Charlotte is a Direct Service Professional, Pageant Queen and Special Olympics Athlete. As a Direct Service Professional (DSP), she provides services to people with disabilities in daily life by taking them to Dr. appointments or helping them around the house or with their shopping. One thing that makes Charlotte stand out in her profession is that she is a person with disabilities, so she has a better understanding of herself and her clients.
In her own words, “I might have disabilities but they are actually my Abilities. I chose to fall on my faith when I’m having a rough day and knowing that I can always find support in the people around me.”
For six years, Charlotte has also been involved with BOLD (Benefits of Learning Dance), which provides a way of learning ballroom dance whether you are a leader of follower. She has been able to display her dancing abilities in talent portions of her pageant competitions as well.
Charlotte has competed and won titles in Miss Amazing, a system that provides an opportunity for ladies with disABILITIES to show what they are able to achieve. In 2023, Charlotte competed and won the title of Miss Circle City Indy in the Circle City Indy pageant. Pageantry has allowed her an opportunity to increase her self-confidence, make new friends and let her light shine. One of her goals is to show her niece Zoey as well as other girls looking up to there, that “no one can take your joy and light away”.
“Special Olympics motivates me to do my best and never give up also has help me with my self-esteem and confidence. Through Special Olympics, Charlotte participates as an athlete, a teacher at Athlete Leadership University, an athlete Leader, and cheers on her team and other athletes as an athlete photographer. You would think with all of this activity, she’d have no bandwidth to take on anything else, but she’s also involved with the Indiana State Wrestling Association (ISWA) where she helps at the tables, volunteers as a water girl making sure the officials and table workers have drinks for events.
Charlotte is always wearing a smile and positive attitude. She encourages and uplifts everyone that she meets. Most recently Charlotte COMPETED as a celebrity runner in the Indianapolis Drumstick Dash. This was her FIRST 5K competition, and she could be heard along the route being her own hype woman and saying “I’m doing great, I’m doing great”. She ran her own race and finished strong.
This powerful woman shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In January, Charlotte will be competing in the Winter games and then competing in the Mentor Division of Miss Amazing on March 9th.
When asked about her challenges, Charlotte says they motivate her. “I live with disabilities. But I see these as my “disABILITIES”. I grew up being told that told I would never graduate from high school or get my drivers license. But I have done both. Like anyone else, there are days that I struggle with getting overwhelmed or when I don’t understand something, and I have to ask what something means. I struggle with my health. I struggle with self-esteem and the way I look. I get anxious and overwhelmed to where I don’t like a lot of people around me. I struggle with staying focused and not losing track of what I’m doing, but I keep going”. It’s too important to me to show others that you should “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something and to stay true to yourself and never let anyone steal your joy.” Definitely advice that we can all live by.
She has so much to be proud of, but when asked what are her greatest accomplishments, she has quite a bit to be proud of! Despite what the naysers thought, she has graduated from high school, got her drivers license the day before her 30th birthday, has been able to compete in Special Olympics National Unified bowling, became the athlete head photographer, has earned the opportunity to compete at Miss Amazing Nationals TWICE! Competed in Miss Circle City Indy, won her division and led the Queens in community service activity. Ran as a celebrity runner in the Drumstick dash this year, been an amazing Auntie to her nieces and nephews. Come back to church and growing in her faith with Jesus and now teaching her nieces and nephews about the Bible.
Something that Charlotte wants people to know about her is that her faith is becoming stronger and with the help of her mom she is reminded daily to never let anyone steal her joy and always do her personal best. “The different organizations that I’m involved with have made a huge impact and helped me grow in different ways.”
As for the future, Charlotte plans to continue to compete in pageants. “I want to become National Miss Amazing Mentor and I want to continue with CCI and hope to some day get into other pageants. I’m hoping to one day get married and have a family. I want to continue to learn more about ballroom dance and to be able to share my love for dance, as well as keep growing in my faith” We have no doubt this amazing lady will achieve all this and more! We see you Queen!
Want to learn more or contact Charlotte? Follow her on instagram @auntcharlie2013
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