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November 16, 2024

Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center

COMPETITION ORDER

OPENING NUMBER

INTRODUCTION OF JUDGES

MISS ON-STAGE INTERVIEW

TEEN LIFESTYLE AND FITNESS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF LOCAL TITLEHOLDERS AND VOLUNTEERS

MISS LIFESTYLE AND FITNESS

From the Directors...

Warmest Regards to tonight’s candidates, families, volunteers and friends! Welcome to the Miss Peoria Metro & Miss Central Illinois competition. We are so excited to celebrate our fourth year back in Peoria for this year’s competition. We first entered this theatre in 2012 as Miss Peoria Metro Teen and her “mom”-ager, and every year we are able to return as local executive co-directors we feel truly blessed. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Miss Illinois board and our Field Director for all of their patience and guidance as we learned the ropes of this side of the stage. The Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization is truly built by outstanding volunteers.

We thank all of tonight’s candidates for sharing your heart, your mind and your talent with us tonight. The young women you will see tonight are truly outstanding and it is has been our pleasure to get to know each and every one of you.

Thank you to all of tonight’s sponsors and volunteers! It truly takes a village to carry out a production like the one you will see this evening. We couldn’t do it without the financial support and donations from our sponsors and our family and friends that have come along side of us to support this crazy dream of ours.

To each of the ladies that walk the stage tonight, don’t let your dream end here. With or without a crown tonight, keep pursuing your passion. Keep sharing your heart, keep shining bright!

Judges Spotlight

Pat Joos was born in Chicago but raised in the small picturesque town of Washington, Illinois. She has 2 children and 5 grandchildren, and also the grandmother of a former Miss Illinois. On November 1st of this year, she celebrated 50 years with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She has been an Independent Sr. Sales Director with Mary Kay for 47 of those years. She has won 12 world class trips, a few of her favorite trips have been to Scotland, Australia, Greek Isles, Switzerland, and Austria. She teaches and coaches both consultants and directors throughout the United States. Just this week she has earned the use of her 22nd pink Cadillac from Mary Kay. Her greatest asset and thrill is to help people believe in themselves and to help build their self esteem. She encourages people to step out of their comfort zone and take a walk of faith. For her, knowing that something she said or did made an impact on someone’s life or career is priceless. Her motto is: “Today in the world I will make a difference in someone’s life!” She cherishes time spent with her grandschildren and her fur person, Libby.

Dale J. Young is an interdisciplinary artist and conservatory trained professional actor and director. He has played a wide variety of roles, from the comedic and tragic to the characters that go bump in the night. He currently is the Dean of Arts and Behavioral Sciences at Illinois Central College and has worked throughout the country in both the arts and as a professor. Dale is an outspoken advocate for the possibilities inherent in pursuing the arts as a learning medium and vocation. As an educator, Dale takes great joy in enabling students to thrive through active choice making and playful, critical discernment. He is a clown and a fool, a retired street performer and a believer in the hope that comes from discipline, focused inquiry, play, and laughter. He holds a BFA in acting, an MA in Expressive Therapies Counseling, and a PhD in Acting and Directing.

Judges Spotlight

Josie Decker is a retired Business Administrator also working as a substitute teacher for several school districts. Josie was a single Mom and raised 2 kids before deciding she wanted to show her kids that anything is possible. She went back to school at 42 years old and earned 2 Associates Degrees while working full time, one in Business Management and one in Logistics. After retiring she started traveling with her husband for work. They both have a passion for America’s National Parks, National Monuments, and historic places. They have visited over 25 of them so far and developed a love of hiking which together they do as often as possible. Josie and her husband have a spoiled black lab named Max who goes almost everywhere with them. They are extremely proud of their grown kids’ successes and are head over heels in love with their precious 2 1/2 year old grand daughter Maia!!

Tracy Liesman is a dynamic professional with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. Currently serving as a Physician Liaison at Springfield Clinic, she is passionate about enhancing patient access to high-quality care and building strong connections between providers and patients. Her expertise also extends to corporate and private event planning, where her creativity and organizational skills shine in crafting memorable experiences. Tracy is deeply committed to her community. She volunteers with several local organizations and serves as a mentor through the RISEN program, inspiring others with her leadership and generosity. Tracy shares 14 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Randy. They have two children, Dalton and Grace, and a lively household with three beloved dogs. Tracy embraces a fulfilling lifestyle, enjoying time with friends, reading, antiquing, and engaging in outdoor activities like kayaking, swimming in her pool, or exploring the open road in her Jeep.

Judges Spotlight

Meet our judge Adam White! Adam was born and raised in Hopedale, Illinois and currently resides in Delavan. He is a single father of 2. Adam left the area only for his time in the Marine Corps where he served 4 years. This time fueled his desire to help fellow veterans and has landed him as a volunteer on the Illinois States Veterans Advocacy Board. Late in life

Adam saw the value in education and the time he missed and went back to school eventually earning his PhD in Accountancy. Adam is a local Realtor who recently opened up a new brokerage with his business partner and team lead that currently has 3 locations. Adam is also a local developer helping small towns bring back businesses and life as he sits on several boards and volunteer groups helping people find their way to their dream business. His own projects include the purchase of several buildings in downtown Delavan with a Pizzeria set to open soon as well as another bar/restaurant and more projects in sight. Adam also is president of the Delavan Fall Festival, an annual community event bringing people together and a non profit group Recharge Delavan, with aims to help build the town up more and take a larger interest in getting more businesses open. He also has helped coach wrestling at Olympia School District for their youth program in the past. Adam’s passion is in the growth of the area and helping to find events activities for our youth and to foster a sense of pride in our hometowns. For those of you ever in the area you will also notice his Mayoral campaign signs around town!

Teen Candidates

Peoria, it's been an honor to serve you.

During my 15+ year relationship with pageantry, l've learned many things. I learned how to market myself in particular ways, how to speak passionately about my dreams, and l've learned the true meaning of sisterhood. When I decided to officially make the transition from Teen to Miss, I was scared, to say the least.

As a teen, I held myself to an unfairly high standard. I was all too focused on the destination as opposed to the journey. This past competition year, I promised things would be different. I promised to try hard but remind myself that wherever I was, the preparation I poured into myself was always going to be enough.

The Peoria Metro Team was the beginning of a journey I will never forget. I gained a new level of humility for myself and respect for my friends around me. This year has transformed me not only as a competitor but as a person.

Thank you to all the sponsors and the entire Peoria Metro team for standing in my corner. I'm honored to be part of a legacy that grounds me and encourages me to improve at every step. Thank you to my sister queens who stood by my side at state and in life as a whole. And most of all, thank you to my family for reminding me constantly that I am enough, I am loved, and I am worth celebrating, no matter where I am in my journey.

Finally for the last time, I am Olivia Egert, your 2024 Miss Peoria Metro, signing off.

To my Central Illinois and Peoria Metro family,

Writing this official farewell letter is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. The Miss Peoria Metro pageant was the official start for my journey to Miss Illinois. Coming into the competition last December I had given up, beaten myself down. Not only was I emotionally unsure whether or not I wanted to give Miss Illinois one more chance - I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to at all after experiencing a car accident that October. The overwhelming emotions I faced when I heard my name called on stage as the 2024 Miss Central Illinois is one that will never leave my memory. I cried. Not because I was upset, but I cried because of all of the hard work I put in, because of the uncertainty I faced. For the past year the Peoria Metro and Central Illinois community have been a place I’ve considered a second home. They welcomed me with wide arms and truly taught me who I want to be as a person. I laughed, I cried, I met so many amazing people, and I served this community and our state to the best of my ability. To my loving and supporting family, thank you for being there for me every single step of the way, even though it came as a shock that I wanted to be a part of the Miss America Opportunity. To Kaitlyn and Kari, thank you for being the most amazing directors I could have ever asked for, guiding me through my first year with so much patience and kindness. To my sister Queen Olivia and my teens Jordyn and Bailey, thank you for being amazingly you. Thank you for the car rides, the laughs, helping me, letting me to help you, and being the sisters I never had as a kid. You all have taught me so much and I cannot wait to see where your futures take youbecause they are bright. While this letter is titled as a farewell, it isn’t ever truly going to be a be a true farewell from me. I will always come back home to my forever Miss Peoria Metro Family.

Your FOREVER Miss Peoria Metro 2024

Payton Scace

Miss Candidates

Miss Candidate #3

Cassidy Sairs

Community Service Initiative:

Empower, Educate, Extinguish

Talent:

Lyrical Dance

Miss Candidate #4

Kyrrah Randolph

Community Service Initiative:

The Caterpillar Project

Talent: Baton Twirling

Miss Candidates

Miss Candidate #5

Faith Kiprop

Community Service Initiative:

Mental Health and Running Talent: HerStory

Miss Candidate #6

Shaelen Hudson

Community Service Initiative: Leading the Fight Against Hunger Talent: Piano