Downers Grove resident to compete for Miss Illinois USA

Downers Grove resident Felisa Wiley will compete for the title of Miss Illinois USA March 28 at Illinois State University.

Wiley, niece of the Rev. Marvin E. Wiley of Maywood’s Rock of Ages Baptist Church, may be new to the pageant world but is not new to competition. In 2014, she competed in The Face, a reality TV competition series on Oxygen alongside supermodels Naomi Campbell and Anne V. Since then, she has modeled in New York and Los Angeles. She plans to attend law school in the near future.

Wiley is seeking local business, community and individual sponsors to help support her journey to the crown.

“This pageant is less about me and more about representing and standing with my community, especially in such uncertain times,” Wiley said in a statement. “I hope to raise enough money and keep pageant costs down so I can make substantial donations to these non-profits: the Alzheimer’s Association, Reading Partners and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“I’ve held past charity events and fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association in loving memory of my grandmother. I cherished my volunteering experiences with Reading Partners, a children’s literacy organization, where I tutored a young boy named Kevin. With schools closed, jobs lost and virus infection rates rising, I hope that support for the Greater Chicago Food Depository will provide food security for those who need it most.”

Donations can be made to Wiley GoFundMe campaign at https://gf.me/u/zbjk2s. Anyone interested in a business ad sponsorship can email her at felisawiley@gmail.com