4 days ago
2025 Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan forms bond with mentor
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Most people can't say they've been honored with any awards, or nominated for any titles by their state. At 4 years old, Dahlia Swanson is already able to.
Dahlia is Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan 2025. She was nominated by 2025 Miss Wheelchair Michigan Rynita McGuire, who saw a lot of herself in Dahlia.
'I hadn't crowned a little Miss Wheelchair yet and she reminded me of myself when I was younger,' McGuire told News 8.
Dahlia's personality and self-assurance drew McGuire to her and the two quickly formed a bond.
'She's a little go-getter and a firecracker just like I was when I was little and I just fell in love with her right away,' McGuire said. 'She does a lot in the community. Her parents are very, very supportive and encouraging and I just thought she was perfect for the role.'
Outside of their roles, McGuire and Dahlia both share a passion for DJing, after Dahlia saw McGuire DJ. McGuire has been a DJ for 25 years and recently gifted a pair of small turntables to Dahlia.
'She saw me DJing at the Mary Free Bed Art Exhibit, that's held by the Mary Free Bed Guild here and she told me she wants to be a DJ one day,' McGuire said.
Whatever Dahlia decides to do, McGuire said she is going to do her best to support her and other children with disabilities.
'I didn't see a lot of representation when I was growing up of people with disabilities really doing a lot of big things in the world, but I fought to make sure that I was reaching all of my goals,' McGuire said. 'And I just think that the more they see me and other adults like me really accomplishing things, the more they can believe in themselves, because I don't feel that society has a lot of high expectations for people with disabilities. But we can do anything anybody else can do and sometimes even better.'
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