Toms-Price has a designer in a national pageant! Jenny Valle, interior designer at Toms-Price Home Furnishings will be competing in the national Miss Globe U.S. 2017 pageant after being named Miss Globe Northern Illinois. The national pageant will take place September 21-24 in South Padre Island, Texas.
Twenty-six-year-old Jenny is from Arlington Heights and has participated in three other pageants. She says what she likes most about pageants is the camaraderie among the young women. It’s about “surrounding myself among positive role models who strive to make a difference.” Jenny studied Interior Architecture and Design Management at Columbia College. In the future, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in Green Building and Community Sustainability.
Jenny’s enthusiasm and positive attitude have made her a favorite colleague among the Toms-Price staff, who will be cheering her on from home while Jenny is at the national pageant. “Jenny is warm, charming and delightful to be around,” says Lorraine Schiller, an interior designer at Toms-Price in Lincolnshire. Another interior designer at Toms-Price’s Lincolnshire store, Marilyn Soraparo, describes Jenny as “kind, enthusiastic, talented, generous, vivacious and a go-getter.”
Each young woman in the pageant must have a platform and perform charity work. Jenny’s platform includes working with the American Institute of Architects to mentor young girls and women. She encourages them to pursue careers in fields which were traditionally male-dominated. These include architecture, science and engineering. Her charity work involves collecting school supplies to distribute to children in low income neighborhoods in Chicago.
The winner of the national pageant will represent the U.S. at the Miss Globe International Pageant which will take place in Beijing, China. It will be televised in 60 countries around the world, according to the pageant’s website. Contestants will be judged on appearance, poise, personality, communication skills, style, stage presence and goals. “Miss Globe U.S. Pageants allow young women like myself to be confident in who we are and be a role model for younger girls as well as give back to the community,” say Jenny.
Jenny enjoys working with the team of designers at Toms-Price and says the Toms-Price management, as well as co-workers, have been “beyond supportive” throughout her pageant journey. They have generously donated school supplies for needy kids. “I am very fortunate to work alongside passionate individuals who embrace and challenge each other,” says Jenny. And we feel lucky to have you among us, Jenny. Wishing you all the best at South Padre Island!
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Congratulations, Jenny! I was a teacher at Columbia College Chicago–not in design, though. But I know you have a great education and that should serve you very well on your way to winning and then competing in China. Good luck!!