“We face challenges most will never understand” — Sumter native places 4th in Ms. Wheelchair America contest
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A new Ms. Wheelchair America 2026 was crowned Saturday night in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Sponsored by the Mary Free Bed Guild, 18 titleholders from across the country took part in the contest — until Ms. Wheelchair New York, Latavia Sturdivant, was crowned the new winner.
However, Ms. Wheelchair South Carolina, Chasity Miles-Anderson came in 4th place!
Miles-Anderson says her life changed instantly when she was shot with an AR-15 in August, 2022. Having been an ER nurse for the last 15 years, she says in that moment she didn’t feel fear — she felt determination.
“We face challenges most will never understand. It takes us 10 steps to do what others complete in one. And when we hit brick walls, we build new paths through them. We don’t just survive. We show up and we thrive. But even with those strengths our community still faces barriers. That’s why I raise my voice for better medical treatment for patients with disabilities, better education on disabilities for those medical professionals, true accessibility for all, and mental health support that actually works!” she said from the Ms. Wheelchair America stage.
The Sumter native founded “People of Determination”- a nonprofit that educates medical professionals and advocates for better healthcare for the disabled community.
In a statement, Ms. Wheelchair America says its mission is to provide a public platform for women who use wheelchairs to successfully educate and advocate for the more than 70 million Americans living with disabilities.
“For over 50 years, Ms. Wheelchair America has been a powerful platform for women with disabilities to share their voices and drive meaningful change,” says Mary Zendejas, President of Ms. Wheelchair America. “These remarkable women aren’t just competing; they’re demonstrating that disability doesn’t define limits, advocacy does. We’re excited to return to Grand Rapids to celebrate their achievements and amplify their missions,” she says.
Throughout the week, state titleholders participate in leadership training, advocacy workshops, mentoring events, and judging sessions. The organization says while contestants come to share their personal platforms, a sisterhood forms throughout the week, resulting in an infectious collaborative spirit.
For the fourth year in a row, Mary Free Bed Guild partnered with Ms. Wheelchair America to sponsor the event. Since 1891, the women of the guild have been devoted to improving quality of life for people with disabilities.
“We are so proud to once again collaborate with Ms. Wheelchair America and partner for this year’s event,” says Mary Beth Brown, co-president of the Mary Free Bed Guild. “Each competitor brings such strength and resilience to this competition as well as a desire to create meaningful change in their communities,” she says.
