Miss You Can Do It

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age two, Abbey Curran never accepted her physical limitations. She describes a lifelong resolve to pursue sports, drive a car with a modified wheel, and prove that disability does not define potential. This determination lays the groundwork for her later dream of competing publicly.

Curran's perseverance leads her to pursue the Miss USA Pageant, where she becomes the first woman with a disability to compete in 2008. The documentary frames this moment as a landmark for disabled athletes and pageant participants alike. It underscores resilience and the empowerment that comes from representation.

The film introduces Miss You Can Do It as a pageant Curran founded with a team of volunteers. It becomes a weekend oasis of fun, femininity, and celebration for girls with disabilities and their families. The event emphasizes celebrating who they are inside rather than what the world sees on the outside.

Tierney, age five, gleefully zips around in a powered wheelchair as she anticipates the pageant. Her mother explains Tierney has never walked and will progressively lose movement, highlighting the gradual nature of SMA type II. The scene captures the family's hopeful energy and the program's role in celebrating small milestones.

Natasha, 14, was born with cerebral palsy and experiences seizures, while her younger sister Kenna has an intellectual disability. Despite these challenges, the film presents them as a happy-go-lucky family, supported by parents who celebrate every achievement. The girls’ presence at the pageant underscores inclusion and shared joy.

Six-year-old Ali has spina bifida, which has paralyzed her lower body. The film shows her physical therapy sessions on a horse, a therapy that helps with balance and motor control. The scene highlights creative therapies enabling mobility and confidence.

Teyanna, a smart preteen with cerebral palsy, shows determination despite speech difficulty. Her mother recounts that a nurse suggested institutionalization, but they chose to raise her at home. The film presents Teyanna's creativity and resilience as central to the community's spirit.

Seven-year-old Daleney is a quadriplegic with a spastic form of cerebral palsy, leading to significant muscle tone and crossing of limbs midline while walking. Her parents describe a persistent frustration with independence, evidenced by a 15-minute struggle to tie her shoelaces. Yet she remains cheerful and engaged during the weekend.

Tiny Meg is shy except around her brothers, and her parents adopt Alina from Ukraine to give Meg a sisterly connection. Both Meg and Alina have Down syndrome, weaving into the story of family love and inclusion. Their experiences illustrate the broad spectrum of disability celebrated by the pageant.

Miss You Can Do It celebrates not just the girls, but the families who support them. Parents and families share how heartbreak at learning their child was different transformed into patient love and newfound appreciation for everyday joys. The pageant's philosophy is summarized by Curran and volunteer Jan Selman.

Curran articulates the pageant's philosophy, hoping the girls leave with the belief that they can rise above stares and setbacks. She states, 'we might fall down, or someone might stare at us, but I just did something amazing,' reinforcing a message of perseverance and pride.

The documentary is directed and produced by Ron Davis, with producers Clay Westervelt and Julie Anderson, and editor Geof Bartz, A.C.E. It situates Miss You Can Do It within Davis's body of work, including his earlier award-winning projects like Pageant. The film's credits also note the contributions of directors of photography and composer Joel Goodman.