We just got back to work after being with all the Miss Illinois contestants at the Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization (Miss America). We drove down to Marion, Illinois early on Thursday morning so we would be there for the Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen Pageant, as we also dress her for the national competition. We were thrilled to also watch Maddie Marzella, Miss Chicago Outstanding Preteen be selected as Miss Illinois Outstanding Preteen. Maddie sings beautifully and is gorgeous!!!

The new Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen is Grace Khachatarian of Champaign, Illinois. For those of you who follow pageants, Grace was also Miss Illinois Outstanding Preteen. Grace is a wonderful ballet dancer and performed a beautiful dance and will definitely do well at the Nationals held in Orlando this summer. We definitely look forward to dressing her for nationals and getting to know her better!

The Miss Illinois Pageant had so many great contenders this year! April Strong, 2nd Runner Up, also won overall Evening Gown competition. We are so proud to have dressed April for this competition. She looked absolutely stunning and so regal. I know April has a great future in front of her in whatever she chooses. Jen Carr, 1st runner up, is so charming and pretty, and we definitely hope Jen comes back next year! I am sure the judges had a hard decision as all the finalists were outstanding.

We are so proud of Megan Ervin- our newly crowned Miss Illinois! She is stunning, articulate and talented, though I have to admit I am extremely jealous of her abs! Truly amazing!! I met Megan’s parents at the pageant, who are so nice and truly thrilled for their daughter.

We will soon begin the design phase with Mac Duggal for her national competition evening gown for Miss America in January!!! Stephanie Piller will begin intensive training with Megan soon also! We are off to a great start!!! Let’s get another top ten/ winner for Illinois again this year!!!!