From Streamwood High to Luvabulls -- and onto Miss USA pageant

This week, Ashley Bond flies to Las Vegas with sash in tow in preparation for the Miss USA pageant.

The reigning Miss Illinois USA, who was crowned in December, grew up in Streamwood, graduated from Streamwood High School in 2002 and attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she danced with Chief Illiniwek as an Illinette.

Now - like last year's Miss Illinois USA Shannon Lersch - Bond is a Luvabull and dances in front of the United Center crowd during Bulls games. The 24-year-old's resume also includes stints as a dancer at Disney World and charity work with groups like Catholic Charities and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Bond, who now lives in Chicago, graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2006. She pledges to use her crown to raise awareness in a variety of issues, including childhood obesity.

Miss USA airs on April 19 on NBC.

As she preps for the pageant she took the time for a telephone interview with the Daily Herald's Ashok Selvam. Edited excerpts follow:

Q. What are you doing to prepare for the Miss USA pageant?

A. I have been working out more: kickboxing, strength training, cardio a little bit ... three times a week for about an hour.

Q. What do you think you accomplish by competing in pageants?

A. It's such an honor to me, I always worked to be a good role model. I love doing charity work. That is one of my biggest things. I've met some amazing people, things I would never though would be possible.

Q. Beauty pageants took a bit of a beating after the movie "Little Miss Sunshine" came out. What did you think of the movie?

A. I thought it was pretty funny. I thought it was entertaining. There are certain realities in pageants, there are certain expectations on what people should look like, how people should speak and things like that. I do believe there are expectations about being physically fit, your communication, appearance. I don't think it's a negative.

Q. Atop your platform is childhood obesity. Why do you think more children aren't children playing to stay fit?

A. It's a lot different when I was young compared to kids now. I used to ride my bike around the park in Streamwood. My grandparents sat outside and neighbors paid attention on the street to what was going on. I had more opportunities. Children today don't have as many opportunities with a lot of parents working in this economy. They're turning to video games instead.

Q. What about the Wii Fit, the video game that encourages the player to stay fit. Have you heard of it?

A. (Laughs) I think it's a great idea, anything to get them on their feet. It could be a fad and come and go, but I can definitely see more improvements in future versions of Wii Fit. I don't think that it's something that could stay stagnant.

Q. What do you think of Chief Illiniwek? You got a chance to see him up close as an Illinette before the NCAA forced the school to end his game-day dances.

A. They didn't take him out until after I had graduated. The dance team was part of the marching band, and the Chief was always at the rehearsals. It was very big. I think he just kind of represents the loyalty you feel to something. I think the chief to me was a very honorable position to hold, something that those people took very seriously. It was a job that was a serious thing. There was no joking around about it, especially while in uniform.

Q. What do you see for yourself after your pageant days are up?

A. In about five years, I'd like to host a television show about children's fitness. Either on Nickelodeon or Disney.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://www.nba.com/bulls/dance/ashley_0809.html">Ashley Bond's Luvabulls profile</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>