Her Facebook picture is inspiring others in the diabetes community, who started the hashtag #showmeyourpump.
Sierra Sandison, the winner of the Miss Idaho 2014 pageant, isn't the first Miss America contestant to use an insulin pump. But she is the first to proudly display it during the bikini competition.
Sandison, 20, of Twin Falls, Idaho, who was diagnosed with Diabetes in 2012, said when she started participating in pageants she used insulin shots instead of a pump because she didn't want to have a visible medical device. It was the example of Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999, who also had Type 1 Diabetes and used a pump, that inspired Sandison to go forward with the public display.
"The media often tells us this lie: if your appearance deviates in any way from cover girls, movie stars, super models, etc., it is a flaw and something is wrong with you," Sandison wrote on her blog.
"Well, guess what? Miss America 1999 has an insulin pump, and it doesn’t make her any less beautiful. In fact, in my mind, it enhances her beauty!"
When she posted the photo to Facebook it became a symbol of hope for the Diabetes community. Users with children who were insecure about their own pumps posted messaged of support, and twitter followers started the hashtag: #showmeyourpump.
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