Miss North Dakota International 2020 - LeAnne Brydl

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” -Walt Disney
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Strong, independent, and disabled. Those are three words LeAnne Brydl, Miss North Dakota International 2020, would use to describe herself. She is part of the 1 in 8 who have a disability. LeAnne is partnering with Red River Valley Asperger-Autism Network to spread #DisabilitiesNotImpossibilities. Growing up without knowing of her learning disabilities until her freshman year of high school left her feel defeated. Constantly comparing herself to others, asking why she can’t just be “normal,” and never telling anyone about her learning disabilities. Luckily, she had an amazing support group and showed her she’s more than just a disability.
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With support she learned that she can be as intelligent as she could be, she just learns a different way. The support came from the support groups she was attending with her little brother who has autism. She learned about how to have the courage to do things just like everyone else. The empowerment she gained over the years pushed her to go to NDSU as a biology major and pledge to Alpha Gamma Delta. As time went on, she realized she wants to work with people every day. She then got her licenses is skin aesthetics at The Salon Professional Academy in Fargo, ND. Now she’s loving what she is doing in her career.

LeAnne played hockey year-round all her life until she was 18. That year she was diagnosed with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barre Syndrome). This left her paralyzed from the neck down for 2 months, doing treatments, going in and out of the hospital, and frequently going to Mayo Clinic. That didn’t stop her. She knew she was going to get better so there’s no reason to be sad that she was sick. Little did she know that one day because she got sick, she would be spreading Disabilities Not Impossibilities and become Miss North Dakota International 2020.
She cannot wait to make her state proud the year of her reign and beyond that. She is ready to spread empowerment on a national level. Showing that disabilities truly are not impossibilities.
 
Nothing is impossible,
LeAnne Brydl
Miss North Dakota International 2020
Photos by Mabelle Photography © 2020. All Rights Reserved.