Talk about inspiring. Australian Justine Clark is the the first ever wheelchair-bound contestant to compete in the Miss World Pageant.
According to CNN, the 26-year-old competed on Sunday, February 19 in the Miss World Australia South Australian State Final. Although she was not able to advance to the next stage of the competition, she could still progress to the nationwide final through the Beauty with a Purpose campaign, which raises money for local charities.
Clark's participation in the pageant nevertheless set the stage particularly for young girls with physical deformities. Crown or no crown, all Clark wanted to prove was that there is anything is possible despite physical limitations.
"For somebody in a wheelchair to be able to compete is a big thing," Clark said to, a local Australian newspaper. "I really hope it sends a message that no matter what your race, size or disability - whatever makes you different - you are beautiful."
Clark has been wheelchair-bound for two years now. The aspiring beauty queen, however, declined to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding her present physical condition. She stated in the newspaper, "I don't really want to go in to what happened, but I want to be a role model and empower young women."
According to Yahoo News, Clark's disability only affects her right leg, but because she is not strong enough to walk on her left leg alone, she uses a wheelchair to get around. "I'm in the wheelchair, that's not going to change, it's a part of me now", she said. "I'd rather talk about my goals, what I"m going to do in the future, what I'm going to do for Variety (children's charity) and try to keep a positive note because that was not a very good time in my life."
The Miss World national director Deborah Miller also said Miss Clark's involvement in the pageant showed that "beauty comes in all forms". "I think Justine is incredibly inspirational, actually, and she really embodies what Miss World is all about," Miller said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
