By Ben Cox
Photos/Special to The Source
Eighteen-year-old Lauryn Maher has grown up on stages—from dance recitals to county fair and local pageants—but her latest title carries her to the biggest spotlight yet.
On February 14, Maher was crowned Miss Southern Illinois’ Teen during competition at Marion High School, earning her the opportunity to compete for Miss Illinois’ Teen this summer. The competition is a part of the Miss America pageant system.
For the Jacksonville High School senior, the moment was both a culmination and a beginning. “I work on my paperwork at night,” Maher says, “I have my little notebook they gave me, I have a ton of contacts written down so I can contact people about ads or even just visiting their businesses. So, a lot of list making and a lot of just making sure that I have my priorities at the top of what needs to be done.”
The Miss Southern Illinois’ Teen pageant covers the 217 and 618 area codes and is the last competition before the Miss Illinois’ Teen pageant in June. Maher says she wants to ensure all of her paperwork is ready by the middle of this month. In the meantime, she has the priorities of school, work, a national dance competition to prepare for and her community platform to keep organized.
FROM FAIR PRINCESS TO STATE STAGE
Maher’s pageant journey began in 2014 when she was crowned Little Miss Western Illinois Fair Princess in Pike County, an introduction to the Illinois County Fair Pageant system that helped her grow comfortable in front of crowds.
Four years later, she made local history when she was named the first-ever Miss Jacksonville during the city’s inaugural
pageant in 2018, held in conjunction with Jacksonville Main Street’s Downtown Summer Concert Series opening ceremonies. That role allowed her to serve as a community ambassador and deepen her involvement in local events.
In January, Maher competed in the Miss Quincy Teen pageant, where she earned first runner-up and received the Digital Strategist Award. The experience helped prepare her for the Miss Southern Illinois’ Teen competition.
The competition format includes a private interview—one of the highest-scoring portions—along with talent, on-stage conversation, lifestyle and fitness, and evening gown.
Maher credits her years as a competitive dancer at Legacy Dance & Tumbling Complex with preparing her not only for the talent portion but also for interviews.
“You’re constantly meeting new people,” she shares. “Dance has opened me up to so many conversations. I treat the interview just like that—a conversation.”
“AG FOR ALL”
At the heart of Maher’s candidacy is her community service initiative, “Ag for All: Mentoring and Empowering Youth Through Agriculture and FFA.”
Through classroom visits and community outreach, Maher works to introduce young students to agriculture’s role in everyday life and to encourage involvement in FFA programs.
“I want to get ag involved in kids’ lives from a young age so they realize how important it is,” she says. “It really is everywhere—everything revolves around it. It powers our country.”
Maher says she’s not the traditional “farm kid” involved in FFA at Jacksonville High School. She says that you don’t have to live on a farm to contribute to the world of agriculture; she says that’s a common misconception about the FFA organization that she hopes to spread awareness about.
Maher has already visited area classrooms and has additional appearances scheduled throughout the region. She plans to expand those efforts in the months leading up to Miss Illinois’ Teen.
FOLLOWING A FRIEND’S FOOTSTEPS
Maher will compete for Miss Illinois’ Teen June 10-13 in Marion. The current titleholder is Lillie Brown of Jacksonville—one of Maher’s close friends.
“Lillie’s actually one of my best friends,” Maher shares. “Having her has really helped.”
Later this month, Maher will attend the Miss Illinois 2026 Spring Kickoff Weekend, an orientation where contestants receive schedules, draw competition numbers and, this year, will have the opportunity to meet Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan, of New York.
Between now and June, Maher says her calendar is packed with preparation, volunteering with local organizations including Jacksonville Main Street, The Rotary Club of Jacksonville and the Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville; classroom visits tied to her platform; dance nationals and high school graduation.
“A lot of prep, a lot of volunteering, and sleep when I can get it,” she says with a laugh.
BALANCING IT ALL
Maher is a senior at Jacksonville High School and is also taking courses through Lincoln Land Community College’s College Now program. She plans to attend Lincoln Land Community College after high school graduation this May, utilizing the Jacksonville Promise Scholarship before potentially transferring to the University of Illinois.
The daughter of Robyn and Justin Maher, she also works at a day care and continues teaching and training in dance—commitments she says keep her grounded.
“I love being here,” Lauryn Maher says. “I love being around the community and working with kids. I’m not ready to leave that.”
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
As she prepares for the state competition, Maher is raising funds through raffle ticket sales and advertising space in her competition program book. Raffle tickets are $10 each, with cash prizes awarded to winners, and ad spaces are available for $12. To purchase, email laurynmaher1@gmail.com or send Venmo to lauryn-maher7.
“The purchase of these tickets isn’t just to win a prize,” Maher shares in a recent announcement. “It’s to support a group of young women, their dreams and their education.”
With a state title within reach—and the possibility of bringing another crown back to Jacksonville—Maher remains focused on preparation, service and representing Southern Illinois with confidence.
“I just want to be in as many places as possible,” she says. “I want to have those real experiences to talk about. I want to make the most of this.”
