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Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

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“I want to be able to show others what inclusion is all about, that someone with special needs can go after their dreams.”

Those are the words of Mikayla Holmgren, a 22-year-old from Stillwater, Minnesota who’s just made history by becoming the first person with Down Syndrome to compete in a Miss USA state pageant. Not only that but she proudly returned with not one but two awards: the Spirit of Miss USA Award, and the Director’s Award! “I was super shocked, I was in tears,” she said. “I went from a special needs pageant to the biggest pageant in the world. It’s kind of crazy.”

Mikayla is no stranger to performing in front of crowds, having been dancing since the age of six, but the Miss USA state pageant was by far her biggest challenge yet. When she’s not stealing the show at beauty pageants, Mikayla is an ambassador for Best Buddies, a non-profit organization aimed at enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Mikayla is such an incredible and accomplished young woman,” said Denise Wallace, executive co-director of Miss Minnesota USA. “She is the epitome of what the Miss Universe Organization strives to look for in contestants.”

More info: Instagram

“I want to show others what inclusion is all about, that someone with special needs can go after their dreams”

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Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

Those are the words of Mikayla Holmgren, a 22-year-old from Stillwater, Minnesota

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

She’s just made history by becoming the first person with Down Syndrome to compete in a Miss USA state pageant

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

She also came home with not one but two awards!

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

“I went from a special needs pageant to the biggest pageant in the world. It’s kind of crazy”

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

“I was super shocked, I was in tears”

ADVERTISEMENT

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

Mikayla is no stranger to performing in front of crowds, having been dancing since the age of six

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

ADVERTISEMENT

She’s also an ambassador for Best Buddies, an organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

“Mikayla is such an incredible young woman,” said the executive co-director of Miss Minnesota USA

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

“She is the epitome of what the Miss Universe Organization strives to look for in contestants”

Woman With Down Syndrome Competes In A Miss USA State Pageant For The First Time In History And Her Smile Says It All

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What do you think ?

SJ_Panda_love 6 years ago

If you know someone who suffers from Down Syndrome, then you only know how difficult the life of that person is, that said, the intensity varies from person to person. I worked in a day care where they used to teach kids with down syndrome, believe me the people suffering from this disorder, are most nicest person on earth. They don't know feelings of hatred or jealousy, they have their moments of anger but nothing to be alarmed of. This girl just took my heart away, I cannot even imagine the amount of patience / hard work must be invested by parents/doctors of this girl to prepare her for this stage as usually OP are very shy. Go Girl! This world is a stage and now its all yours!

26points

Rowan James 6 years ago

Totally not patronizing at all, I'm glad you know people who SUFFER from this disorder and THANK you so much for educating me that no one with down syndrome feels hate or jealousy, ever. And yes her parents must be the real heroes cos they must invested so much time and care and love ... rather than just bring up there daughter. Thanks again 😁

5points

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Pamela 6 years ago

You can tell she is such a beautiful person inside and out.

19points

Juan Alcorta 6 years ago

I don´t really get the point of beauty contests, and even worse, why competing in them. You might get a "she´s prettier than you " and you´ll have to deal with it. If you feel you´ve been discriminated or bullied because of beauty parameters, don’t compete for beauty. Perhaps you won´t get the crown, or perhaps you will, making other contestants feel less pretty. It´s bad anyhow you look at it.

15points

7j6eqi 6 years ago

You are using an accent as apostrophe, it looks really weird. :P But I agree with your statement.

4points

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SJ_Panda_love 6 years ago

If you know someone who suffers from Down Syndrome, then you only know how difficult the life of that person is, that said, the intensity varies from person to person. I worked in a day care where they used to teach kids with down syndrome, believe me the people suffering from this disorder, are most nicest person on earth. They don't know feelings of hatred or jealousy, they have their moments of anger but nothing to be alarmed of. This girl just took my heart away, I cannot even imagine the amount of patience / hard work must be invested by parents/doctors of this girl to prepare her for this stage as usually OP are very shy. Go Girl! This world is a stage and now its all yours!

26points

Rowan James 6 years ago

Totally not patronizing at all, I'm glad you know people who SUFFER from this disorder and THANK you so much for educating me that no one with down syndrome feels hate or jealousy, ever. And yes her parents must be the real heroes cos they must invested so much time and care and love ... rather than just bring up there daughter. Thanks again 😁

5points

Load More Replies...

Pamela 6 years ago

You can tell she is such a beautiful person inside and out.

19points

Juan Alcorta 6 years ago

I don´t really get the point of beauty contests, and even worse, why competing in them. You might get a "she´s prettier than you " and you´ll have to deal with it. If you feel you´ve been discriminated or bullied because of beauty parameters, don’t compete for beauty. Perhaps you won´t get the crown, or perhaps you will, making other contestants feel less pretty. It´s bad anyhow you look at it.

15points

7j6eqi 6 years ago

You are using an accent as apostrophe, it looks really weird. :P But I agree with your statement.

4points

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