Beauty Queen’s Focus: Ability, Not Disability

A daughter of a pig farmer, Abbey Curran has made the journey from farm girl to Miss Iowa 2008 with all the elements of a fairy tale.

Curran focused on a specific part of that storyline for students in District 204 on Wednesday morning. The St. Ambrose University senior, who was born with cerebral palsy, shared her story with about 75 Metea Valley High School special-needs students.

Curran told students she never expected to win the Miss Iowa pageant. The Kewanee, Ill., native entered the competition because she wanted “something awesome to tell my grandkids.”

But Curran almost didn’t compete. She feared she might fall during the competition because of her cerebral palsy. Even with an escort, she was concerned with the appearance of her walking.

“The point I’m trying to get to you is I almost didn’t get to live my dream because of the way I walk,” she said. “Anything is possible.”

Read more here: Beauty Queen’s Focus: Ability, Not Disability – Naperville, IL Patch.

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