Former Miss Illinois Advocates for Organ Donation

Jessica Tilton, a medical student, uses her platform to raise awareness about organ donation.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:04pm

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Jessica Tilton, a 2026 Remarkable Women nominee and former Miss Illinois, is using her platform to advocate for organ donation. As a medical student at Southern Illinois University, Tilton is an ambassador for the Gift of Hope organization and part of the NephSIM honorary cohort by the National Kidney Foundation. She was also the first woman to compete in the Miss Illinois pageant using color guard as her talent, and she taught ciLiving host Jaclyn Friedlander some beginner color guard skills.

Why it matters

Organ donation is a critical issue, with over 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Tilton's advocacy work and unique pageant talent help raise awareness about this important cause and inspire others to consider becoming organ donors.

The details

Tilton, a medical student at Southern Illinois University, is using her platform as a former Miss Illinois to advocate for organ donation. She is an ambassador for the Gift of Hope organization and part of the NephSIM honorary cohort by the National Kidney Foundation, both of which focus on increasing organ donation. Tilton was also the first woman to compete in the Miss Illinois pageant using color guard as her talent, and she taught ciLiving host Jaclyn Friedlander some beginner color guard skills during her appearance on the show.

  • Tilton was crowned Miss Illinois in 2023.
  • Tilton is a 2026 Remarkable Women nominee.

The players

Jessica Tilton

A medical student at Southern Illinois University and former Miss Illinois, who is an advocate for organ donation.

Gift of Hope

An organization that focuses on increasing organ donation.

National Kidney Foundation

An organization that runs the NephSIM honorary cohort, which Tilton is a part of.

Jaclyn Friedlander

The host of ciLiving, a local television program, who interviewed Tilton.

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The takeaway

Tilton's advocacy work and unique pageant talent help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and inspire others to consider becoming organ donors.