This article was originally published in the McCook Gazette on Feb. 02, 2024.
McCOOK Neb. - Amber Norton, a 23-year-old woman, has not let her disability hold her back from participating in Miss Amazing a pageant for special needs individuals. At the age of 15, Amber reluctantly joined her first pageant and ended up winning the title in 2015, making her the queen of the following year. She currently holds the title of Junior Miss Queen of Nebraska.
What keeps Amber coming back to Miss Amazing year after year are the friendships she has made. When she first started, the pageant only had participants from Nebraska, with less than 20 girls involved. Now, Miss Amazing has expanded to include 33 states. The event includes interviews with judges, a passion presentation to showcase a talent or something important to them, and an introduction, where each participant shares her interests, strengths, and ambitions with the audience. This skill area offers participants a chance to exercise public speaking skills and share their stories with members of the community.
Amber's talent lies in singing, but this year she plans to talk about her disability, which she affectionately refers to as her "different ability." She has been diagnosed with Moya Moya disease, a rare cerebrovascular disorder. Through her performance, she hopes to raise awareness and encourage others to embrace their differences.
Supporting Amber every step of the way are her parents, John and Becky Norton, who have served as family advocates answering questions and assisting other parents of contestants. John proudly identifies as a ‘Pageant Dad.’ In the early days, John noticed that there weren't many options for fathers, with most shirts and merchandise catering to women. He took it upon himself to change. He even designed one of the top-selling shirts for men for Miss Amazing. Another idea he suggested was a father-daughter dance, which has now become the annual Fairy Tale Ball.
Amber deeply appreciates her parents' unwavering support, and to express her gratitude, she dedicated a special song to her father during the last pageant. Expecting her to sing a rock and roll song John was surprised to see Amber come on stage in Western wear. The lyrics touched John's heart, as she sang, ‘If you're half the man my daddy is…’ “She got me good,” John says “She made me cry.”
Outside of Miss Amazing, Amber has also excelled in the Special Olympics, participating in various sports such as track, basketball, volleyball, and swimming. Swimming holds a special place in her heart, and she still enjoys it to this day. Starting with the 25-meter event, she progressed to the 50-meter and eventually the 100-meter, achieving commendable placements in each competition.
Currently, Amber works at a daycare center, fulfilling a childhood dream of working with children. Amber completed kindergarten through 6th grade in public school, her mom Becky recalls that at times rather than having her participate in class they would send her to the resource room to color. Amber said “I remember it was so hard for me to connect with the kids, I felt like an outcast because the kids were separated. It was like I was stuck in a birdcage. That’s how I felt.”
For the remainder of school, her parents chose to have her attend Madonna School where her coaches got her involved in Special Olympics and described her as a leader. her parents attribute the Miss Amazing agent for playing a significant role in shaping her confidence and leadership skills. Amber's mother proudly acknowledges how far she has come, "She's a pretty good advocate for herself."
Amber Norton's participation in Miss Amazing and her active involvement in advocating for inclusion and acceptance serve as an inspiration to others. Despite the challenges she faces, she continues to showcase her unique talents and make a positive impact in her community. She would like to see more girls and women from the local area participate in the Miss Amazing Pagent. She and her parents are considering possibly hosting a smaller pageant or talent show in the area so that her friends can experience what it’s like. More information about Miss Amazing can be found at https://missamazing.org/chapters/NE
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