Dr. Chris Baek, PharmD ’00, and Allison Baek Become First Mother-Daughter Duo To Be Crowned Mrs. Illinois America And Miss Illinois For America
Dr. Chris Baek, PharmD '00, and her daughter, Allison Baek, have made history by becoming the first mother-daughter duo to compete and win the titles of Mrs. Illinois America and Miss Illinois for America together.
“This title is a testament that anyone who sets her mind on a goal can achieve it through hard work, diligence, and faith,” Dr. Chris Baek said. “Last year, when I turned 50 years old, I decided to enter the Mrs. Illinois pageant and trained hard to be the best I could be. I also showcased my life of service over the decades to my family, community, and needy children around the globe. I’m proud to have been selected to represent married women and will use this year to serve Illinois.”
Dr. Chris Baek is a Medical Science Liaison Communications Lead at Janssen Pharmaceuticals – a company of Johnson & Johnson – a former school teacher at Glenview’s Winkelman Elementary, and mother of two who just celebrated her 27th wedding anniversary. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from UIC College of Pharmacy, a Master of Arts in Education from Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois.
A native of South Korea, Dr. Baek immigrated to the United States with her family when she was three years old. Shortly after entering school, she was diagnosed with selective mutism and several learning disabilities and had experienced much hardship growing up. As a result, she developed a heart for needy children and has spent the past 12 years working with and sponsoring orphan children of Snehalaya in Guwahati, India. Snehalaya, meaning “House of Love,” is a social service program of Don Bosco Society for the care, protection, and ultimate social reintegration of children in distress.
Allison Baek is currently pursuing her theatre degree at the University of Southern California. It wasn’t until she returned to her hometown of Des Plaines due to COVID-19 that she considered participating in the pageant alongside her mom.
“Being Miss for America is an enormous honor for me because I am able to connect with many people from all walks of life and make an impact in my community through my passion for serving,” Allison Baek said. “It's really fun being able to do this with my mom because we get to share these experiences together,” said Allison Baek.