JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Columbus native Marcecia Jenkins hopes to change the lives of and attitudes towards people with disabilities in Mississippi after winning a national beauty pageant in August.
The annual Miss Wheelchair Mississippi pageant recognizes the state’s best and most vocal advocate for people with disabilities. Jenkins won the title in February. The Miss Wheelchair Mississippi Foundation has set up a GoFundMe pageant to help raise funds for Jenkins’ work and to help her travel to the Miss Wheelchair USA pageant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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The GoFundMe was started by Rebecca Sentell, state foundation coordinator and board member for the national organization, who won the state championship in 2017 and believes Jenkins can make an impact in Mississippi and across the nation.
“It’s really important for people to know that just because we use a wheelchair to get around or hearing aids to get around because we’re deaf, that doesn’t mean we can’t be very valuable to society,” Sentell said.
Marcecia Jenkins works from home. Jenkins is quadriplegic and had a master’s degree, but struggled to find work. She faced discrimination before she could get a job, which led her to advocate for the statewide inclusion of adults with disabilities in the workforce.
“I’m going to travel and I’m going to take that message wherever I go,” Jenkins said. “Any room I can get in, any table I can sit at, I’m going to do it.”
Sentell was born with spina bifida, which means her spine did not form properly, and Jenkins was injured by a reckless driver when she was 16. Jenkins’ injury, which occurred during her senior year of high school, has impacted many children and adults in her life.
“My disability is like a lottery. Today it could be me and tomorrow it could be you, all because of someone else’s mistake or a simple mistake that happens within seconds,” Jenkins said.
Marsetia Jenkins poses for a photo (Courtesy of Marsetia Jenkins)
Marsetia Jenkins and others posing for a photo (Courtesy of Marsetia Jenkins)
Marcetia Jenkins poses for a photo (Courtesy of Rebecca Sentell)
Miss Wheelchair America’s mission is to provide opportunities for success for women who use wheelchairs and to educate and advocate for the more than 64 million Americans living with a disability, and with her title, Jenkins aims to accomplish just that beyond Mississippi.
“I feel like my purpose and hard work and dedication is paying off,” Jenkins said.
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Regardless of who wins the national championship, Sentell and others respect Jenkins’ advocacy for people with disabilities in Mississippi.
“My relationship with Marcesia is very strong, and I know we will remain lifelong friends even after her title year ends at the next tournament,” Sentell said.