Kiowa woman in running for Ms. Wheelchair America

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2003

Cinda Hughes, a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, is in the running for the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant.

Hughes, 41, won the Oklahoma state pageant and is the only Native American competing in the national contest, The Native American Times reports. "There have been lots of obstacles and lots of challenges, but I realized there are two choices I can make regarding this journey. I can be bitter or I can use it as a means of teaching others about empathy and fair play," she tells the paper.

Hughes was born with a birth defect that left her a quadriplegic. She works for the Oklahoma Legislature as a receptionist.

The national contest will be held July 22-27 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Get the Story:
Wheelchair bound Kiowa woman still stands tall (The Native American Times 7/8)

Relevant Links:
Ms. Wheelchair America - http://www.mswheelchairamerica.org