Hide Article Text (OCR)
The glamour of pageant night also brought with it hard work (or two local women. Diana Carson, Miss Thornton Township, took third-runner up honors. She is shown in top photo ( at the end of the line) in swimsuit competition and again as she performed in a production number. Laura Insalaco, Miss Tinley Park, received a special judge’s award for her poignant song and guitar presentation of Someday Soon.” Laura also appeared in the pageant’s production number. At far left, Miss Debra Sue Carlson bursts into tears as she is named Miss Illinois. Nancy Beatty, ss Illinois 1977. congratulates her successor.UnforgettableBy VERNE ETA GO WENSStaff Photos by Rosemary Kaul a Bill Pierrakeas'The best experience of my entire life is the way Diana Carson of Olympia Fields. Miss Thornton Township, described her participation in the Miss Illinois pageant held Saturday at the Paramount Arts theater in Aurora.In a field of 30 contestants, Diana emerged as the third runner-up to the new Miss Illinois, Miss Ottawa Debra Sue Carlson.Other runners-up were: Stacy Hillenbrenner, Miss Land of Lincoln; Judy McDonald, Miss Apple Festival; Crystal Ackerman, Miss Heart of Illinois.THE TEN FINALISTS also included Jill Lynn Ziske of Arlington Heights. Miss Barrington; Lorre Sue Miller of Hinsdale, Miss Charleston-Delta Chi; PamelaAnn Graham of Belleville, Miss Greater Southwestern Illinois; Melody Miller of Houston, Tex., Miss Macomb, and Allison Lianne Hoakley of Western Springs.Miss Tri-County.Five of the non-finalists received special judges' awards They were Laura Lynn Insalaco of Tinley Park. Miss Tinley Park; Denise Price of Toulon. Miss Breeze-Stark County; Cecelia Tucker of Momence, Miss Kankakee County; Eileen Crowley of Rockford. Miss Rockford, also winner of the non-finalist talent award for her clarinet solo; and Laurie Ann Cattinari of Villa Park. Miss York Township Activities for the pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, began on Tuesday.Tuesday was check-in, explained Diana All the contestants were housed in the Aurora college dormitory. We began rehearsing Tuesday night and rehearsed again all day Wednesday.”THE ACTUAL competition began Thursday evening at the Paramount theater with the 30 contestants divided into two groups. On Thursday night one group competed in swimsuit and evening gown and the other in talent. Friday night, the situation was reversed.Diana was the first to perform in the talent division on Friday night Her entry was a vocal number, her own arrangement of Jerome Kern's “Long Ago and Far Away” and “All the Things You Are.”“It s hard to be the first to perform,” she said. “I have to admit I was pretty nervous.”Thursday also included private interviews with each contestant by the panel of five judges.‘‘EACH INTERVIEW took about seven minutes,” said Diana. “I was asked many political questions such as how I felt about Proposition 13, the Bakke decision and many other problems of national interest. Then, also because I had written on my resume that my father is a hunter, I was asked how I felt about that.”She added that a second interview was held Saturday with the judges on a one-to-one basis. “Five girls were admitted to the room at a time. We sat across the table from the judge, spending three minutes with each one. One judge asked me if I thought I was pretty and I answered ‘yes'. Then another asked me to describe myself in three adjectives. I replied ‘honest, outgoing and then I had trouble thinking of another until I remembered the last question and so I added ‘pretty’. 1 looked at him and added, “Thank you, judge”’Miss Carson said she found the interviewing challenging but also enjoyable.“One of the judges told me that ne feels that the interview is the most important part of judging. He added he can tell during an interview how a contestant feels about herself, her ability to communicate and even knows how she will perform in talent competition.”ALTHOUGH DIANA has won $3,200 in the township and state contests, she said the money cannot compare with the wealth of experience and the wonderfulfriendships she has made.I know I have made many lasting friendships. The girls were all tremendous Even though we were in competition, there was such support and goodwill.” She added that before the performance each night,nil nirlr urAiilH inin hanHc onH nrovMore than '2,000 people were present at the final per formance on Saturday evening which opened with the singing of the national anthem by Nancy Beatty, Miss Illinois 1977 Miss Beatty also introduced the emcee, Sharon Blocher, Miss Ohio 1966AFTER THE INTRODUCTION of the 30 contest ants, it was time to announce the ten finalists With the exception of the production staff and one woman backstage, no one knew who they were,” said Diana I will never forget the thrill of hearing my name as one of them.”During the tally of the final scores in Saturday night s performance, Nancy Beatty made her last walk down the runway and delivered her farewell message, stating that her reign as Miss Illinois had been a growing experience.I've become stronger, a much more loving, caring and considerate person There have been good times but some bad times, but through it all I’ve learned and have become a better person For having been Miss Illinois 1977. I thank all of you people who have made me that better person Without you. it would have been impossible I pray that the new Miss Illinois will have as much growing during her year as I did during mine But most of all, I thank the Lord who means so very much to meAS HER CONCLUDING number. Miss Beatty sang, “Through It All, I’ve Learned to Trust in Jesus.” Recalling the moments of tension as they waited backstage to be called back for the final decision, Diana said, “The ten of us held hands and prayed We vowed we would remain friends regardless of the judges’ decision. It was just beautiful.”Of course when Diana was named a runner-up, shouts went up from her following in the audience among whom were her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Carson.The Miss Illinois Pageant. Inc. is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation Although incorporated in 1964, it did not officially receive the franchise to conduct the Miss Illinois pageant from Atlantic City until 1968. Prior to that, the state franchise was held by the Illinois Jaycees. Since the franchising, the state finals are held annually in Aurora. Membership in the pageant corporation is open to anyone who resides or is employed in Illinois.Illinois also holds the record of having the large: scholarship program. The 30 local pageants in th state award a total of $49,240 in scholarships.“ I was so proud of being a psrt of the psgesnt, butI was even more proud of being from Tinley Park, ” said Laura Insalaco.Laura was the first Miss Tinley Park to enter the annual Miss Illinois pageant and walked away from the Aurora event with a special judge's award.Admitting that the pageant was ubard work aura said that she felt It was a privUedge to compete Ith the 29 other young women from across the state.The girls were great. I made some very good friends and I was so Impressed with their friendly spirit. But I know one thing, I was the only contestant at that pageant who bad a whole town behind her; ” she said.Laura was amazed at the number of telegrams and letters she received from Tinley Park people before she left for A urora and even more amazed at the flowers and cards that arrived for her In Aurora.The people In this town are something else. So many 0/ them came all the way to Aurora In the pouring rain Just to cheer for me. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. All 1 can say Is the memory will bt locked In my heart forever.441Their kindness, their concern, their thoughtfu ness, that's why the pageant was such a gnat exper ence for me. I could never have managed without th people of Tinley Park, Laura said.
Newspaper Details
Orland Park Star Herald
Orland Park, Illinois, US
Thu, Jul 27, 1978
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Arlington H.
IL, USA 25 Sep 2018
Other Publications Near Orland Park, Illinois
Orland Park Daily Southtown News Marketer
Orland Park PennySaver
Orland Park Herald
Orland Park Star Herald
Orland Park Star Tribune
