Angela Sparrow hopes to be the fifth woman from Illinois to walk away with the Miss USA crown in June.
Sparrow
–– a communications manager and special events coordinator for a major minority-owned
transportation company in the city –– caught the pageant bug two years ago
while helping her younger sister with her pageant endeavors.
“She
needed help hair and makeup tips. I’ve always modeled and I was excited for her
while giving her all these tips. Then, I also got excited because I had a
moment where I thought that I should do this too,” the Charleston, S.C. native
told the Defender.
The climb
up the staircase then began.
Her first
pageant was Miss Chicago. Then she beat out 138 women for Miss Illinois USA
2011 in November.
The Miss
Universe organization –– a joint venture by Donald Trump and NBC Universal ––
produces the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions.
“This
journey has far exceeded all expectations. It has been a wild ride and I’m so
excited to be a part of it. It’s all about self-confidence and
self-fulfillment,” said the former gymnastics instructor, NBA dancer and
make-up artist who is pursuing a master’s degree and becoming a certified
special events planner through the International Society of Special Events.
Now, her
sights are set on being the fifth Miss Illinois to be crowned Miss USA as the
pageant celebrates its 60th year. Illinois claimed the title in
1953, 1963, 1973 and 1974.
“It’s way
overdue for us. Illinois deserves it. I’m ready to take it all the way,” she
said.
Sparrow
will compete for the crown June 19 in Las Vegas. The winner will go on to
compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
