Mikayla Holmgren has made history, as the first woman with Down syndrome to compete in a Miss USA pageant.
The 22-year-old student wasn't crowned Miss Minnesota at the event, but did walk away with two awards - the Spirit of Miss USA Award and the Director's Award.
Holmgren, of Stillwater, Minnesota, has competed in pageants before, but the Miss USA competition was a huge step up.
"I was super shocked, I was in tears," she told BuzzFeed News.
"I went from a special-needs pageant to the biggest pageant in the world. It's kind of crazy."
Holmgren's Facebook page describes her as a "young lady with Down syndrome who has a passion for dancing and loves to express herself through her dancing".
She's studying at Bethel University, where she's also an intern at the university's child care centre.
Denise Wallace Heitkamp, a Miss USA executive, told Holmgren she "exudes the spirit of Miss USA", as she presented her with the Spirit Award.
"You make people smile every time you talk, cheer, smile and dance," Heitkamp said.
"You have selflessness, humility and the ability to overcome obstacles, with a smile on your face and excitement in your heart."
Last year, the Miss Minnesota pageant also made history, when Halima Aden became the first woman to compete wearing a hijab throughout the competition and a burkini during the swimsuit round.
Newshub.
