Anna resident Ashley Hatfield is the first woman from Southern Illinois crowned since Jaleigh Jeffers of Mount Carmel won the title in 1982.

Slideshow with Audio of Ashley Hatfield singing 'Listen' from the movie 'Dreamgirls'

Photos by Chuck Novara | Audio by Caleb Hale | Produced by JC Dart

Other Southern Illinois winners are Shanna McNeill of Carterville in 1979, Pamela Gilbert of Carbondale in 1962 and Patsy Bruce of Carbondale in 1954. Herrin resident Ashley Eisenhauer was first runner up for Miss Illinois in 1997 but was given the title when the winning contestant, Kate Shindle of Evanston, became Miss America.

A homecoming celebration is planned for 6 p.m. today at Stone Creek Golf Club, off U.S. 51, in Makanda.

ANNA - Ashley Hatfield, Miss Illinois 2007, will be welcomed home by her fellow Southern Illinoisans tonight.

The 24-year-old Anna woman is getting a homecoming reception this evening at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Makanda. Hatfield was crowned Saturday night at the event in St. Charles. She received a $10,000 scholarship and will go on to compete in the Miss America Pageant set for January in Las Vegas.

Forty-eight hours after winning the crown and sash, Hatfield still half expected to awaken from a dream.

"When it happened, my parents said the room just roared with applause; I think I just remember silence," Hatfield said. "I think time just stopped. I couldn't tell you what happened in the next minutes."

Hatfield had previously tried for the Miss Illinois title when she was 19. She made it into the top 10 but did not win.

After her loss, Hatfield went to college, obtained a bachelor's degree in speech communication at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and then a master's degree in communicative disorders from the University of Mississippi. She graduated in May.

Personal growth gave her the platform and will to try for the Miss Illinois title again, Hatfield said.

In January, she became a candidate for the title by winning the Miss Heartland pageant at the Marion Civic Center.

Karen Sala of Herrin, a regional coach for Hatfield and two other local Miss Illinois contestants, Christy Stallings of Johnston City and Meredith McCoy, a student at John A. Logan College from Cary, said she could tell Hatfield was special.

"Every so many years a girl comes along that just has it all," Sala said. "Ashley is one of those people who not only is beautiful outside; she is a wonderful speaker and she is a wonderful singer."

Singing was Hatfield's talent act in Saturday's pageant. She wants to sing as much as she can during her reign as Miss Illinois, which means she'll likely be performing the national anthem at a number of sporting events, she said.

Hatfield will soon move to Chicago, where the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association will provide an apartment for her while she performs her duties. She has a business manager to keep her schedule and security to assist her throughout the year.

Her mother, Belinda, said she's comforted knowing Hatfield will be looked after while in the city. The change will be great, she said, but one that will be worthwhile for her daughter or for anyone thinking of seeking the Miss Illinois title.

"It should be encouraging for other young ladies in this area to take it on," she said. "If they are ready and it's their time, it can happen."

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com / 351-5090