Teen with Down syndrome breaks down in tears after being named Homecoming Queen
It was a moment that melted hearts all over the world. A teenage girl with Down syndrome couldn’t believe her ears when she heard that she had been crowned her school’s homecoming queen.
Emma Wright, 18, was one of the candidates for the coveted title at East Forsyth High School in North Carolina. She and the other girls lined up on the football field, waiting for the big reveal. And when it came, it was a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Emma is a well-liked student at East Forsyth High School. She has Down syndrome, but that doesn’t stop her from being a cheerful and friendly person. She’s always ready to greet everyone with a smile and a hug.
So when she found out that she had won the homecoming queen crown, she was stunned. She had no idea that her classmates had voted for her.
A video of the event shows the exact moment Emma heard her name being announced. She was standing next to her dad, who was holding her hand. As soon as she realized what had happened, she burst into tears of joy.
“So amazing,” she told WXII12. “I started crying as soon as they read out my name.”
Her dad, Brad Wright, was also emotional.
“We had no idea; it’s something that you prepare for,” he said.
“Just getting ready and doing all the things, and we’re so grateful to be part of the East Forsyth family and so happy for Emma and the chance they gave her tonight.”
The school’s principal, Rusty Hall, was proud of Emma and the students who voted for her.
“We call her our dancer. You can see her dancing in the cafeteria and the hallways; she’s loved by the whole school,” Hall said to Fox 8.
“It’s what we try to push here. Everybody is included; everybody’s voice matters regardless of your background or your life before you got here.
“Once you’re here, you’re family. And we appreciate the contributions of all of our students, and tonight was a perfect example.”
The homecoming queen announcement was even more special because it took place in October, which is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Emma has big dreams for her future. She wants to open her own bakery and ice cream shop someday. She’s also planning to go to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, after she graduates next year.
Watch the emotional video of Emma being crowned homecoming queen below: