Eastern grad's 'pageant bug' pays off

By: Leslie O’Neil/ Staff writer

Posted: 2/7/03

The tall, shiny rhinestone crown that sits on Jamie Bolander's desk serves as a constant reminder she is the 2003 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.

Bolander, a graduate student in political science, competed with women from 68 different counties across Illinois in the Illinois Fair Queen Pageant, the largest pageant in the state, according to its Web site.

To qualify for the state pageant, Bolander, a resident of Olney, a town of 8,800 located about 100 miles south of Charleston in Richland County, first needed to win her home county's competition.

After her third attempt she was named Miss Richland County.

"The third time was the charm," she said, recalling the times she had competed before, first at age 16, then 20 and this year at age 21.

"It was something I really wanted to do," Bolander said softly. "It's a big thing in my hometown to have that title, so I just kept trying. You just get a 'pageant bug' in you."

After winning the Richland County pageant, Bolander was able to continue on to the state level, which was held in Springfield in January.

During the four-day event, the women were judged on evening gown and swimsuit competitions, on their performances during interviews conducted by four judges and on a four-minute speech.

"I wasn't nervous about the interview," Bolander said, who gave her speech about her previous experiences competing for Miss Richland County.

It was the swimsuit competition, however, that made Bolander the most uncomfortable.

"You're showing a lot of yourself when you're half-naked," she said.

Even during the most nerve-racking parts of the competition, Bolander felt that she could rely on the other women in the competition for support.

"I was more interested in being friends with them, so I didn't look at them as competition," she said.

Angela Reed, an elementary education major who competed in the pageant as "Miss Piatt County," also found friendship in the competition.

"We all got really close," Reed said. "Everyone helped everyone out instead of just competing against them."

When Bolander was chosen as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, Reed felt proud that a student from Eastern had won.

"I was excited for Jamie knowing she was from Eastern," she said.

Despite feeling honored from winning the pageant, Bolander realizes her position will require a lot of work.

As Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, Bolander will travel more than 12,000 miles across Illinois during the summer and will be the official hostess for many different county fairs.

As well as helping with county fair pageants, she also will promote agriculture and make speeches about its importance in society.

"I come from a farming community," she said. "So it's naturally in my blood."

Bolander received a scholarship and monetary award, and she plans on purchasing over 10 gowns and interview suits for her travels.

"You don't want to be in the same area with the same gown on," she explained. "Pageant clothes are expensive. Being in pageants isn't the most economical thing, that's for sure."

"(Winning) is mostly about prestige. You get some money, but you spend it as queen," Bolander said.

Looking back on her accomplishments, Bolander still can't believe it.

"I was so shocked when it happened. There was a picture in the Springfield paper and my mouth was about to hit the floor. It still hasn't sunk in yet," she said. "But this summer when I'm actually doing things at the fairs, it will feel more real."