Growing up, Sandy Spoonemore shared a dream with a lot of girls.

"I have watched pageants all my life, me and my mom," Spoonemore said. "All the Miss Americas. And I've always had that little girl dream of being able to be in a pageant."

This month, that dream came true for Spoonemore, 51, on stage at the Ms. Wheelchair Texas pageant in Houston. Dressed in a sequined red gown, she competed against nine other contestants.

She answered judge’s questions, gave a speech, and earned the crown.

"I really did not expect to win," she said. "I wasn't expecting to hear my name."

But she's been defying expectations for decades. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when she was just two years old.

Spoonemore has lived in a wheelchair nearly her entire life, but it hasn't slowed her down. The longtime Plano resident lives with her dog, Boomer, who rides along on her chair. She has traveled to three continents, has worked in corporate America, and for the last 15 years, has worked for Mary Kay.

"I think that everybody in this world -- whether they have a challenge of a disability or not -- their appearance is important," said the self-described fashionista, who's proud to show off a closet full of dresses and shoes. "The good thing is, I don't walk on them, so they never wear out!"

And she loves her shiny new accessory, a glittering crown with its own carrying case. But more importantly, she loves spreading her message.

"To be the testimony of what you can do with your life," she said. "And that's really important to me."

During the final, Sandy Spoonemore was crowned Ms Wheelchair Texas 2016. In August, she'll travel to Michigan for the Ms Wheelchair America pageant.