Jaclyn Schultz is not just an ordinary girl. She is 25 years old and is 6 feet tall, from Wyandotte, Michigan. Jaclyn’s parents are Susan and Don Schultz, and Jaclyn grew up the only child. Jaclyn is a 2006 graduate from Roosevelt High School and a 2010 Graduate from Central Michigan University, with a degree in Public Relations. Jaclyn currently works for a high-class marketing company, Brogan and Partners, as a media strategist (CMU Alum Jaclyn Schultz). Jaclyn is a very busy lady, working full time, while currently working towards her master’s degree at Michigan State University. She lives with the philosophy “Never stop learning and growing as a person” (Jaclyn Schultz) and one day hopes to get her doctorate (Wyandotte). Last year in September, she competed for Miss Michigan in her first ever pageant and WON. For the next year Schultz was on a very rigorous schedule leading up to the national pageant. It took a lot of preparation like healthy eating and exercise everyday leading up to the competition. This past June she went to the national competition to compete for Miss USA. Even though she did not win the Miss USA title, she was a winner in many people’s eyes. Schultz has a lot of determination, courage, and is a hard worker, leader, and difference maker.
Schultz was very active growing up. She played basketball, volleyball, swam, ran track, and played softball. When she was younger she was a Polish dancer for nine years and competed nationally (Wyandotte). In her free time Schultz likes to paint abstract portraits of women on pieces of wood. She enjoys reading, traveling, and learning about different cultures. (Jaclyn Schultz) Schultz’s favorite candy is Reese’s pieces, a childhood memory is playing with chalk, some of her favorite accessories are bracelets, and she has a fear of drowning (2013 Miss USA). She loves rooting for the Detroit sports teams.
One day Schultz told her parents that she had entered the statewide pageant to compete for Miss Michigan. (Wyandotte) Schultz had determination, looking for a challenge. “I just went in with a fun attitude and came out with a crown,” she said. (CMU Alum Jaclyn Schultz). She competed with 70 other women in three categories, which are interview, swimsuit, and evening gown. Schultz’s goal was to just get top 15. She accomplished and surpassed that goal. She reached the top two, her name was called and she ended up winning. “As soon as the diamond-studded crown was placed on her head, Schultz said she was speechless. I was overflowed with emotions,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it” (CMU Alum Jaclyn Schultz). Winning brought many emotions and in a Facebook interview Schultz said, “I think it was the first time in my life I've ever cried ‘tears of joy.’ I was just so shocked, since it was my first pageant I NEVER expected to win. I hadn’t even thought about winning, or even read what the winner actually won since I didn't think it would happen. I remember feeling very blessed, SHOCKED, happy. Looking at my parents in the audience like ‘OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?’ is that an emotion? Ha” (Schultz). “The young woman who had entered her first pageant was now representing her state, something that soon dawned on her. Schultz said that while she was proud to represent her hometown in the statewide pageant, as the newly crowned Miss Michigan she now had to represent the entire state” (Wyandotte).
Schultz’s life was never perfect though. At age 15, she learned that she was not like most other girls but was made differently. Schultz was diagnosed with MRKH Syndrome. This syndrome affects around 1 out of 4,500 to 5,000 births and about 75,000 women have this syndrome around the United States. MRKH stands for Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, the last names of the four doctors that discovered the syndrome. MRKH is congenital and present at birth, but a girl does not usually find out until her adolescent years. A person like Schultz is 100% girl with XX chromosomes, but is unable to carry her own child, due to an incomplete reproductive tract, but can still have children through surrogacy or adoption (Information and Resources).
“It’s not uncommon for pageant winners to support a particular cause, but for Schultz the cause she hopes to further is intensely personal and wasn’t the easiest for her to share” (Wyandotte). Schultz showed the world that she had courage, speaking out about something not heard of by most people. By winning the title of Miss Michigan, Schultz used her platform and became the spokesperson, using her voice for this syndrome and raising awareness, by partnering up with the Beautiful You MRKH Foundation. She also partnered up with Bethany Adoption Agency and Pink Ribbon Girls. In a Facebook interview Schultz discusses how she got involved in the organizations. “I emailed someone at my doctor’s office at the University of Michigan and they referred me to Amy and Christina at the Beautiful You - I emailed them and told them that I had won and I wanted to partner with them. My state director got me involved with the Pink Ribbon Girls, and I went to college with a girl who works at Bethany so she got a hold of me and asked if I would be interested” (Schultz).
Schultz doesn’t let MRKH bring her down. She is a great role model and a positive asset, being a leader for young girls going through this. Instead of letting MRKH define who she is and being negative, she chose to be positive, turning her weakness into strength. (Wyandotte) Finding out she was different from other girls wasn’t the easiest for her. But in an interview she says that she “realized that being different was a good thing, and that MRKH is what makes her unique. Through all my accomplishments I never let having MRKH, or any other struggle in my life bring me down, or keep me down. I just get mad at whatever or whoever tries to bring me down and then rise above it, conquer it and then smile and say, ‘eat your heart out’ ” (The Empowerment of the Silent Sisterhood). Schultz “realized that by not talking about MRKH, it almost appeared that she was ashamed or trying to hide it from others” (Wyandotte). In a Facebook interview, Schultz said, “I decided to speak out about MRKH because I knew that by having this platform, I could hopefully make girls feel less alone like I did. Also to spread awareness among the general population” (Schultz).
With struggle comes reward. Winning Miss Michigan has brought her a lot of rewards. In an interview Schultz says, “I think everything happens for a reason and when I won I knew in my heart what I needed to do. It wasn’t easy at first to see interviews about such a personal part of my life, but when I started getting feedback and support from the MRKH community on a global scale, it made it worth it. Struggles only make you stronger” (Mader). Schultz has learned to embrace who she is and her “flaws.” She says, “I was blessed with a supportive family and as I got older I decided that being different was a beautiful thing and I just learned to embrace it” (Mader).
This past September, Schultz passed off her crown, but continues to be a voice and work with the Beautiful You MRKH Foundation. Recently, Schultz gained national recognition for using her voice toward an unheard of, not spoken about syndrome. She is an inspiration to many. Without her bringing a voice to this syndrome; many people would still be left in the dark. Schultz is one of the kindest, caring, very genuine, most thoughtful person anyone could meet. She is a role model to so many girls, young and old. Being Miss Michigan has opened so many doors up for her. In one week, Schultz will be going to Boston to be a guest speaker at a conference. She is taking the world by storm and each and every day she continues to make a change, making the world smaller for women with MRKH. Schultz showed the world what true beauty looks like.
"CMU Alum Jaclyn Schultz Crowned Miss Michigan USA." Central Michigan Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://www.cm-life.com/2012/10/04/cmu-alumna-crowned-miss-michigan-usa/>.
"Information and Resources." Beautifulyoumrkh. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <http://www.beautifulyoumrkh.org/Info.html>.
"Jaclyn Schultz." MISS UNIVERSE. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/656270>.
Mader, Brenna. "Cool New Music: Jonny Lang | Fight For My Soul Featuring Breaking In." Wander Lust and Glitter Dust. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://www.wanderlustandglitterdust.com/page/3/>.
"2013 MISS USA - JACLYN SCHULTZ - MICHIGAN." YouTube. YouTube, 04 June 2013. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWYiy9VvLKI>.
Schultz, Jaclyn. Online interview. 4 Oct. 2013.
"The Empowerment of the Silent Sisterhood." The Empowerment of the Silent Sisterhood. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://beautifulyoumrkh.wordpress.com/>.
"Wyandotte: Downriver's Jaclyn Schultz to Represent Michigan at Miss USA Competition on Sunday (SLIDESHOW & VIDEO) - Thenewsherald.com." The News Herald. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2013/06/12/news/doc51b786647dade584756678.txt>.
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