Miss Massachusettes has beaten the odds..
I recently found this article about Charlotte Papp, National American Miss Massachusetes 2011. Charlotte begin competing in pageants when she was in 7th grade and is now a Communications Studies major at The College of Wooster. However, when Charlotte was years old, she was diagnosed with Traposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). The survival rate is less than 8% and for those who do recover are often left with a range of health issues including ADHD and speech impediments...and playing sports are usually not an option.
However, it was pageants where Charlotte found an arena where she was able to challange herself, develop a platform that was meaningful to her, and give back. Through pageantry, she has developed "Have A Heart." Through this organization she collects books and stuffed animals to donate to local children's hospitals recovering from the same therapy and surgery she once had to undergo.
How perfect her own platform tied in with the National American Miss Books & Bears Community Involvement Program.
