Seventeen-year-old Jada Braxton, who is autistic, made headlines after she won the Miss Photogenic award at the Miss Saraland Beauty Pageant in Saraland, Alabama, on Jan. 22.
One of the traits of autism is avoiding eye contact, and Jada’s mom, Danisha Braxton, couldn’t be more proud of her baby.
“By her being autistic, one of the characteristic traits is not being able to make direct eye contact,” said Braxton. “Especially when she’s taking pictures. For her to win just based off of her picture is just outstanding. By her winning Miss Photogenic, she is a face now to autism. This is autism, this is what autism looks like.”
Jada was diagnosed with autism when she was seven years old. She was excited about her win and wanted to help other autistic girls have a voice.
“I was surprised, and I was glad they called my name to be Miss Photogenic,” said Jada.
Her proud mom posted several pictures of Jada on Instagram to share the news of her winning Miss Photogenic at the Miss Saraland pageant. She also shared a caption with the post and said she was honored to be Jada’s mother. She also thanked the public for their love and support.
“Jada Boo,” she wrote. “It’s truly impossible for me to put into words a true description of you. You are joy. You are laughter. You are impromptu dance movements. You are the rainbow behind any rainy day. You are truly LOVE. You are an inspiration to so many people. You do not let your autism stop you from dreaming and achieving. It is such an honor and a blessing to be your mom. The outpouring love and support that she has received this past week has been AMAZING. From the bottom of our hearts….Jada and I thank you all. AUTISM HAS NO LOOK???? .”
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Braxton has always hated when people would say to her that Jada did not look like she had autism, noting that autism has no “look.”
“This past week and a half has been full of emotions. I never thought that Jada’s story would take off the way it did. When I reached out to the local media it wasn’t to overshadow someone’s else accomplishment or crown, it was simply me showing others that Autism has no ‘LOOK.’ Since Jada’s diagnosis at age 7 my biggest pet peeve is when others meet my daughter and say ‘She doesn’t look autistic.'”
She went on to say that her daughter winning Miss Photogenic was for all the other children who are told they don’t look like they have special needs.
