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Three Qs: Chan's own Ms. Wheelchair USA is kicks off her year of advocacy

Eden Prairie News - 9/14/2017

When we last spoke with Sheri Melander-Smith of Chanhassen, she was in the midst of preparing for the Ms. Wheelchair America 2018 pageant in Erie, Pennsylvania, as Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota.

Her preparation paid off. On Aug. 20, Melander-Smith won the national crown. Contestants from 24 states competed for the title, in which contestants demonstrate their ability to advocate for people with disabilities across the nation.

Melander-Smith, who uses a wheelchair due to a spinal aneurysm, described her whirlwind week for contestants as a series of interviews, pageant workshops, appearances, and presentations of their platform speeches.

As Ms. Wheelchair America 2018, Melander-Smith will spend the next year traveling, empowering others with her platform, "Living Forward," speaking to the disability community, visiting advocacy groups, making public appearances, participating in parades, and giving interviews.

Melander-Smith, a former fashion model, is a visual artist, a volunteer in the disability community, helping individuals with disabilities live their best life, and the proud mother of son Oliver, in the United States Naval Academy.

Q: What was your competition week like?

A: Very busy filled with daily activities, even a visit to a children's hospital. We underwent three judging interviews with five judges, gave our platform speeches - what we would do during our year as Ms. Wheelchair USA. It was busy and overwhelmingly fun.

Q: Did you feel confident about your chances going into the pageant?

A: There were 25 women vying for the title. I was really surprised to have won; any one of the contestants could have. It's a group of well-spoken and accomplished women. Being crowned was a complete surprise to me. The interviews are based on a point system.

I came really well prepared. I thought about my marketing strategy, how I would represent 54 million Americans with disabilities, and what that would be like for me. That helped a lot.

Q: What's next?

A: I spent three days at the Minnesota State Fair in the Education Building at the Minnesota State Council on Disability booth where I distributed posters, did interviewed with the local news stations, and appeared in the parade. It was super busy and once I appeared on the news, people began to recognize me. I'll be in Boston, attending the Abilities Expo, then a conference for America Walks, then Hawaii where I'll visit a children's hospital and a rehabilitation center, then appearances in Pennsylvania, California, and Miami ... all before the end of October!

-Unsie Zuege

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