March 24, 2006
March 24, 2006
Rebecca Crosby was all smiles and a wave as she won
the Ms. Wheelchair Florida Pageant in St. Petersburg.
» Ms.
Wheelchair Florida Bold Advocate
Rebecca
Crosby is comfortable discussing why she uses a wheelchair and she wants you
to be as well. In fact, it's part of her job as Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2006, a
title she won on Jan. 21 at the Ms. Wheelchair Florida Pageant in St.
Petersburg. For 30 years, the pageants have helped promote issues that affect
women in wheelchairs. Contestants are judged on their interest and ability in
being an advocate for women who use wheelchairs. Crosby, 26, is a South Fort
Myers resident currently studying for a master's degree in social work at the
University of Central Florida in Orlando. She has cerebral palsy, a condition
caused by a lack of oxygen before birth that causes parts of the brain to die.
Crosby decided on social work after briefly considering a career in
journalism. "As a journalist, you can't express your opinion until you
are really established," Crosby said. "There is more of a focus on
selling than on helping people, which is what I want to do."
Crosby has an active life. In addition to being a scholar, she currently
interns at a substance-abuse treatment facility. She has supportive friends
for whom she expresses gratitude. However, she finds exercise a challenge and
is trying weight lifting and yoga that is geared towards the disabled.
"I don't think of myself as bound to a wheelchair," Crosby said.
"I find it's more proactive to say that I am a wheelchair user. It's a
positive thing, allowing me freedom. So, I prefer the term, but it doesn't
define me. And there's no reason people shouldn't feel free discussing
this." Possibly, Crosby was helped in developing her attitude by her mom,
Kathy Cassidy. "We never thought of her as disabled, only abled, that's
how we raised her to do the best and most."
According to Crosby, societal attitudes that restrict discussion on the
subject of the handicapped, supposedly for their benefit, are actually
counterproductive to the advancement of their cause. "As an advocate you
have to put yourself out there," Crosby said. "It's about not being
afraid to go out and make friends and to have people to ask questions that
maybe they think are offensive."
The Ms. Wheelchair Florida pageants are held under the auspices of the Ms.
Wheelchair America organization, a nonprofit group for the promotion of the
needs and achievements of women with disabilities. There were several sections to the Ms. Wheelchair Florida
pageant, which is not a beauty contest although there is a sash and a
crowning.
First, there were three 10-minute judging sessions that were held offstage.
Three judges asked Crosby what she was like as a person, how she perceived
herself as an advocate and how she would handle the logistics of being an
advocate.
These
question and answer sessions were followed by speeches by disability advocates
and entertainment consisting of a dance troupe called the Asher Dance
Eclectic. They performed a choreographed routine involving persons on several
levels of disability.
Following this, there was an onstage portion where Crosby and the other
contestants fielded questions before an audience. This is where Crosby felt
that she shined. She earned a laugh about how medical care for the disabled
could be improved. "In gynecological offices, get lower tables and better
equipment — warm it up, man!" she said.
She
guesses her boldness may have convinced judges she is just the one to address
sensitive issues. Crosby will be required to do a minimum of six to eight
public appearances. These should include two schools, two hospitals, and two
legislatures. In order to cover expenses, Crosby needs to find sponsors. She
expects to meet with members of the Legislature in Tallahassee but is angling
for a meeting with Gov. Jeb Bush to promote the concerns of the disabled.
She's going on March 26-27 with a UCF class for Social Work Lobby Day.
» NBC ANNOUNCES MISS USA TELEVISION HOSTS
NBC
announced Thursday
that “Access Hollywood's” Nancy O'Dell and “Dancing With The Star’s”
cycle two winner Drew Lachey will host the Miss USA 2006 Pageant telecast live
from Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, April 21st, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.
This
year marks the 55th anniversary of both the Miss USA and Miss Universe
competitions and for the first time ever Carson Kressley – author,
style expert and star of Bravo’s “Queer Eye” – will
serve as commentator for the Miss USA 2006 pageant. In his role as pageant
commentator, Kressley will enhance the broadcast with his commentary, on
everything from the ladies gowns
and their beauty looks
to their on-stage presentation.
» Miss Orange County Teen USA Runs 5K for Charity
Miss
Florida USA Family:
I
ran my 5K today, it was an early 4:45 wakeup call but worth every second! and
yes, I finished. I also had my sister Kayla and her friend Amber run with me,
and YES they finished too! My little sister Sydney will never forgive me for
not waking her up, but she’s in the next run!
It was really awesome. I met a baby girl who was just 11 months old and found out she was a liver transplant recipient. She had her transplant at just 4 months old. I also met Tripp Schwenk; he's an Olympic Gold medallist and Silver medallist who is also a kidney transplant recipient. His story is AMAZING also!
Carissa Grazel Miss Orange County USA 2007; Tripp Schwenk (Olympic Gold/Silver Medallist) and Miss Milner on the winner's stage (left) Kayla, Amber and I after the 5K (right)
I
watched people currently on Dialysis out there running, this is AMAZING in
itself since I remember my Uncle Chris being on dialysis and could not drink
because the water had nowhere to go. Can you imagine, running a 5K and not
being able to drink a lot of water after words. Can you just imagine what
these families and these awesome people have conquered? I always knew I had a
hero living with me, my Uncle, but, today, I met 100 more!
Sincerely;
Brooke
Milner
Miss Orange County USA 2007
» Pageant News Wanted!
Are you a titleholder or at large delegate who is making appearances or doing good things in the community? We would love to tell all of the Miss Florida USA Family your story. Send pictures and updates to telair@aol.com as we feature everything Miss Florida USA on Friday’s at Faces & Places.
»
Alumni News Wanted!
If you know of any Miss Florida USA alumni in the news please drop us an email to feature them in future articles. Email all info to info@missfloridausa.com! Until next week here to good pageantry!
PICTURE OF THE WEEK!
How about this? A Chinese man uses his eyelids to pull a vehicle carrying
7 Guangxi contestants from the Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant 2006 and a 400 kg (62 stones)
pot made of stone in Xing'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, March 18th.
He
pulled 3 tons (428 stones) in total but his biggest feat was being named Picture
of The Week!
Recent Editions:
