Ms. Wheelchair USA
A Program of Accomplishment and Advocacy for Women With Disabilities
Jul 31, 2008
In early 2005, Lowery Lockard started the Ms. Wheelchair USA program. “After being involved with the Miss Wheelchair America program [for a number of years], I believed that there should be a program that was more diverse, celebrating women's accomplishments AND the fact that they were women, wheelchairs or not,” Lockard says of why she founded the program.
Lockard and the other creators of the program spent many years working with women with disabilities to develop a program that would celebrate the accomplishments of women in wheelchairs, as well as their unique contributions to society and the richness of their lives. As with Ms. Wheelchair America, the USA pageant does not emphasize the physical beauty of the contestants. In an email interview, Lockard explained, “There is no ‘emphasis’ on women's physical appearance other than we expect that all women, those who use and don't use wheelchairs, should radiate confidence in who they are and what they stand for.” She goes on to say that this kind of confidence does lend itself to a certain type of beauty. “While we do not place points on ‘beauty’ as [in] a typical beauty pageant, we do place points on confidence, strength, and [sense of] self worth...part of that is certainly shown in the time a lady takes to take care of herself, chose her clothing, etc. to show her confidence.”
The major difference between the two pageants is that the Ms. Wheelchair USA is open to all women who use wheelchairs. Contestants must utilize a wheelchair or scooter for the majority of their daily mobility, not necessarily 100%. The Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant does not discriminate against women who may be able to use their legs. There is also no age limit for contestants in the USA pageant.
The two-day event will include fun activities for the contestants, personal interviews with the judges, dinner with the mayor of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and other city officials, pageant rehearsals and workshops. The contestants will also set up state displays, make up scrapbooks telling about themselves and give gifts representing their states to their fellow competitors.
The pageant itself will consist of an opening production number, onstage interviews, platform speeches, an eveningwear competition and the crowning of the 2008 Ms. Wheelchair USA. Awards will also be given for Ms. Congeniality and Ms. Photogenic, among other honors.
While the Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant does not include all 50 states at this early stage of its development – there will be just six competitors in this year’s national pageant – the women that are participating are excited and relish the opportunity they have been given.
Jessica McFarlane, Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania, found out about the program through a newspaper article her father gave her. She contacted the producers of the pageant, sent in an essay (there were no pageants at the state level this year) and the rest is history. She is participating in the pageant because she likes trying new things and educating people about disabilities. McFarlane is also competing in the pageant as a way to “inspire others who use wheelchairs to compete.”
Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin, Monica KamalRossa, also found out about the program by accident, through a fluke Internet search after a friend mentioned it in passing. Unlike McFarlane, KamalRossa had never competed in Ms. Wheelchair America. During her reign, KamalRossa started the Madison Spinal Cord Injury group as one of her projects. She hopes ”to accomplish continued awareness on disability and ability and ‘standing’ issues no matter if I win or not.”
Tickets for the pageant are on sale now. Visit the Ms. Wheelchair USA website for more information.
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