Miss Iowa pageant winner missing left forearm, to speak about disabilities

FoxNews.com ^ | 6/10/2013

[RoosterRedux]

After a grueling three-day competition, Nicole Kelly was named Miss Iowa on Saturday. The 23-year-old will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant, where she will speak about the importance of overcoming disabilities.

Kelly was born without her left forearm, according to her biography on MissIowa.com.

“As I grew up I learned to counterbalance the initial stares I received from people with an outgoing personality that would not give into ‘no,’” she writes on the Iowa pageant site. “This means that I tried everything. From baseball, to dance, to diving - there is nothing I would not try. I found my passion within a world where I was giving people permission to stare: the stage.”

[RoosterRedux]

Will a smile like that, who needs forearms.

[RoosterRedux]

With, not will.

That said, only linesmen need forearms. And she's never gonna make it as a linesman.

[rarestia]

Wow! Forearm? I didn’t... forearm?

[Perdogg]

The headline could be read as if the forearm was going speak about disabilities,.

[RoosterRedux]

what spirit - more than me I think.

Somehow, I doubt that.;-)

[RinaseaofDs]

Forewarned, is forearm- . . .

. . . oh, sorry.

[RoosterRedux]

Misleading isn’t it.

[Huskrrrr]

That’s an Iowan for you!

[fwdude]

Yes, kudos to her spirit. But this PC cr@pola is going too far.

This smacks of those schools who give every participant a medal.

[RoosterRedux]

I'd like to feel small like a pup curled up on the couch next to her. Purely Biblical you understand.

She just exudes good and kind spirit...and easy strength.

God works in mysterious ways. In fact, He almost always works mysteriously.

[RoosterRedux]

Relax and take a long gaze into her eyes. She is not winning because the judges want to be kind.

She is winning because the judges don't even see her supposed disability.

She is a simply a winner...

[GeorgeWashingtonsGhost]

Wait ‘til you see her play the piano!

[MWestMom]

I’ve known two women with the same issue, no forearm as a result of a birth defect. One was my mother’s good friend and the other my sister-in-law’s grandmother. Both were spunky, independent, marvelous women with a fabulous sense of humor. They both were raised by families that didn’t allow the difference to interfere with their expectations. They both also, had great smiles.

[fwdude]

Wrong. She’s getting the sympathy vote.

And she’ll probably win Miss America for the same reason.

These pageants aren’t what they used to be - they’re pretty much a joke now. Twenty-five years ago, this woman wouldn’t stand a chance of winning. And rightfully so.

[ken in texas]

Pretty tasteless remark from someone that clings to religion (at least according to your tagline).

[fwdude]

Wait ‘til you see her play the piano!

There are actually compositions for one hand. And they are complex and daunting pieces.

[mlizzy]

Pretty tasteless remark ...

Ditto!