Kelly Cruse, a 16 year cancer survivor, resides with her parents in Marion, IL. Kelly is an accomplished musician who plays saxophone, piano and guitar. Guitar is her favorite when it comes to music. She is working on her 2nd CD of original music. Kelly also sings with her youth praise and worship band. She has studied voice since she was 10 and has had 4 lead roles in musicals through local junior colleges.

Speaking is something that is not uncommon to this young lady. She is a spokesperson for an abstinence program in her home town. She also volunteers at the Shawnee Crisis Pregnancy Center once a week.

As if she needed something else to keep her busy, she recently returned to an "old love" of hers. "Hip Hop" Dance lessons are now something she is very excited about.

Kelly has quite a lot to sing and dance about. She was born with a very rare form of a neuroblastoma tumor. The doctors gave her a less than 10% chance of survival. She miraculously survived the surgery that removed the tumor as well as the re-occurrence of the tumor 8 months later. Although Kelly experienced many difficult circumstances early on in life, she has not allowed these things to keep her down. She believes that God uses our challenges to encourage and strengthen others.

Running and working out are also among Kelly's favorite things to do. Most of the time though, she just loves to hang out with her friends and family whom she is very close to. At the top of that list is spending time with her older sister, Annie, who is away at college.

Upon graduation in May 2005, Kelly plans to pursue a Masters degree in psychology. She hopes to work with women and teens in crisis intervention. In addition to this goal, she aspires to continue her interests in music, dance, theatre and writing.

For now though, she is quite anxious to represent our state in as many ways as possible. She will now prepare to compete for the national 2005 MISS TEEN USA pageant this summer to be aired LIVE on NBC television.