Hailee Pecoraro of Sycamore was a contestant in the Miss Fox Valley pageant in DeKalb on Feb. 23. She didn't win the crown, but she did win the Entrepreneur Award for raising the most money for the Children's Miracle Network.

“It’s neat that it is in this area,” Pecoraro said of this year’s pageant. “When I entered the Miss Illinois organization (this pageant) was in Chicago. So for it to be in my hometown, not only can I showcase myself, I can showcase Sycamore and DeKalb a little bit.”

Pecoraro plans to compete for the title of Miss Chicago on March 24. Both Miss Fox Valley and Miss Chicago will compete for the Miss Illinois crown in June.