16-year-old is first African-American to win Miss Illinois Teen USA in 34-year history

Sydni Dion Bennett, 16, is the first African-American to win Miss Illinois Teen USA. She is in the dance program at the Chicago Academy for the Arts. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Christen A. Johnson Chicago Tribune

Sydni Dion Bennett didn’t aspire to be anyone else when she was a little girl. A 10-year-and-counting ballerina, her friends would often liken her to Misty Copeland. She didn’t want to hear that. She lives by the mantra “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

“It’s easier,” she says.

The 16-year-old, who is also a coach at dance studio Perfect Dance Artistry and Company, has the convictions and confidence of an accomplished, wise woman, which may contribute to her impeccable posture.

Bennett recently made history as the first African-American to be crowned Miss Illinois Teen USA in the pageant’s 34-year existence.

“When they said my name, I was like, ‘Whoa! It’s me!’ I wasn’t expecting it, honestly. My reaction video isn’t that good because I didn’t know what to do. It set in a couple days after.”

But the magic of Bennett’s crowning was not lost in her composure.

After a walk up and down the stage, donning her shining crown, silky sash and bouquet of roses, another black contestant ran up to be the first to hug and congratulate Bennett. The exchange was an act of pure bliss and sisterhood.

“There were very few black girls competing,” said Bennett. “We were all close friends and talked about how it had to be the year for one of us to take it. No matter who, we wanted one of us to win.”

The excitement about the historic crowning didn’t stop there.

“We are so proud to have her as a winner this year,” said press relations manager Daryl Schabinger, who has been working with Miss Illinois Teen USA for the last 10 years. “She’s a beautiful and intelligent young lady.”

Sydni Dion Bennett, of Algonquin, is pictured being crowned in September at the Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant. She represented Chicago and is the first African-American winner in the pageant's 34-year history. (Daryl Schabinger /Miss Illinois Teen USA)

“It is absolutely fantastic that she was the first African-American to win this title,” said Randy Duncan, chair of the dance department at the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Duncan teaches Bennett two days a week at the performing and visual arts high school.

“A lot of time, if you don’t see someone who looks like you in any event, you may think, ‘I don’t belong.’ But (Bennett) had all the confidence in the world to go and compete, and it worked out for her. I’m so happy and thrilled about that. It’s great to break barriers,” he said.

Before the pageant weekend, Bennett wasn’t aware that a black girl had never won. Yet, she remained undeterred in her pursuit.

“I found out the night before the final show, actually. It made me want to fight harder and to win for all the black girls around, not just for myself,” she said. “I didn’t feel less about my ability to win because no black girl had done it; it put a drive in me rather than a doubt.”

She said she wants other African-American girls to know they can do it just as she did.

Bennett says her life experiences have been preparing her for the big day all along.

“I think a lot of girls go in to pageants feeling like they have to make the judges think they’re somebody they’re not. But I went in with ‘I’m me; this is who I am.’ Talking about my hands-on work with teaching and mentoring kids was easy because it’s my everyday life. I think that’s the thing that set me apart, being genuine.”

This was only Bennett’s second time competing in a pageant. She earned second runner-up in last year’s Miss Illinois Teen USA.

A halfhearted ‘yes’ got Bennett involved in pageants.

“My mom and I saw a previous winner on the news, and she asked me if pageantry was something I wanted to do. I said, Yes, like, oh, OK, whatever,’ but didn’t think she’d actually sign me up.”

“She should know me better than that by now,” chimed the teen’s mother from across the oversized coffee-shop table. “I go hard for my kids.”

After that first year, Bennett was hooked (although she admits she would’ve chosen a dance competition if it had fallen on the same weekend).

“I got there last year, and it was like, ‘Wow!’ Meeting so many different girls, they were all so nice. The weekend, in general, was so fun. I went into it this year with an open mind and just wanting to have fun again.”

“It was great to have her back and see how she’s grown the last 12 months,” said Schabinger. “She’s really blossomed. It was certainly her time to win.”

Her next time competing for a crown will be nationally, for Miss Teen USA. Vanbros and Associates, which runs the Illinois pageant and other state contests, will help get her ready.

While the date of the national pageant is yet to be announced (last year’s contestants found out a month before the show), preparation has already begun and looks a lot different.

“The company (Vanbros) gives all of their winners a whole prep team to make sure we’re well-rounded. We have a book list. I have to take the citizenship test, watch the news to stay up on everything. It’s not just walk in and compete. It’s serious now. It’s a lot, but I can handle it.”

Schabinger thinks so too.

“We’re counting on her to be the second (Illinois) winner ever at the national level. She exudes confidence and is very likable, and the judges will see that. We’re excited.”

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