A paraplegic teen from Atlantis says she is on a roll after a Daily Voice reader donated a motorised wheelchair to help fulfil her dream of becoming a singer.
Nikita Scott says having wheels is giving her wings to fly after she entered a local beauty pageant with able-bodied girls.
She wowed the judges and the audience as she took the stage in her wheelchair, but while she didn’t win the Miss Atlantis pageant, she was crowned Miss Courageous.
The brave meisie was injured in a car accident when she was 17.
She had just started Grade 10 and got a lift home with her friend and as their car stood at a red robot, they were hit by a swerving car.
“I woke up in hospital after a two-week coma.
“I was paralysed from my hips down,” she said.
Since the accident, Nikita has had to rely on family and friends to push her around.
In August, after reading about her fight for independence in the Daily Voice, Roy Nelson bought a brand-new electric wheelchair to get her on the road to success.
“I am eternally grateful to Mr Nelson for giving me the opportunity to further my abilities.
“I took part in a modelling show where I could wheel myself onto stage and ramp like the other girls.
“I was really nervous but extremely proud of myself,” says Nikita.
Miss Atlantis 2021 was held on Saturday at Avondale Civic Centre.
“I used to love modelling before the accident, so I’m so glad that I can get onto the stage again.
“My next goal is to enter Miss West Coast and Miss Western Province.”
Lorna Sebiena Booysen, chairperson of the Atlantis Modelling School, commended Nikita for her fighting spirit and said: “Nikita participated against other senior finalists and had the most confidence therefore she received the Miss Courageous.”
Nikita blew the judges away in a shimmering champagne dress and glittering white stilettos.
“I do this to inspire others with disabilities, it’s not to be seen or show off what I have.
“I am the first paraplegic to take part in the Miss Atlantis pageant,” she adds proudly.
venecia.america@inl.co.za