KENOSHA, Wis. — Eleven-year-old Jackson Thomas is not only Mr. Sweetheart America, he’s also Mr. Kenosha and Mr. Wisconsin.
He competed in the Sweethearts of America national competition and won the hearts of judges and audiences alike.
What you need to know: Jackson Thomas has both autism and ADHD.
He said he doesn’t let obstacles get in the way of success.
Jackson Thomas participated in the pageant and was crowned Mr. Sweetheart America.
“I think the best part was meeting new people,” Jackson Thomas said. “It was fun and we had a good time.”
His mother, Autumn Thomas, said it was a huge achievement for her son, who has both autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
“It’s not easy,” Autumn Thomas said. “The lights were flashing. I could see him counting and breathing. He had a great partner who was just breathing. It was something he wanted to do. I was amazed. I was like, ‘I can walk out the door any time.'”
Jackson Thomas said she took part in the competition to shine a light on people with disabilities.
“I wanted to achieve this goal because I wanted to show kids with different needs that they can do anything if they put their mind to it,” Jackson Thomas said.
He said he hopes to put the new platform to good use.
“People don’t have homes anymore,” Jackson Thomas said. “I don’t think people should be on the streets.”
Jackson-Thomas also serves meals at God’s Kitchen and participates in events for the Kenosha Police Department.
“I’ve done a few,” Jackson Thomas said, “I’ve been doing this a lot lately.”
He said he wants to make the world a better place while being inclusive of people of all abilities.