Miss Minnesota USA Pageant Features First Contestant With Down Syndrome

Mikayla Holmgren just became the first woman with down syndrome to compete in the Miss USA state competition, and she won two awards!

By austind03 on November 27, 2017

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Mikayla Holmgren just broke some major boundaries in the pageant world!

According to Cosmopolitan, Holmgren became the first woman with Down Syndrome to compete in the Miss USA state competition.

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Thank you Ksana and Jodi for supporting me!! 💕@dancinghippo27 @wowfactorsports @brenda.torre @hairgodandrew

A post shared by Mikayla Holmgren (@mikholmgren_inspiring_others) on Nov 25, 2017 at 10:37pm PST

While she’d previously won the Minnesota Miss Amazing pageant (a pageant created for woman with special needs), Mikayla decided she wanted to try competing in the official Miss Minnesota Pageant too.

She didn’t take home the crown, but she did win the Spirit of Miss USA Award and the Director’s Award.

As Denise Wallace Heitkamp, executive state director of the pageant, explained when Holmgren won the Spirit Award:

“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. You have selflessness, humility, and the ability to overcome obstacles with a smile on your face and excitement in your heart.”

Congratulations Mikayla, you deserve it!

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People’s Choice Voting is open. Go to the link and vote for me!! It is $1 per vote and money goes to Smile Train. www.missminnesotausa.com/mn-contestants-miss.html?v=1.1 and share it with others!! #dreamingbigwithoutlimits #downsyndromebeauty #inclusion #becauseican #missminnesotahereicome #voteformikayla

A post shared by Mikayla Holmgren (@mikholmgren_inspiring_others) on Nov 21, 2017 at 2:25pm PST

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