Mount Vernon candidate competes for Ms. Wheelchair Ohio at Grand Hotel

The Ms. Wheelchair Ohio annual state competition returns to Mount Vernon for a second year in a row at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 12.

The Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Organization will hold the crowning ceremony in the banquet hall at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel. Doors open to the public at 4:30 p.m., with no entry fee.

The four contestants are Kelly Berger of Cincinnati, Allison Boot of Beavercreek, Elizabeth Brassell of Wickliffe and Breanna Hayes of Mount Vernon.

Competitors will give speeches on their chosen platforms. The current Ms. Wheelchair Ohio will bid farewell before Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023 is crowned.

The event is not a beauty pageant. Three judges will evaluate the women based on their accomplishments, communication skills and self-perception during their private interviews, platform speech presentations and on-stage questions.

Justin Luvv, Columbus radio personality at Power 106.3 and 107.5, and Cincinnati’s The Wiz, will be the master of ceremonies.

The competition selects the most qualified candidate to represent and advocate for the Ohio disabled community. She will travel and share passions with business, government officials and the general public across the state. In August, she will have the opportunity to attend the national competition for Ms. Wheelchair America.

The Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Organization is an advocacy and education-based organization that raises awareness about disabilities, the barriers people with disabilities face and the accomplishments of women wheelchair users.

The candidates who are not chosen will act as ambassadors for the organization. During the day, the competitors will also attend educational workshops about the first Ms. Wheelchair Ohio/Ms. Wheelchair America representative, a former titleholder’s reign and goalsetting to assist in their advocacy journeys.

Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022, Krista Allison of Berea, will pass on her crown but remain involved in the organization as a co-ambassador coordinator. She will help mentor future advocates by hosting monthly virtual workshops for MWOH’s ambassadors to better their skills and compete in future events.

For more information about the organization, events, donations and sponsorships, contact Laura Sykes via email at MsWheelchairOH2020@Outlook.com or visit MsWheelchairOH.org.