be something fun and different that residents can get involved in."

The actual pageant, which organizers say "honors the success of the modern woman," tentatively is set to take place at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville. But the competitors will stay at the Hilton-Lisle hotel and bureau officials said it will provide a financial boost to the village coupled with extra business and foot traffic for downtown stores during the parade.

The decision to bring the pageant festivities to Lisle was sparked last year after one pageant winner appeared at the village's Eyes to the Skies festival and exchanged business cards with Larry Slade, the visitors bureau sales manager.

"They were wonderful to her and treated her like a queen," said Diane Wozniak, the pageant's national director. "The next thing you know the whole town is supporting what we're doing."

The pageant typically rotates locations throughout northern Illinois each year, but Wozniak said if all goes well next summer, she would like to see the annual festivities remain in Lisle.

In addition to the pageant, Wozniak said her organization is planning a "modern, successful businesswoman's expo" in April that also will be in Lisle. As part of the expo, which will feature networking opportunities and a fashion show, Wozniak said she hopes to create a calendar featuring firefighters from the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District. The calendar would raise proceeds for the district's charity of choice, she said.

"Now all these exciting things are happening for us and for Lisle just because of a business card exchange," said Wozniak. "I think it will be a win-win."