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Madelyn Steurer took home the title of Miss Cook County 2023 at the Miss Chicago pageant on Saturday, January 7, 2023. She also won the Entrepreneurship Award and Director’s Award. Last year’s winner, Brianna Lewis, crowned Madelyn at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, Illinois.
“I’m so excited to be crowned,” Madelyn told Chicago Southsider after her crowning moment.
Madelyn is a trilingual marketing professional who received her Bachelor’s and Masters degree from the University of Notre Dame. She has worked as a foreign language museum educator at the Snite Museum of Art and studied Italian language and culture at the Dante Alighieri School in Siena, Italy.
Madelyn will represent Cook County in the upcoming Miss Illinois pageant that will take place at the Marion Civic Center from June 6-10, 2023. During her reign, she will promote her social impact initiative STUK Designs — a non-profit for creative career women who provide art & self-love education for girls in underserved communities.
Miss Chicago Competition Results
Elise O’Connell was crowned Miss Chicago 2023. She also walked away with the Jade Smalls Simmons Talent Award for her vocal performance.
“I’m completely honored and feeling really blessed,” Elise told Chicago Southsider during a live interview after the pageant. “I started as a Miss Illinois princess 15 years ago. To be here now and to be able to say that I am going to Miss Illinois is kind of crazy. I’m really excited to hit the ground running with my social impact initiative.”
2nd Runner Up: Marisa Miles
1st Runner Up: Mbayi Aben
Miss Cook County: Madelyn Steurer
Miss Gold Coast: Annie Kamps
Miss Windy City: Imani P. Muse
Miss Chicago: Elise O’Connell
Influencer Award: Annie Kamps
Entrepreneurship Award: Madelyn Steurer
Congeniality Award: Rihannon Graham
Director’s Award: Madelyn Steurer
People’s Choice: Melissa Garner Owens
Jade Smalls Simmons Talent Award: Elise O’Connell
Miss Cook County, Miss Gold Coast, Miss Windy City, and Miss Chicago are now qualified for Miss Illinois in June.
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