It was when Larry Forestal, then the
Illinois Association of the Deaf (IAD) president, attended the National
Association of the Deaf convention in Houston, Texas in July, 1976, that
he became convinced of the need to establish the Miss Deaf Illinois
Pageant (MDIP). It occurred to him that there was no Miss Deaf Illinois
to compete at the third biennial Miss Deaf America Pageant (MDAP). Upon
his return to Illinois, he set forth on a search for a suitable person
to establish the first MDIP. It was to be featured at the twenty-ninth
(29th) biennial IAD convention at Forum Thirty in Springfield
on June 4, 1977. Sandra Goldstein was appointed to develop and direct the first Illinois pageant in conjunction with the
IAD convention. Three hundred fifty (350) conventioneers witnessed the
first MDIP. Valerie Jantz, MissDeaf Illinois State University,
became the first Miss Deaf Illinois representing IAD at the fourth
biennial MDAP in Rochester, New York in July, 1978. She was
one of the ten semi-finalists and was named Miss Congeniality.
At the third biennial MDIP there was
a preliminary competition because there were eleven (11) contestants the
night prior to the actual pageant. There were five finalists performing
at the actual pageant. Two hundred eighty (280) attendees witnessed the
pageant. Sandra Goldstein directed the 1981 MDIP. Anita Cervantes, Miss
NFSD, won the MDIP. She competed at the 1982 MDAP in St. Louis, Missouri. In December, 1982 she
relinquished her title and crown to the first runner-up, Debbie Colon
(MissDeaf Whitney Young High School)
due to marriage.
Brandi Sculthorpe, Miss Deaf
Naperville, competed at the sixth biennial MDIP with seven contestants
in Naperville in 1987. She won as Miss Deaf Illinois. She became the
first Miss Deaf Illinois to win the title of Miss Deaf America at the
ninth biennial MDAP in Charleston, South Carolina in July, 1988. Her
chaperone was Paula Chance, who directed the 1987 MDIP. Sculthorpe held
both titles Miss Deaf Illinois and Miss Deaf America concurrently from
1988 to 1989. She was to represent whichever one needed her appearance.
The 1993 MDIP committee invited
Stephanie Long, Miss Deaf America 1992-1994, to be the pageant guest.
She performed on the actual pageant stage.
Jennifer Yost, Miss Deaf America,
1994-1996, appeared at the 1995 MDIP.
Lauren Teruel, who was the 12th
Miss Deaf Illinois, became the first Black Miss Deaf Illinois. She also
became the first Black Miss Deaf America; 2000-2002.Teruel held both
titles, Miss Deaf Illinois and Miss Deaf America from 2000 to 2001.
Jessica Burke, Miss West Suburban
Association of the Deaf (WSAD) won the 2003 MDIP in Peoria and
relinquished her crown to the first runner-up, Elizabeth Hurd due to
personal reasons. Hurd represented IAD at the MDAP in Kansas City, MO.
Teddy Clemons, who was one of the
co-chairpersons for the 2005 IAD conference, flew to California and met
the well-known deaf actor, Bernard Bragg. He learned that Bragg would be
in Jacksonville, IL to work with the Illinois School for the Deaf the
same weekend as the IAD conference. Clemons asked Bragg if he would be
interested in emceeing the IAD banquet and the 15th biennial
MDIP. Bragg gracefully accepted the invitation. One hundred ninety-six
(196) attendees were thrilled to meet Bragg. There were four contestants.
It was the first time two sisters were seen competing for the title and
crown at the same MDIP. They were Rickia Hollingsted (Miss Deaf Peoria)
and Santana Hollingsted (Miss Sorenson). Santana became the 15th
Miss Deaf Illinois. She became the second Black Miss Deaf Illinois.
Since 1977, the Pageant has undergone
many changes to follow the MDAP. Between 1978 and 1982, the appointment
of Miss Deaf Illinois was based on a private interview, a talent
performance, a long evening gown portion, and an onstage interview.
Between 1982 and 1984, one more competition, the cocktail dress was
added. Between 1986 and 1996, the cocktail dress competition was
replaced with the sportswear competition because the cocktail dress
competition was very similar to the long evening gown competition.
Since 1999, the Platform
Presentation/Business Attire competition was replaced with the
sportswear competition because prior to reaching the national level
competition, participants compete at the local and state level, thus
providing a large number of women and opportunity to test their
public-speaking, stage presence, poise, grace under fire, and their
ability to think on their feet. Talent is no longer the only aspect the
women are judged on. There is now a broad spectrum of categories
including community service, academics, current events, knowledge of
deaf culture, and more.
