A woman with Down syndrome has been showered with praise and accolades after becoming the first person with the condition to compete in a Miss USA State pageant.
Mikayla Holmgren, 22, from Stillwater, Minnesota, stole the show this weekend as she took to the Ames Center’s stage in Burnsville as a contestent for the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant.
The blonde beauty not only made history at the event, but also walked away with the Spirit of Miss USA Award and the Director’s Award after a standing ovation from the audience.
Big moment: Mikayla Holmgren, center, accepts the Spirit Award during the 2018 Miss Minnesota USA after becoming the first woman with Down syndrome to compete
Blazing a trail: The 22-year-old is seen chatting backstage with fellow competitors before the start of the contest in Burnsville
‘You make people smile every time you talk, cheer, smile, and dance. You exude the spirit of Miss USA by always being true to yourself and putting others first,’ executive state director Denise Wallace Heitkamp, told Mikayla as she presented the Spirit Award.
‘You have selflessness, humility, and the ability to overcome obstacles with a smile on your face and excitement in your heart.’
The Bethel University student wore a stunning floor-length blue gown and wiped away tears as she accepted the awards.
Mikayla got her start on the stage by taking up dancing at the age of just six years old, and came to the attention of the Miss Minnesota organizers after winning Minnesota Miss Amazing, a pageant for women with disabilities, in 2015.
All smiles: The young woman was overcome with emotion as she took to the stage in a sweeping blue gown
Megawatt smile: Mikayla won Minnesota Miss Amazing, a pageant for women with disabilities, in 2015
Working up: She received a letter in the mail about the Miss Minnesota pageant and proceeding to ‘bug’ her mother for days to let her enter
Right on: The organizers called her back immediately, saying that they wanted Mikayla to be apart of the event
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, Mikayla’s mom Sandi Holmgren described the moment her daughter received a letter about Miss Minnesota and wouldn’t let up on the idea for days.
‘I wrote that she had Down syndrome and thought they would pass her by but they decided they wanted her to be a part of it,’ she said.
‘I didn’t realize it was part of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageant and it took me a few weeks to realize the enormity of it and what a big deal it was for her to be in.’
On her way: Mikayla is seen working with beauty pageant coach Wendi Russo back in May
Rising star: Mikayla’s appearance saw numerous other women with Down syndrome to come watch her take the stage
Next steps: Mikayla was praised for ‘always being true to yourself and putting others first’
Big steps: The Miss Minnesota pageant broke through barriers last year with semi-finalist Halima Aden (left), the first to compete in a hijab – inspiring others to do the same this year
Her inclusion turned out to be not only a big deal for Mikayla herself, but also for other young women with Down syndrome, many of whom showed up with their parents to see the young beauty take the stage.
Although the crown of Miss Minnesota went to Kalie Wright, of Eagle Bend, Mikayla plans to continue inspiring others by competing in pageants in the future.
It’s the second year in a row that the Miss Minnesota state pageant has seen a ‘first’ with last year’s semi-finalist Halima Aden becoming the first woman to wear a hijab and burkini during competition.
Several other muslim women followed Halima’s example at this year’s event.