GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Ms. Wheelchair Michigan has officially crowned its winner for the state-wide competition, and the title goes to a Detroit resident.
Jamie Junior has used a wheelchair since she was a girl due to being born with cerebral palsy.
“I feel validated as an advocate and as a woman,” said Junior about the win.
She works at the Disability Network of Wayne County, but as Ms. Wheelchair Michigan of 2023, she'll now be the next spokeswoman for people with disabilities across the state.
Her advocacy platform and focus for this year is financial empowerment and stability for people with disabilities, especially in the areas of housing and transportation.
She'll also compete in the national competition for the Ms. Wheelchair America title in August 2023 in Grand Rapids.
When it comes to encouraging others to compete if they're unsure, she says, "You should do it, because it raises your confidence and lets you know what you are capable of."
Tami David from Muskegon and Kristy Stratton-Sagraves from Caledonia also participated in the event.
The event was previously rescheduled after canceling over three weeks ago due to the ongoing winter weather in West Michigan. The decision was made to protect and ensure the safety of their participants and guests.
The state-wide competition took place Dec. 11 and is to be hosted by Mary Free Bed, after its original slated date Nov. 20.
Mr. Wheelchair Michigan is an advocacy-based competition that provides a platform for women to grow in leadership, advocacy and education.
Mary Free Bed took over the competition during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking the national competition virtual in 2021 after it was canceled back in 2020. The 2022 competition returned to being in-person.
For more information or to ask any questions, you can reach out to president of Ms. Wheelchair Michigan Shelly Loose at michigan@mswheelchairamerica.org or 616-540-3774.
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