Woman with Down Syndrome Competes in Miss Minnesota Beauty Pageant

Mikayla Holmgren, 22, talked to ABC affiliate KSTP in Minnesota about beauty pageants, stating, “I’m really good at them because it’s my passion.”

What makes Mikayla’s statement so special is the fact that she has down syndrome and is the first woman ever with the condition to compete in a Miss USA state pageant.

The 22-year-old has competed in many pageants before and was previously crowned Miss Minnesota Junior Miss Amazing back in 2015.

Discussing Mikayla’s entry into the pageant and her presence, competition executive director Denise Wallace said, “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.”

This is not the first time we have seen someone within the community making waves in the media. Fans of American Horror Story are familiar with actress Jamie Brewer, who has been featured on four seasons of the show so far. Brewer, who has down syndrome, has also made strides for those with the condition even on the runway as she walked at New York Fashion Week back in 2015.

We congratulate Mikayla and all those with down syndrome following their passions and dreams every day.