As an avid dancer for much of her 14 years, Orland Park’s Julia Yock loves the contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and ballet choreography that has propelled her to success, including becoming Miss Teen Illinois International 2025.

But along with physical stamina, dancing and competing can require mental endurance as well.

So her platform for the Miss Teen International contest is “Dance with Ambition: For Mind, Body & Health.”

Since being accepted into the pageant, she’s been busy practicing for interviews, the walk on stage, and her overall demeanor at the competition, which is July 24-25 in Kingsport, Tennessee.

“I’ve been a dancer my whole life and I’ve really seen through the whole experience — and especially doing it competitively — it’s a lot on your body physically and mentally,” said Julia, who focused mainly on ballet and jazz in her earlier years.

Though Julia has been participating in pageants since age 11, she got a boost last year as Miss Teen Greece International, when her mom joined in on the fun as Mrs. Greece International 2024.

“It was really exciting because it was the first time I ever did anything like that,” said Jennifer Yock, her mom. “We had a really fun time doing it together.”

Julia said though she hasn’t experienced any mental health issues, she knows emotional challenges are more prevalent than ever. She’s an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness South Suburbs, as well as Dancing for Dancers and I’m a Dancer Against Cancer, supporting organizations through fundraising.

“Dancing really helped me mentally, it’s a great way for me to express myself or be myself,” said Julia.

She wanted to represent Illinois for the current contest partly because she enjoys Chicago and the Midwest, finding the people here “kind, outgoing and passionate.”

“The Chicago area has really good food too,” she added.

Julia also participates in cheerleading and enjoys scrapbooking. Her favorite subject at St. Michael School in Orland Park was science. She’ll start in the fall at Marist High School in Chicago.

The mom/daughter team also cares about their heritage, which is why they wanted to participate in the 2024 contest focusing on Greece.

“I loved learning about my heritage,” said Julia. “I was able to travel to Greece and I learned a lot about my family, where they were from (Athens) and the country and culture.”

But their participation together was what made the experience even better. They both learned pageants are about more than just beauty.

“I’m so proud of her,” Yock said. “I didn’t know anything about the pageant systems but when I found out it was a great way for young girls to learn communication skills, interview skills, become confident in themselves. … That’s the reason I got my daughter into this. As a mom, I have seen Julia grow so much in her confidence, people skills and communication.”

Another element of the process has been face-to-face practice, important in an age where social media and texting rule.

Julia said all the practicing for pageants has made a difference. She was accustomed to performing because of her dancing and cheerleading but interviewing was something new.

“I wasn’t able to speak very well in front of people, I wasn’t confident,” said Julia. “But I feel the pageants have really helped me with that and helped me grow my confidence in interviewing.”

The social element of pageants has been a perk too.

“I really like meeting all the girls there because a lot of them are from different states and countries,” said Julia. “I’ve made a lot of friends, too.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.