23-year-old student becomes first Miss Wheelchair World

‘Fight your anxiety and your fears’

A student from Belarus has been crowned Miss Wheelchair World at the inaugural beauty pageant which took place in Warsaw, Poland on Saturday.

Aleksandra Chichikova, who studies psychology and social pedagogy, was awarded first prize ahead of runner-up Lebohang Monyatsi (South Africa) in the global competition, which involved 24 female contestants from 19 different countries.

“Fight your anxiety and your fears,” the 23-year-old winner said at the celebratory contest gala, where contestants donned national costumes, reports ABC news.

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Chichikova aspires to breakdown the stigmas surrounding people with disabilities.

“I am convinced my life can illustrate that a person may be successful, strong, purpose-driven, beautiful and attractive regardless of how he moves,” her contestant profile reads.

“I really enjoy watching people change their mind and attitude towards disabled people.

“They start to see an equal person, not someone with disability.”

(Associated Press (Associated Press)

The judging panel was made up of journalists, presenters and representatives from the Warsaw city council.

Olga Alaba, Miss Poland Wheelchair 2013, was also a judge.

Aside from first, second and third prizes, a number of additional accolades were also handed out to the contestants, including Miss Smile, won by Nadjet Meskine (France), and Miss Kindness, won by Vahen King (Canada).

The competition brought together contestants from Angola, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Guatemala, India, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United States.