When Nicole Johnson was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes in 1993, she was told she would never graduate college, have a career or raise a family. But Johnson remained optimistic, winning one beauty pageant after another, urging others to never give up on their dreams. Since winning the crown in 1999, Johnson has been working toward a doctorate in public health, writes healthy-lifestyle cookbooks and has a daughter. This Miss America tells My Generation how her attitude prevented diabetes from becoming her destiny.
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