Jennifer Curtis, 27, from Nashville, is working on a dream and needs a little help to get there. Jennifer has cerebral palsy and has already proved you can achieve almost anything if you are willing to work hard for it. She graduated from Maple Valley High School in 2008 and earned an Associate’s degree from Lansing Community College.
Jennifer works full time for Peckham in Lansing as a call center agent for the Defense Logistics Agency, taking phone calls from military and government personnel, helping them order their supplies. She lives on a small hobby farm near Nashville with her parents.
Jennifer Curtis
Jennifer is seeking donations to try to raise $1,500 by July 25 so she can compete in the National Miss You Can Do It Pageant on July 30 at the Civic Center in Peoria, IL.
The Miss You Can Do It Pageant is for girls and women with various disabilities. Jennifer hopes to compete in the People's Choice Awards category with the goal of winning the title.
She is collecting funds through Gofundme or by gifts to her home address.
Gofundme’s website is: https://www.gofundme.com/2bb73r77. Her address is 10581 East M-79, Nashville, MI 49073. Checks can be made payable to Jennifer Curtis. //
Jennifer has a psychiatric service dog Icey, a 5-year-old whippet, who helps her handle anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder, and would travel to the pageant with her.
“She and I have been working together for almost a year. She has allowed me to find independence to achieve dreams like traveling by myself or overcome anxiety of being at the pageant and competing.”
The contestants compete in Private Interview, Casual Wear, Formal Wear, On Stage Question, People’s Choice Awards, Congeniality or Photogenic competitions. On pageant day, each girl gets to feel like a princess, getting hair and make-up done before the pageant, meeting Disney’s Cinderella, receiving cool gift bags and being escorted onto the stage by gentlemen in tuxedos, she said.
If she wins? She wants to be a keynote speaker to mentor and encourage other individuals, with and without disabilities, to reach for their dreams. “If you have a dream that you truly want to achieve there is almost always a way to accomplish your goals if you work hard enough,” she said. Winning 2016 Miss You Can Do It would open up many doors to her, putting her in the position to be a keynote speaker.
If she loses? “Losing is always very hard whether it’s in a pageant, sports competition or a job interview. This year will be my fourth year competing in the pageant and I have not won yet. After each pageant I have taken time to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses to help me find that extra spark that will push me to the top next year. After having experienced three previous pageants, I believe that 2016 will be my best year yet.”
