Posted on January 20, 2025
Breaking Barriers: Art Professor and DJ Rynita McGuire Crowned Ms. Wheelchair Michigan
After a day of workshops and panel judging, Kalamazoo resident Rynita McGuire was crowed Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2025.
“It was an amazing day and experience, I feel great and thankful,” said McGuire.
Ms. Wheelchair Michigan is anything but a “beauty” pageant, it provides a unique platform where women can strengthen their advocacy skills, develop as leaders, and amplify their voices for meaningful change.
Rynita McGuire knows a thing or two about change because her whole life she’s embodied a remarkable resilience and creative spirit. McGuire was born arthrogryposis, a condition that affects her joints limits the movement of her arms and legs. In addition to this significant physical challenge, Rynita had to live in the foster care system and experienced periods of homelessness.
Despite all these challenges and living her whole life using a wheelchair, Rynita had to develop innovate ways to engage with the world, including using her mouth for many activities. McGuire built an inspiring and multifaceted career, including two decades touring and working as a DJ, as well as an artist and art professor at Kendall College of Art and Design and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
New this year to Ms. Wheelchair Michigan, the daylong educational workshops were open to more than just the contestants, but community members were able to join in on the inspiration and meaningful discussions.
“It was empowering and insightful, I met some powerhouse women who I look up to,” said McGuire. “I got to hear their stories and their tips on advocacy, and what to do with my reign.”
As Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2025, Rynita hopes to create a mentoring network for young and newly disabled individuals. Drawing from her own journey of self-advocacy and achievement, she aims to create support networks that elevate expectations and showcase the diverse possibilities available to people with disabilities.
Michigan State Coordinator and previous Ms. Wheelchair Michigan, Shelly Loose is so excited for Rynita to start traveling the state and sharing her story. “Now they have the crown, they get in doors that they may never would have got in before, and they’ll be able to share their message,” said Loose.
The Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2025 event was again this year at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation hospital. It was proudly sponsored by the Mary Free Bed Guild.
Coming up in August, Rynita will go on to compete on the national stage at Ms. Wheelchair America.
Here from Rynita McGuire, Shelly Loose and event MC and morning radio host at WLAV Jackie Green in the livestream below:
