Miss Lake County Illinois State 2025

Darby Leetch

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​Hello Lake County! I'm Darby Leetch, honored to be your Miss Lake County of Round Lake Area 2025.

I'm a rising senior at Carmel Catholic High School, where I’m actively involved in the dance team, Orchesis, St. Scenes, Shadow Day Leader, Student Ambassador, various honor societies, and the Environmental Club. Outside of school, I also compete in cheerleading and dance, perform in summer shows and Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America, and enjoy reading, sewing, and traveling.

Pageants have always been a significant part of my life, with past titles including Tiny Miss Round Lake Area (2011), Little Miss Round Lake Area (2014), Little Miss Lake County (2015), Junior Miss Round Lake Area (2021), and Miss Round Lake Area (2024). These experiences helped me develop my platform, Fostering Confidence. This initiative focuses on supporting children in foster care, who often face instability, uncertainty, and lack of resources. My mission is to provide them with essential items and a sense of dignity and hope, including duffel bags filled with necessities, while raising awareness and empowering them to feel confident about their futures.

​This cause is deeply personal to me. When I was younger, I had a teammate named Maya, who grew up in foster care. Hearing her share the struggles of moving from home to home and carrying her belongings in a garbage bag deeply impacted me. She felt disposable, and I vowed to do whatever I could to ensure no child in foster care ever felt that way again. Since being crowned, I've worked hard to expand my platform. I organized a packing event that resulted in over 100 duffel bags being distributed 60 to a group home and 50 to individual children. Additionally, I’ve partnered with my community, gathering donations of hygiene kits and books to add comfort to the bags. Beyond material support, I’ve spent time directly working with foster children in a Chicago group home, where I helped run summer camps and organized birthday parties to celebrate them. These experiences remind me that Fostering Confidence is not just about providing resources—it’s about showing these children that they are seen, valued, and deserving of joy. As Miss Lake County of Round Lake Area 2025, I’m excited to expand my efforts and bring more hope and support to children in foster care.