Mikayla Holmgren was born premmie, having her chord wrapped around her neck, her doctors said that she would never walk or talk. But seeing her today, she is determined, confident and exudes happiness! She is the first woman with Down Syndrome to run in a state Miss USA pageant. She wasn't successful in 2020, but looks back on it with suck joy and admiration, and is back in the running in 2021. She has taken her capabilities and brought joy and levity to the pageant world. After her run for Miss Minnesota, she decided to enter Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, after starting to model from an early age. Her success and achievements are supported by her mum and family, they have given her the love and opportunity to model and enter pageants, never letting her disability stop her.
Sandi is the most incredible mother, who finds such joy and pride in watching Mikayla on stage. Sandi acknowledges that she had wonderful women around her to help embrace Mikayla's abilities. She also didn't realise that the pageant Mikayla had entered was in fact the Miss USA pageant, assuming that due to Mikayla disability, they wouldn't take her on. Mikayla never gave up and never wanted to quit, learning to walk in heels, and learning dance routines.
Backstage, what was really inspiring, Mikayla was lifting them up and encouraging them through their disappointments. She brings her smile to every stage she's on and when she has a setback she says, "there's always next year."
We are waiting for the results of this year's pageant to see how Mikayla will do in the Miss USA pageant.
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