missnyintl2022

Day 3 of the Countdown to The Crown! Meet my family!

My stepfather’s name is Dan, and my mother’s name is Janna! My father’s name is Rob, and his wonderful girlfriend’s name is Tara! I have a kindhearted boyfriend named Brandon who is a multi-instrumentalist.

I am the oldest 5! I have twin brothers, Robert and Brandon(yes the same name as my boyfriend! Family events get confusing 😉) who are 23! A 7 year old brother named Jayce and a 5 year old brother named Justin! Though I am the oldest, my brothers just love to say they are much “bigger” than me.

I am incredibly thankful to have such a close family that has always supported my medical needs and goals in life.

Swipe to see some of my favorite photos!

Countdown to The Crown day 2! While I do not have a “crowning moment” I am so thankful to have been honored the title of Miss NY International 2022. Not only is this helping me spread awareness about but it is allowing me to break the stigma of chronic illness, and highlighting body positivity.

This is the very first photo I took as Miss NY Intl. and I love it because it showcases not only my crown, but a part of me that has made me into the strong individual I am today. I may have NF, but it does not have me.

Countdown to The Crown - Day 1: Hello! My name is Brianna Worden and I am your Miss New York International 2022! I am from a small town in New York and love all things musical theater! A fun fact about me is, while I was born and raised here in NY, I am a HUGE fan. I am also a recent graduate from New York University, where I received my MA in School Counseling! Why did I choose this path? While in high school, I battled cancer three separate times. I suffer from an incurable disorder called Neurofibromatosis(NF) type 1 (keep reading to learn more about NF). I felt isolated from my peers and my overall metal health began to decline. I want to inspire and allow others to know that despite life’s most challenging events you can succeed…As cliché as it may sound, you cannot give up. My goal is to bridge the cap between inequity, health disparities and education.

My platform, SHINING A LIGHT ON INVISIBLE ILLNESS, focuses on Neurofibromaotisis (or NF) awareness. This incurable invisible illness is a set of complex genetic disorders that causes the growth of tumors throughout the nervous system, in the brain, and throughout the body. 2.5 million people are impacted by this disorder and I am one of them. Unfortunately, very few know about NF. Not only does NF causes physical pain, but it causes learning disabilities as well. From these complications, a person's quality of life may begin to hinder.

As Miss International 2022, I will let voices be heard within the NF community, fight for a cure, and showcase that individuals with chronic/invisible illness needs must be met, physically and emotionally. Let’s shine a light and break the stigma amongst chronic illness and invisible disease.

Stay tuned for more!

Click to learn about my platform Shining a Light On Invisible Illness with a focus on making NF visible!

Journey to Miss International: Miss New York International 2022 Meet Miss New York International 2022 - Brianna Worden as she journeys to the 2022 Miss International Pageant!

**ADVOCACY UPDATE**
Congress Releases Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Omnibus Bill with $20 million for NF Research

The Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) is excited to announce it has again successfully advocated for the federal funding of neurofibromatosis (NF) research! On Wednesday, March 9, Congress released H.R. 2471, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which includes $20 million to support the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program – NF Research Program (CDMRP-NFRP). This significant funding represents Congress’ continued commitment to the NF Community and will support the important work of CDMRP, which has been instrumental in driving NF research.

Click here to read more about what happens next ---> https://www.ctf.org/news/congress-releases-fiscal-year-fy-2022-omnibus-bill-with-20-million-for-nf-research