Miss Illinois USA 2023, the 72nd edition of Miss Illinois USA, was held on 28th May 2023 at the Braden Auditorium, Illinois State University, Normal, McLean County, Illinois, United States where Samantha Elliott was crowned the new winner as she became the official representative of Illinois at Miss USA 2023.
Samantha Elliott hails from Freeport, Stephenson County. Not new to the pageantry, Samantha competed at Miss Illinois Teen USA 2017 and finished in the Top 16. Trying her luck again, Samantha competed at Miss Illinois Teen USA 2018 and placed as third runner-up. She continued again as she competed at Miss Illinois Teen USA 2019 and placed as first runner-up.
In 2018, she was crowned Miss Teen Illinois International 2019. In 2022, she represented Kansas, USA at America’s Most Beautiful Miss 2022 at the Medical City Lewisville Grand Theatre in Lewisville, Texas, USA and was adjudged third runner-up. In December 2022, she graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas with two bachelor’s degrees and two honors programs.
The newly crowned Miss Illinois USA 2023 Samantha Elliott’s court included –
1st Runner-up – Grace Rodi
2nd Runner-up – Olivia Santelli
3rd Runner-up – Yolina Lindquist
4th Runner-up – Abby Foster
Top 17 also included Susan Liu (Chinatown), Tonia Thompson (Des Plaines), Leikyn Bravo (Gold Coast), Queen Zazy (Greater Chicago), Matti-Lynn Chrisman (Heart of the Midwest), Jessica Lardizabal (Jewel of the Midwest), Harpreet Gonzalez (Lady Leatherneck), Samantha Bolet (Lakeshore), Isabelle Crespo (Loop of Chicago), Kirsten Lellelid (North Central Illinois), Janae Taylor-Landrum (Prairie State) and Karla Landeros (Second City).
Also at the finale, Vivica Lewandowski was crowned Miss Illinois Teen USA 2023 as she became the official representative of Illinois at Miss Teen USA 2023. Her court included Sofia Console, Karolina Kozbial, Sophia Xia, Grace Toomey who were adjudged as the first, second ,third and fourth runners-up respectively.
Congratulations!