Crowning the queen: Miss McHenry County pageant a 60-year-tradition

Seventeen-year-old Marilyn Thomsen beamed when the crown was set on her head, and her proud friends and family burst into applause.

The date was July 29, 1949, the start of an exciting, three-day reign for the teenage beauty queen, and the start of a 60-year run for the McHenry County Fair.

This evening, 22 former winners, including Marilyn (Thomsen) Moore, 77, now of Florida, will meet again at the Miss McHenry County 2009 pageant, starting at 7:30 p.m. today in the grandstand. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Hansen Pavilion.

Seventeen girls ages 16 - 19 will compete in a series of interviews, speeches, evening gown and swimsuit competitions. Eight are local contest winners, while others are "private entries," said pageant organizer Linda Zielinski.

"Some towns don't have contests, so we opened it up to give everyone a chance."

Contestants are: Hannah Smith (Miss Huntley), Tabitha Dunhardt (Miss Marengo Settlers Days), Jaid Ritter (Miss Woodstock), Alizabeth Loch (Miss Cary), Nina Mack (Miss Fox River Grove), Colleen Bechtold (Miss Crystal Lake), Andrea Diaz (Miss Harvard Milk Days), Jessica Kopidlansky of Cary, Katie Peterson of Crystal Lake, Marissa Sopchyk and Jessica Briguglio of Huntley, Katey McGregor and Alexandra Engle of Woodstock, and Hailee Pecoraro, Kelly Heisler, Ashley Redmond and Kayla Welch all of McHenry.

The winner will be crowned by Miss McHenry County 2008, Carly Dikun of Harvard, and will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the McHenry County Fair Association. She will also participate in the Illinois State Fair Queen contest in January, 2010.