Du Quoin's Rachel Marks, mother of 2 and X-ray technician, wins Mrs. Illinois

DU QUOIN - Admitting that she was "super shocked" to hear her name called as the state's new Mrs. Illinois at a pageant held in Elgin last weekend, Rachel (Brock) Marks of Du Quoin was still trying to make sense of it all Monday night.

The soon-to-be 34-year-old mother of two beat out 10 other contestants to claim the title, and along with it, an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas in August, where Marks will compete for the title of Mrs. America.

A 2003 graduate of Du Quoin High School, Marks said she has been participating in pageants since she was a teen.

"I've always had a passion for competing," she said. "It takes a servant's heart and that's what I have. Not many women from Southern Illinois have competed over the years, but I wanted to represent our region. This is kind of a big deal to me. I will now get to know 52 other 'sisters' who will be competing for Mrs. America. I can't wait to spend a week in Las Vegas. I will enjoy being pampered, but more important, meeting the other contestants and making new friends for life."

Married for seven years, Rachel and her husband, Shawn, have two daughters - Roe, 4, and Bly, 1. Rachel works full time for Southern Illinois Healthcare as an X-ray technician at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Shawn is an engineer with IPG in Carbondale.