Three things to know about Ms. Wheelchair America

As Ms. Wheelchair America, Chandra Smith plans to kick butt. Advancing legislation to help people with disabilities is a goal for Smith, 36, of Pasadena, a double amputee who won the 2024 title in September.

“I’ll take every opportunity to advocate for [inclusivity] and to change the world so everything is accessible to all,” said Smith, an IT engineer who works in intelligence for the federal government. “With top security clearance, it’s easier to get a seat at the table with those who strengthen policies for bodily compliance.”

Here are three things you may not know about her:

Poetry is her pulpit.

“I’m in love with words. At 9, I discovered books by Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni, which inspired me to express myself. The first poem I wrote was about girl empowerment, a girls-can-do-anything-boys-can-do type of thing.

“I’ve written 50 poems, most recently motivational ones and those about being different, advocacy [for the disabled] and the cultural and architectural barriers that we face. Writing poetry is a stress reliever; many of them are on my Ms. Wheelchair America Facebook page.”

Her magic wand? A joystick.

“I’ve been an avid video game player since I was 3. I grew up in poverty, with two disabled parents, and games were an escape for me, a magical world where you get to challenge yourself, solve problems and build your own reality.

“After becoming disabled, I didn’t think I’d be able to play again, but I came across some adaptive controls. I like games with strategies and puzzles. My disability has made me more creative, more resilient and more of a problem-solver because, every day, I face challenges to figure out new ways to do things.”

She is full of fight.

“My father taught my sister and I how to box, to defend ourselves, and it became a hobby. My mother went to elementary school with [former world welterweight champion] Sugar Ray Leonard. After I got injured, I stopped [the sport], but I kept my gloves and I’m going to try adaptive boxing that you can do directly from your wheelchair.

“I plan to take up a few adaptive sports like, maybe, rugby. If I’m faced with two paths, I’ll always take the more challenging one. Who knows what the future holds?”