|
Meet Miss America 1999, Nicole Johnson |
|
|
"'Why me?' was a question I asked when I got diabetes, but the question I was most concerned with was 'How?'—how do I live with this illness and continue to pursue my goals? Exercise, proper nutrition, and insulin have allowed me to control my diabetes. Many times we don't have a choice of the obstacles we face—for some it may be illness, poverty, difficult family situations, trouble in school or other adversity. But we do have a choice in how we face these things—as problems that keep us down, or challenges that give us the opportunity to excel and surpass what we and others never thought was possible." - Nicole Johnson |
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia, but she grew up in Seminole, Florida Bachelor's degree: English from the University of South Florida (1996) Master's Degree: Journalism from Regent University (1998) Platform Issue: Diabetes Awareness Employment before Miss America: Writer and Producer for 700 Club promotions Career Ambition: National news anchor and national diabetes spokesperson In September, Nicole Johnson, 24, showed the country she had Girl Power! when she was crowned Miss America 1999. "My goodness, this doesn't seem real," Nicole said at a news conference held right after her victory. "I can't believe it." Being crowned Miss America seemed impossible to Nicole. When she was 19 she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that impairs the body's ability to use food properly. At one point Nicole became very sick. She couldn't keep any food in her body and started losing a lot of weight. Her vision became blurred and she became very tired. Nicole was forced to leave college and check into a hospital. It was there she learned that exercise, proper nutrition and insulin would help control her diabetes. Nicole had to give herself four insulin shots a day and was able to return to school. Luckily, a year and a half ago a small insulin pump replaced her four shots a day. The pump is hidden on her hip and contains a 3-day supply of insulin that is injected into the tissue under the skin and is absorbed into the bloodstream. She said the illness has made her a stronger person and she has been able to help others cope with diabetes. Insulin-dependent since the age of 19, Nicole has lobbied the US Congress for increased funding for national diabetes research. In her home state of Virginia, she assisted in passing diabetes-related legislation through her work with the Virginia Diabetes Legislative Coalition. Nicole is also a national spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. As Miss America and a national spokesperson and advocate for diabetes issues, Nicole travels approximately 20,000 miles a month, into a different city every other day, addressing diverse audiences about the critical need to make the early detection, prevention and cure of diabetes a national priority. She is on a national speaking tour entitled Diabetes in America: Unmasking the Hidden Killer. In her quest for the Miss America crown, Nicole was awarded more than $60,000 in scholarship assistance. In fact, the Miss America Organization is the single largest provider of scholarships for women in the world with scholarship assistance totaling more than $30 million in 1998. It is a non-profit corporation based in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Learn more about the Miss America OrganizationLearn more about diabetes |
