WMBD News is excited to announce the launch of this year’s Remarkable Women of Central Illinois initiative — and we’d love your help recognizing the extraordinary women who make our communities stronger every day.

Nominate Here: https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/remarkable-women-2026/#//.

From across the country, 125 remarkable women will be selected for their compassion, accomplishments, and dedication to others — and one of those honorees will be chosen right here from Central Illinois!

Each nominee will be celebrated in March 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, where she’ll experience:
• VIP treatment at the National Celebration Event, including round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation
• Recognition in national and local media, including digital and social features
• Potential inclusion in a national television program airing on The CW Network, NewsNation, and Nexstar stations across the country

To further amplify their impact, Nexstar Media Group will also make donations to the nonprofits these women champion:
• $1,000 cash donation to each of the 125 nominees’ selected 501(c)(3) organization
• $5,000 cash donation for each of five (5) Regional Finalists’ selected nonprofit, along with a national media package valued at $125,000
• $25,000 cash donation for the National Remarkable Woman of the Year’s selected nonprofit, plus a national media package valued at $250,000

 

All 125 nominees will be honored at a red-carpet awards ceremony in Nashville, where one will be named Nexstar’s National Remarkable Woman of the Year.

We hope you’ll join WMBD-TV, WYZZ, and CIProud.com in celebrating the women who make Central Illinois such a remarkable place to live, work, and thrive.