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Diabetic Beauty Queen Sierra Sandison Wears Insulin Pump During Competition And Wins (VIDEO)

Diabetic Beauty Queen Wears Insulin Pump During Competition

Finally, a beauty queen is inspiring women not because of her body but because of her fearlessness.

Sierra Sandison became an inspiration to women suffering from Type 1 diabetes when she won the Miss Idaho 2014 contest last week and proudly displayed her insulin pump, which she wore during the entire competition.

The 20-year-old was diagnosed with diabetes in Feb. 2012; a shock that changed her life forever.

"For a while, I pretended that I didn’t have diabetes, hoping it would go away," she said. "That led to crazy blood sugars, of course, and a very sick, grumpy, and discouraged Sierra."

Despite her health problems, the brunette stunner entered beauty pageants, and upon discovering that a diabetic (Nicole Johnson) who won Miss America in 1999 wore her insulin pump during the competition, the young woman was inspired to enter Miss Utah 2014 with her pump proudly displayed for the world to see.

As a result, Sierra kickstarted the the #ShowMeYourPump campaign, which saw dozens of people posting pictures of themselves with their insulin pumps on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Sierra took to Facebook expressing how she felt when she bravely walked down the stage: "Honestly, it is terrifying walking out on stage in a swimsuit, let alone attached to a medical device.

"My message to everyone, diabetic or not, is that we all have something that doesn't "measure up" to the beauty standards set by the media - and that is okay! It does not make you any less beautiful. We also all have obstacles, challenges, and trials.

"Diabetes turned my life upside down when I was first diagnosed. Don't let your challenge hold you back or slow you down. Use it to not only empower yourself and grow as an individual, but to serve and influence other people as well."

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