Miss Illinois USA 2012, Ashley Hooks, poses for fashion photographer Fadil Berisha at the "Gardens of Goddess" photo shoot at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino pool. Miss USA 2012 Contestants will spend the next 2 weeks touring, filming, rehearsing, and making new friends while she prepares to compete for the coveted Miss USA Diamond Nexus Labs Crown. Tune in to the LIVE NBC Telecast at 9:00 PM on June 3, 2011 to see who will win the title of Miss USA® 2012.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Images Courtesy of Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss Illinois USA 2012, Ashley Hooks; Miss Michigan USA 2012, Kristen Samantha Danyal; and Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012
Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012.
Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; Miss Illinois USA 2012, Ashley Hooks; and Miss Michigan USA 2012, Kristen Samantha Danyal; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012.
Images Courtesy of Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP
Miss Illinois USA 2012, Ashley Hooks; Miss Michigan USA 2012, Kristen Samantha Danyal; and Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012 Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Miss Oklahoma USA 2012, Lauren Taylor Lundeen; Miss Illinois USA 2012, Ashley Hooks; and Miss Michigan USA 2012, Kristen Samantha Danyal; at a photo shoot for the Miss USA 2012 pageant at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 20, 2012. 
Ashley Hooks currently works full-time as the special legal projects manager for the State of Illinois’ Department of Central Management Services. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 and plans to attend graduate school to study public policy and business administration. She plans to pursue a career in public service and to expand her modeling career.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning, Ashley moved to Albany, New York to work as a community organizer with Citizen Action of New York. She was involved in many issue-oriented political campaigns but was most passionately devoted to causes supporting quality education for all children. In September 2009, Ashley returned to the Chicago area to help run her father’s election campaign for Cook County Circuit Court Judge. As campaign manager, she was the ultimate voice on all campaign field operations, and she takes great pride in her father’s victory.
Ashley’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2011 and is currently fighting the disease. Ashley is excited to use her title to advocate for her mother and the millions of other women who are affected by cancer.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning, Ashley moved to Albany, New York to work as a community organizer with Citizen Action of New York. She was involved in many issue-oriented political campaigns but was most passionately devoted to causes supporting quality education for all children. In September 2009, Ashley returned to the Chicago area to help run her father’s election campaign for Cook County Circuit Court Judge. As campaign manager, she was the ultimate voice on all campaign field operations, and she takes great pride in her father’s victory.
Ashley’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2011 and is currently fighting the disease. Ashley is excited to use her title to advocate for her mother and the millions of other women who are affected by cancer.
" I have never wanted to live an ordinary life. Miss USA encompasses the extraordinary – the grace and style under fire, the beauty and substance, and the tenacity to make it all come together – and I am grateful to have the opportunity to take part in this journey and to compete for the chance of a lifetime! "
1 Ashley loves using Pinterest because it helps her find fashion, home decoration, and food ideas that she wouldn’t think of on her own.
2 Growing up, Ashley wanted to be a pediatrician, but she quickly discovered that she did not like hospitals.
3 Ashley loves French fries. They are her all-time favorite food
2 Growing up, Ashley wanted to be a pediatrician, but she quickly discovered that she did not like hospitals.
3 Ashley loves French fries. They are her all-time favorite food
Ashley Hooks graduated from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) in 2008 as a presidential scholar where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning. As a student, she was involved in a number of community and social action activities and fundraising activities that raised awareness of, and provided monies to, various social causes. Upon graduation, she accepted a community organizing position in Albany, NY, with Citizen Action of New York. As a CANY organizer, she was involved in many issue- and political-related campaigns. She was most passionately involved and devoted to causes supporting quality education for all children. In her free time, Ashley volunteered with Equinox, an after-school program geared to inner-city youth in Albany.
Ashley's father was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill a Cook County Circuit Court judicial vacancy in August 2008. At his request, Ashley returned home to run his judicial campaign and to prepare him for the February 2010 primaries. As Campaign Manager for the Committee to Elect, she was the ultimate voice on all campaign field operations. It will always be a source of pride that she helped her father win his election.
When Ashley is not busy with work, family, pageant preparation, and friends, she continues to find time to volunteer and seek additional ways to help the community. She has volunteered her time by assisting Goodcity Chicago, whose mission is to identify and then support high potential community-based entrepreneurs seeking to create or enhance neighborhood and faith-based programs, and Hales Franciscan High School in their strategic planning initiatives. She also enjoys volunteering with Chicago Cares for their large community service events and running 5Ks in support of various causes. This year, as a State of Illinois Central Management Services employee, she was active in organizing CMS-hosted events for the State and University Employees Combined Appeal, a State of Illinois program for which state employees raise money to give to several different Illinois-based charities, including the Chili Cook-off and the Charity Basketball Tournament. She is proud to say that she even played in all three of the CMS games and scored!
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