Wilmington teen with cerebral palsy vies for national pageant title

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Jessie Guillaume, a Laney High School senior, was crowned homecoming queen this fall and now she has the chance to compete against other queens on a national level. Guillaume said she isn’t letting anything stop her from doing what she wants to do not even cerebral palsy.

“I don’t let it stop me,” said Guillaume. “When I was younger it was very tough adapting and learning how to cope with it.”

Guillaume uses pink sticks to help her walk but she said she has learned to embrace her situation and embrace others.

“I’m a people-person so I talk to everyone,” said Guillaume.

With all that she does to build connections with her peers, it’s no surprise she was voted Laney High School’s homecoming queen.

“I was like looking around to see if it was me and I was very excited, I was so blessed,” said Guillaume.

Guillaume said she’s been chosen to participate in the Autozone Liberty Bowl’s homecoming queens’ national pageant, pageant that coincides with the Liberty Bowl football game.

“It’s going to be on ESPN, we get to visit the kids from Saint Jude, we get to be in parade, we get to be in these different events,” said Guillaume.

With just a short time to raise money to go to the pageant in Memphis, Tennessee, she is trying to collect donations quickly.

“I would love, love to get this wonderful experience,” said Guillaume.

And it’s not just a life changing experience Guillaume is after; she said she is hoping for a college scholarship so she can accomplish another goal to be a special education teacher.

“I want to inspire other kids with a disability, like ‘you can do something with your life’,” said Guillaume.

If you would like to help Guillaume make it to Memphis click here.