Courtesy: Marion Cultural And Civic Center
Courtesy: Marion Cultural And Civic Center

MARION, Ill. (AP) — Marion will host the Miss Illinois pageant for the fourth year in a row.

The event will be staged at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center from June 9 until the latest Miss Illinois is crowned June 14.

Thirty-one contestants will vie for the title, with the winner representing the state at the 2015 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Also competing are 24 Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen contestants and 23 pre-teen contestants, along with 32 young girls who make up the 2014 class of Miss Illinois Princesses.

As chairman of the Illinois pageant’s board, Amalia Schwerdtmann says Marion “has been extremely welcoming.”

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)