For Senior Chloe Bergmann, confidence is key. Bergmann  represented Plainfield and her part time job at Crossroads Auto Spa at the Miss Teen Illinois Pageant in Skokie, Illinois from September 4 to 7.

Bergmann got a brochure in the mail to apply to be one of the 42 candidates in the Miss Teen Illinois contest and she sent in a picture of herself and an essay. She did it because she wanted to build her confidence and try something that scared her so she could grow from it.

“I was nervous because I didn’t think they would actually accept me, and they did! I was freaking out because I’m really shy, and then I have to go on stage and act confident; it was a huge deal to me. I still did it though, and it was so much fun,” said Bergmann.

When she was not on stage she had photo-shoots in her bathing suit, evening gown, and the black and gold dress that everyone had to wear. She also learned the opening number dance with the other candidates.

“I feel like the judges were looking at your performance level, they would make sure you walked the right steps and had a bounce in your step. You can see someone’s personality in the way they walk,” said Bergmann.

“I learned that beauty isn’t really a big deal, it is your personality that makes a big difference in your life. I know that I don’t have to be pretty to be accepted in most circumstances, and that I can just be myself and if someone likes that, it makes me pretty to them. So it is not about appearance, and that was a big deal to me because I feel like that is a big thing in our society,” said Bergmann.

Bergmann got top five out of 42 candidates. She won a box of face wash and each candidate got individual magazines with pictures full of them. Her family would have liked to see her make it into Miss Teen USA, but even though she did not, she was still very happy that she made it to the top five.