Newly crowned Miss Idaho Sierra Sandison brought a new accessory to the beauty pageant circuits, by wearing her insulin pump on display during the swimsuit round.
The 20-year said she was encouraged by one of the pageant’s directors, who met her to see which community platform service she would be advocating:
"Since we were at lunch, I had to give myself a shot, and when she saw the shot, the director said, 'Oh my goodness you're a diabetic.' Then proceeded to tell me about Nicole Johnson, who was Miss America in 1999. She actually wore her insulin pump on stage. That gave me the confidence to get one, when I first heard about Nicole."
The model, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2012, added that she felt inspired by seeing the former Miss America recognised as beautiful while wearing her pump, and told
E! News:
“She not only overcame it, but used it to serve others. It really inspired me."
Sandison decided to wear the pump attached to her bikini bottoms and although she worried the judges might mark against her, she admits that a number of people thought she had actually brought her mobile phone out on stage.
Sierra’s image has since gone viral online, with the young woman saying she hopes it can open the beauty debate:
"I think one of the biggest problems is the media gives us a one-dimensional look on beauty. What I really want people to know is whatever our differences are, it does make you look beautiful. It makes you look unique, and should be celebrated, rather than thought of as a flaw.
"I don't think we can escape what the media describes as beauty, but I'd like to contribute to the diversity of beauty in the media."
