Miss USA state queens visit Bloomington-Normal

Posted on February 16, 2016
Carlo Robustelli
Surrounded by Miss America state queens, McLean County Board member Carlo Robustelli shared a proclamation of congratulations to the Bloomington-Normal CVB for landing the Miss Illinois USA pageant. (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – There were probably more cameras flashing than ever before at a McLean County Board meeting on Tuesday.

Six reigning Miss USA state queens; Miss Illinois, Miss Arkansas, Miss Missouri, Miss Nebraska, Miss Oklahoma, and Miss Kansas stopped by the County Board meeting as board member Carlo Robustelli read a proclamation of congratulations to the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau for its efforts in attracting the Miss Illinois USA pageant to Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium in September.

Robustelli noted the event’s expected economic impact to Bloomington is $205,000.

“It’s a really important event and it showcases some of the important work the Convention and Visitors Bureau does on our behalf every single day, all year long,” Robustelli said.

As part of their stop, the state queens select pageant gowns in advance of the Miss Illinois Pageant and visited patients at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

“It’s Labor Day weekend they are coming,” CVB Director Crystal Hoard said. “This is great for our community but it’s such an honor to have this bestowed on us.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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