BATON ROUGE — Nine months ago, Kristie Mascerella stood in her driveway in St. Gabriel facing a nightmare she never imagined—her specially equipped Dodge Challenger and the custom wheelchair she relies on every day were gone. Stolen in the middle of the night, the loss was more than material. It stripped away her independence, her sense of safety, and the normalcy she had worked her entire life to protect.
MORE: St. Gabriel: One arrested, two others wanted after woman’s car and wheelchair were stolen
Tuesday night, that same woman was crowned as Miss Wheelchair Louisiana, her head held high, her story transformed from one of devastation into one of resilience.
The crowning ceremony, held at Baton Rouge Rehab Hospital, marked not just a personal victory, but a powerful statement about perseverance, advocacy, and refusing to be defined by tragedy. The governor attended the celebration, underscoring the significance of the moment, she told UWK.
A Crime That Changed Everything
Mascerella’s ordeal began last May when her car—and the wheelchair secured inside—were stolen from her driveway. The vehicle was later found as a shell in a Port Allen junkyard, stripped of its most valuable parts. One suspect was arrested, while two others remain at large.
But the criminal case was only the beginning.
As she tried to rebuild, Mascerella found herself entangled in months of insurance disputes. Despite being born with spina bifida, she was required to attend physical therapy appointments to “prove” she still needed a wheelchair.
“They required that I go to a physical therapy appointment to prove that I need a wheelchair,” Mascerella said at the time. “Which is absolutely ridiculous, because spina bifida does not go away.”
Her stolen wheelchair—custom-built and valued between $10,000 and $15,000—could not be replaced with anything comparable. Insurance negotiations dragged on. Offers for her car dropped lower each time. Meanwhile, she continued paying insurance on a vehicle that no longer existed.
“I am mentally and physically exhausted,” she said during that period. “I’ve cried myself to sleep for the last several weeks. I feel like I’m being punished by my own insurance company because this has happened and it is not fair.”
Even so, strangers stepped in where systems fell short. A GoFundMe organized by a friend raised more than $10,000, a reminder that compassion still exists—even when justice feels delayed.
A New Door Opens
As Mascerella continued to fight her way forward, something unexpected happened. Friends, inspired by her refusal to give up, encouraged her to consider a new path: competing in Miss Wheelchair Louisiana.
“It’s Miss Wheelchair Louisiana,” Mascerella explained. “You know, back nine months ago, my car was stolen. I know UWK did a report on the theft of my vehicle and my wheelchair. It’s been an ongoing situation. Since then, I’m still fighting.”
She said friends reached out and told her the competition could be a way to show her strength—and her independence.
“They said, ‘I think this is something you’re really strong at. You’ve been faced with a lot, and this would be great for you to show your resilience… that no matter what you’re faced with, you didn’t let it stop you.’”
That encouragement planted a seed. Mascerella entered the competition not for a crown—but for a purpose.
“And here you are today,” she said, reflecting on the moment she was chosen. “Getting crowned. To me, this crown is about my strength and my independence. Being strong through no matter what life throws at you. To just keep pushing, keep going.”
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Mascerella is clear: she refuses to let what happened define her.
“I didn’t want what happened to me to break my spirit,” she said. “Hopefully I will do good in representing Louisiana and women in wheelchairs and with disabilities.”
Now, she plans to use her platform to speak boldly about issues close to her heart—starting with accountability.
“I want to speak out against crimes that are committed against people with disabilities,” she said. “I feel like there should be stronger sentencing.”
She also wants to address workplace discrimination, an issue she says still prevents qualified people with disabilities from being treated equally.
“People with disabilities should be granted the same opportunities as the next person,” Mascerella said. “I plan to use this as a turning point—to bring something positive instead of the tragedy that happened.”
Her message is simple, but powerful.
“I want to represent something that says, no matter what you’re faced with, you overcome it,” she said. “No matter what you’re faced with, you never give up.”
A Lifetime of Determination
Mascerella’s strength didn’t begin with this title. Born with spina bifida, she spent much of her childhood learning how to adapt.
“I’ve been in a wheelchair most of my life,” she said. “When I was younger, I walked with little hand crutches. But the older I got, my muscles got weaker. Around sixth grade, I started depending on the wheelchair more.”
Still, she never let it limit her ambitions.
“I never let this wheelchair define me,” Mascerella said. “I went on to get a master’s degree in healthcare administration.”
She became a licensed nursing home administrator, driven by a passion for long-term care and helping the elderly.
“I’ve always pushed myself to want more and do better,” she said. “I’ve always set goals for myself. I never imagined it would come full circle to this—but I’m accepting this challenge.”
What’s Next: The National Stage
With the Louisiana crown now in place, Mascerella’s journey is far from over.
In August, she will represent the state on the national stage at Miss Wheelchair America in Grand Rapids, Michigan, competing against women from all 50 states.
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “In August, I’ll be competing against 49 other women. I’m going to do my best to bring that home to Louisiana.”
For Mascerella, the crown is not an ending—it’s a beginning.
What started as one of the darkest chapters of her life has become a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of community.
Now, wearing the title of Miss Wheelchair Louisiana, Kristie Mascerella is determined to make sure her story does what she has always done—keeps moving forward.
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