Woman With Down Syndrome Makes History In Miss USA State Pageant

November 28, 2017

A young woman with Down syndrome has become the first woman with the disability to compete in the Miss USA state pageant.

down sydnrome miss america USA contestant
Mikayla Holmgren / Future Productions, LLC

Mikayla Holmgren, 22, was a contestant in Miss Minnesota on Sunday. She didn't win the crown, but she took home the spirit of Miss USA award and the director's award — which recognizes a young woman that is a standout in the pageant.

"It's really fun," she said. "As I do more pageants and I'm really proud of myself ... this is my dream," Mikayla told KSTP.

Mikayla has previously competed in junior pageants and was crowned Miss Minnesota Junior Miss Amazing in 2015.

"I'm really good at them because it's my passion," she said.

down sydnrome miss USA america contestant
Future Productions, LLC

The audience gave Mikayla a standing ovation when she accepted the awards.

"Anybody that spends even five minutes with her knows that she is the right person to be the first to represent a community of people that need to see themselves doing something like this," said the competition's executive director Denise Wallace.


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoCouple Rescues Prairie Dog From Their Dog's Mouth, Then Decides To Adopt It

feel good storiesMy Girlfriend Gifted Me My Father’s Handwriting To Keep Forever

feel good storiesWe Can’t Stop Looking At These Adorable Baby Loon Photos Taken On A Lake

feel good storiesThis Couple Built A Grass Patch For Their Cat, And She’s Obsessed With It

feel good storiesThis All-Black ‘Goth House’ In Indiana Is Going Viral. Wait Until You See The Inside

feel good storiesMeet Igor: The Fluffy Poltergeist Dog With The Most Unhinged Adoption Bio Ever

feel good videoBaby Elephant’s Trunk Steals The Show In Adorable Treat Time Video

feel good videoWhat Happens When A Man With A Hose Meets A Group of Kids? Pure Magic

feel good videoChicken Or Pigeon? The Internet Can’t Believe This Bird Is Real

feel good videoMom Surprises 4-Year-Old Son With First Apartment After 14 Months In Homeless Shelter

feel good videoBear Vs. Sprinkler: Hilarious Garden Moment Caught On Camera

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me