The new Miss Black Illinois USA & Miss Black Illinois Teen USA will start her reign in front of 9 million TV viewers.

The search is on for the next Miss Black Illinois USA and Miss Black Illinois Teen USA. Over 9 million Chicago land TV Viewers will celebrate scholastic achievement, leadership involvement and community service efforts of the individual contestants.

CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) August 8, 2004 -- The search is on for the next Miss Black Illinois USA and Miss Black Illinois Teen USA. The call for Illinois contestants has attracted outstanding young ladies from around the state. This year's stellar pageant will be held in Chicago, Illinois November 13-14, 2004, at the Hyatt McCormick Hotel located at 2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive in Chicago, Illinois. Both of this year's winners will go on to compete for the 2005 Miss Black USA or Miss Black Teen USA titles!! Over 9 million Chicago land TV Viewers will celebrate scholastic achievement, leadership involvement and community service efforts of the individual contestants. The pageant will air later this year on WYJS-TV in Chicago.

The Miss Black Illinois USA Scholarship Organization, a non profit organization, mission is to identify, develop, and promote leadership within the African American community among women 13-27 years of age, to develop young African American women into strong, empowered, and educated leaders and role models; to celebrate the many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures of African American beauty, achievement and womanhood; and to become one of the largest scholarship providers for African American women in Illinois.

State delegates devote hours weekly to community service & platform development, as well as participate in a unique development program that encompasses workshops and seminars that focus on personal development, leadership training, and life skills development.

Not since 1997, has their been an official pageant in Illinois for the Miss Black USA Pageant, and never has a Miss Black Illinois Teen USA been crowned to a TV audience. In previous years, winners have been selected by interviews, auditions, mail in applications, and other ways to name a state queen due to a lack in funding & directorship for the state. But this year the new Miss Black Illinois USA & Miss Black Illinois Teen USA will start her reign on a great note.

As of January 2004, this organization and pageant is now under the directorship of Lauren Ransom, an entrepreneur, businesswoman, and former pageant winner. Miss Ransom seeks to create a quality and exciting event to uplift and celebrate all that African American woman have to offer. I believe that all African American women should share their talents, be proud of their unique beauty, and be rewarded for their genuine concern to better her community," Miss Ransom states.

The Miss Black Illinois USA Scholarship Organization, Inc. aggressively maintains a progressive stance in the representation and education of African American women, and offers the pageant as a safe & healthy environment to showcase talent and the unique beauty of the African American culture.

Those interested in attending, sponsoring, or participating in pageant events should call Lauren Ransom, Exec. Director (312) 375-1884 or log on to www.missblackillinoisusa.com

The Miss Black USA Pageant & Miss Black Teen USA Pageants were created as an alternative to the traditional pageant systems. Since that time, both of these pageants have been the preeminent pageant for women and female teens of color. Thousands of African American women have made these pageants a national tradition. For more information on the national pageant programs visit: www.missblackusa.org or www.missblackteenusa.org. The Miss Black USA & Miss Black Teen USA Pageants are separately managed and operated.