Mikayla Holmgren, Woman With Down Syndrome, Competes for Miss Minnesota

Update: On Sunday, November 26, Mikayla Holmgren won the “Spirit of Miss USA” title as part of Minnesota’s Miss USA pageant.

Mikayla Holmgren is an exceptional young woman. The 22-year-old dancer is a student at Bethel University who’s educated Minnesota’s House and Senate about Down syndrome, and now, Holmgren is competing to be the next Miss Minnesota, hoping to represent her home state.

“I applied to the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant not knowing if I would be accepted. And, that is all I want…to be accepted,” Holmgren wrote on a GoFundMe page to help her raise the $4,000 she needs for the competition. According to KARE, Holmgreen will be the first person with Down syndrome to compete for the title of Miss Minnesota and Miss USA.

The Miss Minnesota competition, the prequel to Miss USA, isn’t Holmgren’s first pageant. In 2015, Holmgren won Minnesota’s Junior Miss Amazing pageant.

“I want to do this. My mom is so freaked out but I want to do this,” Holmgreen told KARE.

Holmgren is currently preparing for the November competition, which features three segments – evening wear, swimsuit, and an interview.

“I want the world to know that Down syndrome does not define me,” Holmgren wrote. “With your help, I can help break through walls.”