MARION, Illinois. On Thursday night, Nicole Taylor of Mount Sterling became victorious in the evening gown Omega preliminary at the Miss Illinois scholarship pageant.
Alpha and Omega are the two groups into which the contestants are divided. Taylor, competing as Miss Prairie State, won first place in her group for the evening gown category, which awards the highest score in each group.
Taylor, 20, is the daughter of Stacey Liggett and Jon Taylor. In the Miss Illinois talent competition, she is dancing lyrically to the song “What a Wonderful World.” Exploring Inclusion: Everyone Belongs in Nature is her service project.
Taylor received an associate’s degree in marketing from John Wood Community College last year. She is a senior studying conservation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the assistant director of Gardner Camp, a nonprofit organization in Hull that supports outdoor recreational and educational activities with an emphasis on youth programs.
Her goals are to become the director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, continue to be an active influencer in the outdoor business, and earn a PhD in conservation.
As Miss Quincy in the previous year’s competition, Taylor represented the region. This year’s Miss Quincy, Pittsfield’s Matty McCartney, is competing this weekend in Marion.
On Saturday, June 28, the last night of competition, the Miss Illinois winner will be revealed. Early next year, Miss Illinois will compete for the title of Miss America, campaign for her community service effort, and make public appearances throughout the state.