Ms. Wheelchair USA Pageant Marks 30th Year With Return to Cuyahoga Falls

Cuyahoga Falls will host the Ms. Wheelchair USA Pageant this month as the organization celebrates its 30th anniversary. The event runs July 13 through July 20 at Walsh Jesuit Theater. A National Program With Local Roots The pageant began in 1996 as an Ohio only competition before expanding into a national program. Today it draws contestants with disabilities from across the country, along with a companion Miss Teen Wheelchair USA division added in 2024. Women who use any mobility device or prosthetic are eligible to compete, and there is no upper age limit for the Ms. division. Teen contestants must be between 13 and 17. This year’s celebration carries extra weight locally. The Dane Foundation, the Cuyahoga Falls based nonprofit that has presented the pageant since 2006, is marking its own 20th anniversary. The foundation supports individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and serves as the organization’s presenting sponsor. What Happens During the Week Contestants spend the week in Northeast Ohio taking part in press appearances, rehearsals and community events. Competition categories include private interview, evening wear, onstage interviews, and platform and marketing statement presentations. The eventual winner receives a prize package along with a booking and management contract to support her work promoting the organization and the foundation. Reigning titleholder Amy Simonson, 29, of Milton, Delaware, became the first contestant from her state to win the national crown last year. Her platform, “Change the Face of Beauty,” centers on a national photo exhibit built from free photoshoots she offers to families with a child or parent who has a disability. Emmy Rabalais, 17, of Louisiana, holds the Miss Teen Wheelchair USA title as the first winner in that division’s history. Mission Beyond the Crown The Ms. Wheelchair USA organization describes its focus as promoting glamour, self confidence and community service while celebrating the accomplishments of women with disabilities. The group operates under CEO and Executive Producer Dr. Lowery D. Lockard and organizes its work around four national platforms: boundless playgrounds, media representation, accessible travel and conceptual beauty. Beyond the pageant itself, the organization runs a series of year round programs, including the EmpowerAbility Workshop Series, the FashionAbility adaptive fashion show, and a photography and art initiative called Limitless Creations. A documentary short film and docuseries titled “A Different Kind of Crown” is currently in production, following contestants through the competition and beyond. More information on the pageant and the Dane Foundation is available through the Ms. Wheelchair USA organization.