We are so pleased to announce our first titleholder, Isha Jog: Miss Mississippi Crown 2020!
We couldn't ask for a better titleholder to take on our first year together! Isha is driven, talented & has an incredibly beautiful heart. While our time together has been short, Nicole & I both are already over the moon for this amazing young woman. Isha has such a unique & diverse background in pageantry & life, which will make her a fabulous candidate for Miss Illinois in the 2.0 system. Miss America 2.0 is all about women with talent & brains -- which Isha has & then some.
Isha & her family live in Schaumburg, IL, but immigrated to the US from Nagpur, India when Isha was just 3 years old. She got her talent from her momma, who is a professional Kathak dancer & now runs a successful classical dance studio in Chicago. Isha has performed with her momma in multiple international tours. In fact, Isha holds a Guinness World Record for the most knee spins (one of the most difficult moves in Indian dance) in a minute! Along with her parents & younger brother, Ishan, Isha has visited 56 countries & 32 states! Isha is trilingual & currently learning a fourth language: American Sign Language.
Isha graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2017 with a degree in Advertising & Public Relations & minors in Marketing and Business Management. She currently works on the Talent Acquisition team at PepsiCo Chicago & has plans to continue her education by earning a PhD in Industrial & Organizational Psychology. Along with her work in business, Isha is an active volunteer in her community.
Isha's Social Initiative, Step Up to the Plate - Decreasing Food Insecurity in America, focuses on eliminating the poverty issue in America. Isha advocates for the food shortages Americans deal with on a daily basis - a reality which is often times overlooked in our fast-paced economy. Her work to provide basic necessities to Americans most in need is incredibly inspiring & has garnered the attention of her peers, educators & the local government. Isha's volunteer work is so inspirational that there is actually an "Isha Jog Day" celebrated the 2nd of June in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Isha is not new to the world of pageantry either. She's held multiple titles, including Distinguished Young Woman of Illinois - where she placed in the top 10 at Nationals & won the talent award, 1st runner up to Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen in 2012 & just last year was 2nd runner up to Miss Illinois & a preliminary talent winner. Isha is determined to move out the top 5 & taken home the job of Miss Illinois this year -- & we have no doubt she can absolutely accomplish that dream.
We as a board are so eager to continue learning about & working with this amazing woman. She will undoubtedly capture the heart of many in her year as Miss Mississippi Crown. Cheers to a fabulous beginning, Isha! We're so glad to have you as a part of our #MMCDreamTeam!
