San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 08, 2015
Last year, Emma Farrington’s mother attended her adoptive daughter’s stage premiere in her high school’s musical. While excitedly waiting for her daughter to perform, she overheard a group of teenagers say “I heard there are two retards in this show.” Mrs. Farrington shared this terrible story of Emma’s experience with the volunteers at the Miss Unlimited Pageant held last year at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Emma read a speech about her disability, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and how that disability is entirely preventable. She continued by defiantly letting the audience know she wants to be a spokeswoman to help educate pregnant mothers, and followed this with a song she sang while accompanying herself on the guitar. After the thunderous applause, genuine praise, and accolades given to her by the volunteers, staff, and friends, Emma was a new woman.
The encouragement, love, and friendship Emma experienced in the pageant created a new woman– filled with confidence and radiance. This is the mission of the Miss Unlimited Pageant. Emma will be back this year to dedicate a song to the police force, to encourage harmony and love for the people who protect us. She is dedicating this song to SF Police Chief Greg Suhr whose encouragement moved her so much last year that she has been practicing for months to perform as an alumni at this year’s pageant.
On May 9th, the newly founded Miss Unlimited Foundation will be hosting the 2nd Annual Pageant for girls with disabilities. The event celebrates the inner and outer beauty of everyone – the participants, volunteers, families, and community.
Born out of lunch conversations with her students, Ms. Wynn, who founded the event and organized the first pageant last year, said she was inspired to organize this after watching the HBO documentary “Miss You Can Do It.” Guest judges included First Lady of San Francisco Anita Lee, Miss California Nicole Johnson (and the future Mrs. Michael Phelps), NBC Meteorologist Christina Loren, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, KPIX Broadcaster Da Lin, and Executive Director of the James S. Grady Therapeutic Riding Program Sarah Meakin.
This year Christina Loren will be back to host, and new judges include poet and activist Azure Antoinette, Miss West Coast Natalie Duvalsaint, Deputy Chief Garret Tom, District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, and Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Petri.
The program will include a dance number by Oakland based Dance Group AXIS Dance, which includes dancers with disabilities.