A 21-year-old Thammasat University student has been crowned Miss Wheelchair Thailand 2012.
Ms Pattarawan Panitcha bested 11 other competitors at the finals held at the Paradise Park shopping centre in Bangkok.
The Miss Wheelchair pageant is organized by the Association of the Physically Handicapped of Thailand. The contest has been revived after ten years of absence and the first Miss Wheelchair, Ms Thidarat Duangthai, presented the crown and award to the new title holder.
Ms Pattawaran became disabled after meeting a car accident five years ago. Since then she has devoted her time to raising awareness about the welfare of Thailand’s handicapped. She is a sophomore at Thammasat University under the Faculty of Social Administration.
Besides the title, Ms Pattarawan also won the Miss Popular special award.
Mr Boonyam Saojan, vice-president of the Association of the Physically Handicapped of Thailand and one of the judges, expressed his wish for Thailand’s physically handicapped to share in the joy of living, the Bangkok Post reported.
