Miss America Autistic; Miss Montana Alexis Wineman First Autistic Pageant Contestant
Miss Montana Alexis Wineman is the first contestant in the history of Miss America that was diagnosed with autism.
The 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant is also the youngest contestant competing in this year's competition.
Wineman commented about her life as an unlikely beauty pageant contestant starting with her childhood.
"Growing up, all I wanted was to be normal. I just wanted to fit in with everyone else," Wineman said to Today about her feelings as a child. "Looking back, I realized it was a waste of time, because normal doesn't exist."
Wineman, who was diagnosed as autistic when she was 11, added, "If we could just accept people for their differences, it will make life for our children and for ourselves much, much easier."
She was also different from her competitors in that she did not spend her childhood as a beauty queen.
"I was the girl with the hoodies on. I never wore makeup all that much," she said. "I wasn't much into beauty at all - to be honest, I'm still not all that much."
Wineman first tried out for Miss Montana to see if she would like the pageant lifestyle in an effort to try a new life experience.
"It's been really fun to dress up and look nice."
Whether Wineman wins the title of Miss America or not, she plans on spreading autism awareness.
"Most people do not understand what autism is," Wineman explains in her contestant video, according to Fox News. "And one in 88 people having some form of autism -- this understanding is becoming more and more necessary."
The 2013 Miss America Competition will have a live stream broadcast from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday starting at 9:00 p.m. EST.
