January 17, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me… Kaitlyn Hess

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 facts about themselves. This week we spoke to St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Kaitlyn Hess, the 2019 Miss IDTA Solo Grand Champion.

1. The name of my first pets were Belle and Sasha.

2. I started dancing when I was three and I started competing when I was five.

3. I can dance to any song, when I hear a song the dance moves just kind of come to me.

4. New York is my favorite place to go to but my favorite dance competitions places would be Collinsville, Peoria, Unity, and Springfield.

5. I always take my Christmas blanket with me to competitions.

6. I want to open up a dance studio with my sister.

7. It was unbelievable (to win a state title) I was in shock, I love dancing and seeing how it paid off and I got to achieve my dream was unreal.

8. Right now my state title trophy on my kitchen counter but I am going to move it to the desk in my room.

9. Grey’s Anatomy or This Is Us is my favorite show but my favorite dance show would be So You Think You Can Dance.


10. My favorite part of dance is being able to express my emotions and show everyone who I am. Dance is a part of me and I love being able to show that side of myself to people, I think it helps them understand me better.

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