Many little girls dream of growing up and walking across the Miss America stage, as a pageant girl. It is not strange to find a little girl dreaming to do this one day, and surely enough that was one of Jessica Patterson’s  wishes when she was a young girl.

This was all potentially ruined for her when a car accident that occurred during her high school career left her paraplegic, in a wheelchair. Jessica (Jessica Wilkinson at the time) graduated from Weedsport in 2005, but instead of walking across the stage, she proudly wheeled across.

Jessica went on to college at Morrisville State where she experienced the real world as a young woman in a wheelchair. “Although I have had my ups and downs as a disabled woman, everything has made me stronger and forced me to become the independent and lighthearted person I am today. I always remember to keep in mind that there are those in the world who are worse off than myself and that I must cherish the life I have,”  said Jessica.

She has not let anything get in her way, especially not her dream to be a pageant girl. Jessica was named Ms. Wheelchair NY 2013, and will be going to California in August to compete for the  Ms. Wheelchair America title.

Through any hardships, an individual needs their supporters. Jessica had hers, and they helped her overcome her challenges, she said “When I was in high school, all of the staff were so supportive after my accident. They didn’t only teach me how to adapt to life in a wheelchair, but also welcomed me back into school with open arms,” Jessica also added. “A few teachers still stick out in my mind to this very day.”

She specifically mentioned Miss Leonardi (TL), and Mrs. Austin. TL made her feel just like any of the other students, making it possible for her to be a part of the different school activities, such as school parades, and even went out of her way to make it possible for Jessica to attend the Washington DC trip. Mrs. Austin was like a mother to Jessica, she said “I will never forget her tears as she read my senior research paper about spinal cord injury, and how she told me how much my paper meant to her.” Along with those two specific teachers, Jessica said the entire school was very supportive of her.

Along with her support at school, Jessica’s main supporters were her two best friends, Katie Sperduti-McCarthy and Holly Giacolone, her three sisters Christina Wilkinson, Nadine Wilkinson-Wiese and Sandy Vertz, her husband of four years Jason Patterson, and most importantly, her parents Dan and Dow Pacholyk. She thanks her friends and family greatly for all of their support, and help.

Despite having been through so much, Jessica still finds it in her heart to be a strong individual. Her inspiration coming from her passion to help children. She chose a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist. “Every week I volunteer in the pediatric units at Golisano Children’s Hospital where I am able to teach children about disability, independence and about what it is like to be a child in the hospital,” said Jessica.

Just recently she dressed up as Snow White, and volunteered at a WalkAbout at Eastview Mall in Rochester. This event gave disabled children the chance to trick-or-treat in a safe environment that would be accessible to them. “Helping children has been such a special inspiration in my life, and I hope that I have also been an inspiration in theirs as well,” added Jessica.

 When Jessica applied for Ms. Wheelchair NY 2013, she wanted to simply be an inspiration to other girls. “I feel as though I can be an inspiration to little girls both able bodied and disabled everywhere and show them that you don’t have to be magazine model perfect to be beautiful,” said Jessica. To her surprise she was given the title, and the chance to move on to another pageant in August 2014.

The pageant process is a very tough, but also very fun process according to Jessica. There is a panel of judges, and they ask you a series of questions during two 20-minute interviews. After these interviews, the contestants, are asked about both political and personal topics on stage in front of the audience. When all of the questions have been asked, each contestant gets to give a speech.

“I spoke about the importance of independence for disabled individuals, as well as how I have accomplished my own independence over the past ten years,” said Jessica. These pageants are not all about wearing the long gown, and the sash, there is much more to them. “The pageant is focused not on a talent you possess or how beautiful you are, but rather your accomplishments, advocacy, volunteering, achievements and how you present yourself as a woman who lives everyday in a wheelchair.”

It is clear that Jessica has been through a lot in her life, and it has helped her to be the incredibly strong woman that she is. I asked Jessica if she would ever go back, and change something in her life, and she said “I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. Yes, I was injured severely and it has taken me years to overcome the many obstacles that have been put in my way. However, what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. I would not change anything about my life because it has made me the strongest woman I can possibly be and encouraged me to cherish the  life I have. Fate is fate and I have turned my tragedy into triumph.”

Jessica is very confident with who she is, but naturally, it did take some time for her to accept, and adapt, to her new life. The entire reason she is doing what she is, and is working so hard for these pageants is to help others. “To be perfectly honest, when I first became paraplegic I thought no one would ever want to love me and that I could never be as beautiful as those women who walked the Miss. America stage. It has been a struggle to get to where I am today physically, mentally and emotionally. But I have overcome the social idea of beauty and surpassed the lowest level of self-confidence that I used to have of myself. I have dedicated my life to changing the media’s idea of beauty in a disabled woman, by putting forth my best efforts to show the world that we too are beautiful inside and out.”