For this article, I wanted to do a throwback and talk about when I was Miss Mauldin Teen USA. Last year around the end of May, I told myself I wanted to stay out of my comfort zone and do something that a person with a disability wouldn’t normally do. I decided to enter the Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageant.

I wrote an email to the pageant explaining how I wanted to enter this pageant to show society that people with disabilities can be on the same stage with abled body people. The organization called me and gave me more information about the pageant. That’s when they said I could be Miss Mauldin Teen USA.

Throughout the time of being that title, I was able to talk at many events and have my story heard by thousands of people. Many people with disabilities spoke to me and explaining to me how I gave them hope to follow their dreams. Many parents told me I gave them hope for their child with a disability future.

The pageant was held in North Charleston, South Carolina. The first night of the pageant was amazing. At first, I was nervous about going on stage because there were so many people looking at me. Then when I realized that I was actually making history by being the first disabled girl to compete in the Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageant, I gave it my all.

The swimsuit competition was my favorite because I felt like a Victoria Secret model in my swimsuit. I was having so much fun during the competition. The girls I met were so amazing and nice. They were supporting what I was doing and actually treated me as if they knew me for years! I was so happy knowing I made such wonderful friends.

The next day was the actual competition to see who wins. I didn’t win the crown but I did win Miss Congeniality. That award to me is the best because it represents what I wanted to do which to show the world that yes, I am disabled but I am beautiful just the way I am.

After the pageant, I realized that I wanted to continue with my platform because that experience made me realized why God gave me my disability. It wasn’t as bad thing after all. It was so proving society wrong and breaking down stereotypes against people with disabilities. I proved all the people who bullied me wrong. I showed everyone who doubted me wrong through this pageant.

I have many dreams and goals I want to come true and I believe it will with the faith I have. I know it will be a challenge because some people don’t have the same vision and creative mind like I do but I know there is someone out there in the world who will and will want to help me to get my goal which is to be a supermodel!

I can’t wait until the day I am because I know it will inspire a child that they can do anything they want in life and they are beautiful just the way they are.

No matter what you have in life or what’s going on, you can do anything you set your mind to do! Just have faith in yourself.