The sequined sash and tiara of Miss Illinois will be worn for the next year by a 23-year-old resident of East Moline.
Jaryn Franklin, Miss Blackhawk Valley, was crowned Miss Illinois 2016 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center on Saturday. Franklin competed against 21 other pageant winners from across the state to take home the title, which she will carry as she represents the state at the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Atlantic City later this year.
Franklin competed in multiple categories throughout the week that included evening gown, interview, onstage question, fitness/lifestyle swimsuit, and talent. For her talent, Franklin sang “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” first recorded by Ozzie Nelson in 1931. She also had to field questions about her platform, “Special People, Special Ways - Advocating for the Disabled.”
After two nights of preliminary competition, Franklin advanced to the top 11, along with Miss Southern Illinois Janna Harner and Miss Heartland Abigail Brown. After competing again in talent, swimsuit and evening gown, Franklin was chosen as one of the top five competitors along with Miss Fox Valley Michela Moe, Miss Springfield Amelia Mugavero, Miss Southern Illinois Janna Harner, and Miss Chicago Kristen One.
As the last step before choosing the next Miss Illinois, Franklin and the rest of the top five competitors answered difficult questions about issues in society. When asked about the message that the recent conviction of former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner sends to young men in college, Franklin responded that the conviction was “enabling” sexual assault on campuses. “I think we’re undermining the reality that they (sexual assaults) do take place on several college campuses, so to men out there, it’s kind of enabling the entire situation,” Franklin said. “It should not have happened, it should not have come to that.”
The night also featured appearances from the Miss Illinois Princess class of 2016. The Princess program is a mentoring program for girls between the ages of 5 and 12 that pairs young pageant winners with a Miss Illinois local titleholder. The program gives the princesses an opportunity to learn basic etiquette and manners, as well as the chance to learn from their titleholder. Taylor Beck, Miss Windy City Princess, took home the year’s Photogenic award.
The pageant also honored the contributions of Nancy and Bob Foote, the founders of the Miss Macomb pageant, who have worked with the Miss Macomb organization, Miss Illinois, and Miss America for 57 years with the Miss Illinois Lifetime Achievement Award. For the first time, the pageant also awarded the $1,000 Nancy Foote Interview Scholarship, created in memory of Nancy Foote, who passed away earlier this year, to both Franklin and One, who tied.
Time was also taken to honor head judge Judith Ford Nash, Miss America 1969, by inducting her into the Miss Illinois Hall of Fame. Ford, a world-class trampolinist, went on to serve as a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Presidents Nixon and Ford.
At the end of the night, Franklin took home the award for Omega Group Preliminary, as well as the Miss America organization $1,000 state community service award, a $10,000 scholarship,
