5 Minutes With 'Miss Palos Park' Dana Bezanis

PALOS PARK — A Palos Park woman and Stagg and Sandburg alumna hopes to bring greater awareness for spinal cord injuries as she makes her third run for Miss USA. Dana Bezanis, 23, was crowned Miss Palos Park and will be competing against women from towns across the state for the Miss Illinois USA 2020 title, which is held Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 in Braden Auditorium on the Illinois State University campus in Bloomington, IL. The winner will represent Illinois in the Miss USA pageant next spring, which will be broadcast on the Fox Network.

In 2008, Dana's family was dealt a devastating blow that changed the trajectory of their lives forever, when her brother, Nikolas, broke his neck in a diving accident, rendering him a quadriplegic. The community rallied around her family to help save their rental home from foreclosure, which her father customized to accommodate her brother's daily needs. In January 2017, local businesses helped the family raise $250,000 to buy the home outright.

Patch: This is your third time competing in the Miss USA pageant. What has surprised you most about being a beauty pageant contestant?

DANA: I was 16 years old when I first competed in Miss Illinois Teen USA. I was surprised by how much I loved the experience.

Patch: What do you hope to accomplish by competing?

DANA: My brother, Nikolas, was injured in a diving accident. He suffered a spinal cord and brain injuries. He is paralyzed from the shoulders down. I have a second job as one of his caretakers. A big part of my wanting to become Miss Illinois USA is to represent people of this state that helped my family in the most difficult of times.

Patch: How has your brother’s injury impacted your family?

DANA: That’s a big question. It was my second day of seventh grade. I got a phone call that my brother had an accident and made it to the hospital before my mom. The doctor came up to me, a little seventh-grader, to tell me that Nikolas had a 50/50 chance of living. It all happened so fast and takes on the family and everyday lifestyle. It has been a struggle, but we got lucky because we got to keep him. He makes us laugh every day. We all worked through it together as a family. It has opened my eyes to the health care challenges families face when a member suffers a catastrophic injury. That’s why I chose a route in healthcare marketing. Doctors can focus on health care, I focus on their business.

Patch: Where did you go to school?

DANA: I grew up in Palos Park. I went to Palos South Elementary School. I attended Stagg High School my first two years, where I was a varsity cheerleader. In the middle of high school I went to live with an aunt while my parents focused on caring for my brother and graduated from Sandburg High School. I was on the pons and Orchesis dance teams. I graduated from Illinois State University in May 2018.

Patch: What’s involved to compete in the Miss Illinois USA pageant?

DANA: The whole point of the pageant is to help build confidence and create platforms where you can be powerful. There are three areas of competition, including the interview, evening gown and fitness. The interview is for the judges to get to know the women and hear their stories. You need to be intelligent, informed and a role model.

The swimsuit is being comfortable with fitness. Living a healthy lifestyle is a big factor. The evening gown competition focuses on stage presence and a woman’s confidence, talking to people and getting out of your comfort zone.

Patch: What kind of questions do judges ask during the interview?

DANA: The judges ask questions like what your goals are, what are you trying to accomplish and how you’re working toward your goals. What makes you feel confidently beautiful and staying true to yourself, what is your biggest accomplishment. On the Miss USA level the questions get more political, such as what are your thoughts on gun control, what frightens you about society, what would you like to see changed for women in this day and age.

Patch: Tell me about your volunteer work?

DANA: I did some volunteer marketing for the Abilities Expo social media platform. It’s for anyone with a disability and their family. A lot of the attendees have spinal cord disabilities. Companies show the latest technology for the disabled. I helped out with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois hosting a golf outing.

I volunteer for Teen Smile. It’s a chance for dentists to get together and offer free dental care for children.

Patch: What have you gained from competing in the Miss USA program?

DANA: I walked away with more confidence in myself with paths to many new opportunities. I got a college scholarship, and made friends that I still have to this day. You meet so amazing woman. Everyone is so kind, it’s a good networking activity.

You can support Dana Bezanis’ journey through goodluck wishes or a business ad in the official Miss Illinois USA program. Ads can be used as an advertising expense for tax purposes, along with the complimentary option for marketing through Dana’s social media platforms. For more information, contact Dana by email at dbezanis96@gmail.com or call 708-448-4011.