Current Miss Michigan Elizabeth Wertenberger, originally from Dundee, Mich., grew up battling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Now, at age 23, she is in complete remission and is sharing her story by using her platform with the Miss America Organization.
On Wednesday, Wertenberger visited the Capitol Building in Lansing and talked with state politicians about ways to make medication more accessible to children battling chronic illness, according to a press release.
The State News caught up with Wertenberger and discussed her path to overcoming illness and her work to give back.
The State News: How has your illness affected your life and participating in pageants?
Elizabeth Wertenberger: My illness has been what has empowered me and pushed me to be involved in the Miss America Organization. … I was told (that) by 18, I’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life (and) I’d never live a normal life. I was told I’d be lucky to graduate high school (and) I would probably never go to college and never live a normal life. The doctors told me I couldn’t, and I wanted to prove to them that I could. … I was told I wouldn’t be in remission. I’m now 23, I’m not in a wheelchair, (and) I’m in complete remission, … I was given … a second chance at life. I need to share (this) with kids who are in similar situations.
TSN: What kind of volunteer work are you doing to give back?
EW: What is most near and dear to my heart is mentoring children with chronic illness, and to be that beacon of hope for them and let them know that what we’ve been given in life is truly a gift. … It’s important for me to share that with kids and let them know that illness does not define us; we define ourselves, … Everybody has adversity; mine happened to be a chronic illness, (but) somebody else’s may be poverty… (or) a plethora of different issues, but it’s how you handle it and knowing you were given that for a reason.
TSN: How has your Miss Michigan and Miss America Organization platform allowed you to give back?
EW: I share my platform and break down the stereotypes of what the Miss America Organization is. … I’m an educated young woman with a story and mission, and I’m here to share it, … It’s not based just purely on beauty; it’s about the message.
TSN: How has your life personally been affected by the platform?
EW: The life skills that you gain from this program are unmeasurable. It’s absolutely amazing the things that you learn, … How to carry myself with poise and style and grace, all of those skills you need to be a successful adult and have a successful career.
TSN: What are your future goals?
EW: (The) only work I can do this year is Miss Michigan. So I put all of my design (business) on the side, and I thought, you know, after this year I’ll go back to that, and it’s still a possibility. But what I’d like to continue doing is my platform work. So I could be a full-time advocate for children with chronic illness, mentoring children on a full-time basis and delivering motivational (speeches).
TSN: What is your dream?
EW: No matter what I do in life, I know it will have something to do with
… giving back to kids. … That’s my passion in life; that’s my purpose.
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