Chicago woman wins Miss Illinois title at Marion Civic Center

Kate Dimmett, Miss Chicago, was crowned as Miss Illinois 2026 on Saturday after this week's competition and festivities at the Marion Civic Center.

Dimmett graduated from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and Jacobs School of Music.  She played violin, and performed a Phantom of the Opera medley for her talent segment. 

She is co-founder of a nonprofit called Notable Measures, dedicated to expanding access to music and arts education.

The Miss Illinois pageant has been held in Marion for many years and serves as the state’s official preliminary to Miss America, to be held in September.



(Photo: Miss Illinois Scholarship Organization)