The Courage to Compete - by Abbey Curran & Elizabeth Kaye (Hardcover)

About the Book

A remarkable memoir by Miss Iowa USA Abbey Curran about living with cerebral palsy, competing in Miss USA, and her inspiring work with young women who have disabilities. Abbey was born with cerebral palsy, but early on she resolved to never let it limit her. Abbey made history when she became the first contestant with a disability to win a major beauty pageant. After earning the title of Miss Iowa, she went on to compete in Miss USA. Growing up on a hog farm in Illinois, Abbey competed in local pageants despite naysayers who told her not to. After realizing her own dream, she went on to help other disabled girls achieve their goals by starting Miss You Can Do It, a national nonprofit pageant for girls and women with special needs and challenges, which became the subject of an HBO documentary with the same name. This is Abbey's story.

Book Synopsis

A remarkable memoir by Miss Iowa USA Abbey Curran about living with cerebral palsy, competing in Miss USA, and her inspiring work with young women who have disabilities.

Abbey Curran was born with cerebral palsy, but early on she resolved to never let it limit her. Abbey made history when she became the first contestant with a disability to win a major beauty pageant. After earning the title of Miss Iowa, she went on to compete in Miss USA.

Growing up on a hog farm in Illinois, Abbey competed in local pageants despite naysayers who told her not to. After realizing her own dream, she went on to help other disabled girls achieve their goals by starting Miss You Can Do It, a national nonprofit pageant for girls and women with special needs and challenges, which became the subject of an HBO documentary with the same name. This is Abbey's story.

From the Back Cover

Abbey Curran lives by the motto "if you can dream it, you can do it." Though born with cerebral palsy, she made the choice never to let her disability limit her. Her determination and drive led Abbey to make history when she became the first contestant with a disability to win a major beauty pageant. Having secured the title of Miss Iowa, she went on to compete for Miss USA.

Growing up on a hog farm in Illinois, Abbey overcame the painful and embarrassing leg braces she was required to wear in her early years, as well as the stares and often insulting comments of her classmates. While still a teenager, she competed in local pageants and felt the power and sense of accomplishment they gave her. As she realized her dream of competing in the Miss Iowa pageant, and later in Miss USA, she helped other disabled girls live their own dreams by starting Miss You Can Do It, a national nonprofit pageant for girls and women with special needs and challenges.

In this incredible memoir Abbey tells a story of overcoming the odds, following her dreams, and finding in herself the courage to compete, even as she continues to inspire the same spirit in others.

Review Quotes

"The teenager is honest about her struggles, from wearing leg braces to coping with her parents' divorce. She exudes hope, confidence, determination, and bravery. VERDICT Adolescents will be motivated to pursue their own dreams after reading this stirring title." -- School Library Journal

"Debunking myths about pageant participants, she praises the sisterhood she found and the hope pageants give "[her] girls," a happy ending to a tale of accomplishment." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Curran's story will inspire readers to follow their dreams." -- Booklist

"hHr overall message-to try, to dream, to put oneself out there-is an uplifting one that will continue to inspire." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)