Alison Appleby, a 17-year-old from Sherman, Texas, never imagined she would enter a beauty pageant.
However, when someone doubted her ability to win because of her disability, she decided to prove them wrong.
With no previous pageant experience, Alison took her first steps as Miss Dallas Teen alongside her service dog, Brady.
Brady, a Golden Retriever, has been Alison’s constant companion and alerting her to seizures since her diagnosis two years ago.
In an interview, Alison shared that a stranger had overheard her discussing pageants and remarked she could never succeed because “pageant girls don’t have disabilities.”
Determined to challenge this perception, Alison entered the Dallas pageant with Brady by her side, without expecting to win.
Her positive attitude and captivating personality helped her stand out, earning her multiple crowns.
The judges informed Alison of her victory during the pageant’s interview portion, where she delivered a memorable line: “Just because I have a chronic illness, doesn’t mean I’m chronically ill.” This statement resonated with the judges and made them take notice.
Brady played a crucial role during the event. Trained to retrieve medications during seizures, monitor stress levels, and check blood sugar, Brady sensed Alison’s stress on stage and broke free from his handler to support her.
Alison’s mother was relieved that Brady was there to assist, especially since parents were not allowed near the contestants.
Ultimately, Alison won the Miss Dallas pageant, and Brady received his little crown for his unwavering support.
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