Miss Illinois

Victoria Davis

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
One night last spring, a group of my friends and I decided to have a “bonding” night. As we were making our way back to the house, walking home from a concert, we started talking about some of the craziest, or more appropriately stupidest, things we had ever done. Sadly, I didn’t have a lot to say on the subject. One of my friends decided that tonight would be the perfect night to break in my “craziness,” or rather break out of my lack there of. I was dared by my oh so intelligent friends to do a standing back tuck (standing backward flip with no hands) right there in the grass wearing my jeans and high heels. The look on my face after I understood the requirements for this great feat told them all they needed to know in response to such dare and I believe the exact quote that came from the mouth of one of my friends was something to the affect of, “It’s almost summer! You’ve got valedictorian in bag; why not act like a kid for once?!” After a long conversation, or lecture rather that entailed nothing more than me gracefully explaining to them the reasons for my assured place at the podium during graduation, I took great care to illustrate the fact that it was stupid stunts like this that I had striven all of my life to avoid. And then, somewhere amidst my great intelligence speech, my subconscious decided, “You know what... why not. It would be the last thing that they would expect and it has now turned into a dare. I mean cheerleading season just ended, this can be my tribute to our national championship, and Miss Teen USA is still months away. I’d have plenty of time to do the whole crutches thing if necessary.” After finally deciding that I was much too stubborn to decline the challenge, I did it. That night then marked the first, and semi-sadly, the only stunt I have ever pulled requiring no logical basis whatsoever. So, you may be wondering, am I proud of this stunt? That is a paradoxical question. I would say yes as the back tuck was a success in the sense that I was able to walk away limp-free although the success ended there. It’s safe to say that afterward, my jeans looked like they had been worn by a kindergartener on the playground, but fortunately, after many cycles in the washing machine, the grass stains were eventually removed from the knees of my much too expensive jeans I had been wearing that night. And now I have made an oath: no more gymnastics in real clothes and high heels.

If you could have lunch with any one (1) person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Susan B. Anthony. Of the many qualities in a person that I admire, Susan B. Anthony seemed to possess them all. She was a great advocate of equality, as am I, not only for women, but for race. Anthony spent her life fighting for those overlooked by the government and deemed “useless” or “insignificant” by the common person. Anthony is one of the greatest examples of altruism that history has to offer and I feel that even moments with her would leave me with a lasting inspirational desire to make something of who I am and something more of who I will become.

Please list any Honors/Awards you have received in the past 2 years.
Valedictorian of graduating class
Illinois State Scholar
American Legion Essay Winner
Illinois Principal's Award recipient
Photographer of the Year Award
Math Award
Science Award
Cheerleading MVP
Most Spirited Cheerleader
Track & Field- triple jump school record

What would be your "dream job" in life?
Writing (working my own hours) for a major magazine or newspaper.

Name one personal accomplishment (IN ADDITION to being a State Titleholder) that makes you especially proud.
I finally, after being at the top of my class each of the four years of my high school career, presented the Valedictory speech representing my high school class of 2007. This was a most satisfying accomplishment as I felt that it proved that there is in fact intelligence within the pageant system.

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