Alla Ilushka
Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2002 (top 10 @ Miss Teen USA 2002)
Miss Minnesota USA 2007
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Minnesota Teen USA pageant?
I was partially involved in the pageant scene since I was in grade school. Pageants were a big part of summer for my family: instead of going away to camp, I took pleasure in preparing for and competing in scholastic pageants. It was a fun bonding experience with my mom. Of course competing in the Miss Teen USA pageant had crossed my mind, but I was hesitant to sign up for something of that calibre until a family friend encouraged me to give it a shot. I decided that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15, and then the top 10 at Miss Teen USA?
It was a completely surreal experience. It was over ten years ago, but I will never forget that feeling. It didn't quite hit me until after I returned home from the competition. I remember having a lot of fun and soaking it all in. I am so grateful for the experience. Looking back on it, maybe some of the celebrity judges (ahem, Nick Cannon) could have given me a chance to really shine in the top 5 :)
Why did you decide to do the crossover from competing in the "Teen division" to competing in the "Miss division"?
To be honest, I thought that after Miss Teen USA, I was going to "retire." I was in my second year of university, I had short red hair and was more focused on working on my internships and paving the way for my career in the business world, as opposed to modeling and pageantry. Basically, I was an unlikely candidate. I came out of retirement on a whim. A close family friend, the very same who urged me to participate in the Miss MN Teen USA pageant, had a gorgeous dress that deserved to be worn. With the perfect evening dress and a generous sponsor in the bag, which have always been two areas that give me the most stress in preparing for competitions, there was nothing holding me back. Again, I decided that I had nothing to lose and gave it a shot.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
The Miss USA pageant was very different from the Miss Teen USA. Miss Teen USA felt like summer camp; the girls had a lot of fun and didn't take themselves too seriously. Miss USA is a different ball game. These girls are here to win, which should be the ultimate goal, of course. I was shocked at the amount of plastic surgery I saw, and I was surprised with the investment of time, energy and finances that some people put into it. This is a lifestyle, and I realized that it wasn't the perfect fit for me. Regardless, it was a remarkable experience. My most memorable moments were the ones I spent with Miss Massachusetts, Despina Delios. We became great friends and remain so today. In fact, we spoke today.
What was your favourite thing about being Miss Minnesota USA and why?
It is difficult to pinpoint a favorite; the entire year was a blessing. The title allows you to collect once-in-a-lifetime experiences and meet people from all walks of life. One of my favorite things was meeting different people who weave the diversified fabric of our home state and make it truly unique.
What emotions were you going through when you crowned your successor?
I felt relief and excitement. It was an honor to be a titleholder, and I was happy to be able to pass on the experience to the next lucky girl. I remember when I was crowned, I was overjoyed! I was blabbering to my predecessor as she tried to pin down my crown while she was calm and collected. A year later, and the tables were turned. The new titleholder was shaking with excitement, but I took quiet pleasure in knowing what the year holds in store for her and how her life will change. That is an amazing bond to share.
What have you been up to since your reign as Miss Minnesota USA ended?
Funny story: I did exactly what I set out to do when I was Miss Minnesota Teen USA. I've been traveling the world and working in communications. Recently, a colleague uncovered a video from my Miss Teen USA days. One of the questions I was asked was where I wanted to be in ten years; I answered that I wanted to travel. Fast forward ten years, and I was sitting in Suriname watching this YouTube clip overflowing with emotions because I achieved the goals that I've forgotten about. Since my Miss Minnesota USA reign, I've lived in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa. I have returned to Minnesota a week ago to live a less adventurous life for a spell. Now that my ten year goal is accomplished, it's time to start a new chapter.
I was partially involved in the pageant scene since I was in grade school. Pageants were a big part of summer for my family: instead of going away to camp, I took pleasure in preparing for and competing in scholastic pageants. It was a fun bonding experience with my mom. Of course competing in the Miss Teen USA pageant had crossed my mind, but I was hesitant to sign up for something of that calibre until a family friend encouraged me to give it a shot. I decided that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15, and then the top 10 at Miss Teen USA?
It was a completely surreal experience. It was over ten years ago, but I will never forget that feeling. It didn't quite hit me until after I returned home from the competition. I remember having a lot of fun and soaking it all in. I am so grateful for the experience. Looking back on it, maybe some of the celebrity judges (ahem, Nick Cannon) could have given me a chance to really shine in the top 5 :)
Why did you decide to do the crossover from competing in the "Teen division" to competing in the "Miss division"?
To be honest, I thought that after Miss Teen USA, I was going to "retire." I was in my second year of university, I had short red hair and was more focused on working on my internships and paving the way for my career in the business world, as opposed to modeling and pageantry. Basically, I was an unlikely candidate. I came out of retirement on a whim. A close family friend, the very same who urged me to participate in the Miss MN Teen USA pageant, had a gorgeous dress that deserved to be worn. With the perfect evening dress and a generous sponsor in the bag, which have always been two areas that give me the most stress in preparing for competitions, there was nothing holding me back. Again, I decided that I had nothing to lose and gave it a shot.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
The Miss USA pageant was very different from the Miss Teen USA. Miss Teen USA felt like summer camp; the girls had a lot of fun and didn't take themselves too seriously. Miss USA is a different ball game. These girls are here to win, which should be the ultimate goal, of course. I was shocked at the amount of plastic surgery I saw, and I was surprised with the investment of time, energy and finances that some people put into it. This is a lifestyle, and I realized that it wasn't the perfect fit for me. Regardless, it was a remarkable experience. My most memorable moments were the ones I spent with Miss Massachusetts, Despina Delios. We became great friends and remain so today. In fact, we spoke today.
What was your favourite thing about being Miss Minnesota USA and why?
It is difficult to pinpoint a favorite; the entire year was a blessing. The title allows you to collect once-in-a-lifetime experiences and meet people from all walks of life. One of my favorite things was meeting different people who weave the diversified fabric of our home state and make it truly unique.
What emotions were you going through when you crowned your successor?
I felt relief and excitement. It was an honor to be a titleholder, and I was happy to be able to pass on the experience to the next lucky girl. I remember when I was crowned, I was overjoyed! I was blabbering to my predecessor as she tried to pin down my crown while she was calm and collected. A year later, and the tables were turned. The new titleholder was shaking with excitement, but I took quiet pleasure in knowing what the year holds in store for her and how her life will change. That is an amazing bond to share.
What have you been up to since your reign as Miss Minnesota USA ended?
Funny story: I did exactly what I set out to do when I was Miss Minnesota Teen USA. I've been traveling the world and working in communications. Recently, a colleague uncovered a video from my Miss Teen USA days. One of the questions I was asked was where I wanted to be in ten years; I answered that I wanted to travel. Fast forward ten years, and I was sitting in Suriname watching this YouTube clip overflowing with emotions because I achieved the goals that I've forgotten about. Since my Miss Minnesota USA reign, I've lived in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa. I have returned to Minnesota a week ago to live a less adventurous life for a spell. Now that my ten year goal is accomplished, it's time to start a new chapter.