By a Lake Forest Love Writer
During the 20th Lake County Community Pageant at the College of Lake County last week, Isabella Kranz, Junior Miss Lake Bluff-Lake Forest, took home the Jr. Miss Lake County Community 2025 title.
It was the first time a Lake Bluff-Lake Forest queen won the title. Isabella also captured the Miss Congeniality, Best Interview and People’s Choice awards.
Miss Lake Bluff-Lake Forest Olivia Venkus (left) gets together with Klementine Czerski (Little Miss Lake Bluff-Lake Forest) and Jr. Miss Lake County Community Isabella Kranz after the event.
Isabella shared how she loves her community, her Mexican heritage and her goals to make the world a better place for children. This year she has done service work with Fill-A-Heart for Kids, Bernie's Book Bank, Lake Bluff Park District, and Lake Forest Park District. Isabella is a Lake Forest resident and student at Deer Path Middle School.
Klementine Czerski, Little Miss Lake Bluff-Lake Forest, won the People’s Choice Award. Klementine gave a speech about how she loves her new home in Lake Forest and how she enjoys exploring the city on bike with her family. A student at Sheridan Elementary School, she also has a passion for helping children and has volunteered at Fill-A-Heart for Kids and the Lake Forest Park District. She loves animals, especially cats. She shared at the pageant how they bring her so much joy, and she has a deep connection with them.
Olivia Venkus, Miss Lake Bluff-Lake Forest, gave an inspiring speech about the importance of blood drives. She shared her experience of needing blood transfusions due to a chronic medical condition. She won Best Interview and 1st Runner Up. Olivia has also volunteered with Fill-A-Heart for Kids and the Lake Forest Park District. She is a senior at Lake Forest College.
The Lake Bluff-Lake Forest Community Pageant started eight years ago as the Lake Bluff Community Pageant. Lake Forest resident Laura Friedrich first volunteered as tabulator for the 2019 pageant. She urged the system to include Lake Forest. The pageant then expanded.
Laura then took over as director in 2023 and brought on her friend Jackie Morrison to co-direct. Jackie is also well known in the Illinois pageant circuit, and her grandparents lived in Lake Forest.
This year the pageant raised over $3,000 to support the Lake County Honor Flight. The goals of the pageant are to inspire girls ages 6-22 to become involved in their communities, to enhance public speaking skills, and to build friendships.
Details for the 2025 pageant will be released soon. Interested contestants and sponsors can visit Lake Bluff-Lake Forest Community Pageant on Facebook or email Lakebluffcommunitypageant@gmail.com