Possible Clues:

• The Italian applied sun oil to create a false impression
• Sick individual working to embrace America's fantasy
• False vision or mirage (8)
• False image like mirage
• False idea or conjuring trick
• Fancy I'll get tiny part, touring America
• Sleight of hand
• Something a person wrongly believes to exist
• Were I to leave Illinois for university, it might create a false impression
• Sun oil I'll for the most part reapply? Not true!