A Casual Gamers Blog: Meet Miss Arizona, the outspoken pageant contestant struggling with Tourette's who hopes to raise awareness of her disorder

Brave contestant: Miss Arizona Jennifer Smestad, who is competing for Miss America on Sunday, was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome aged ten

When Jennifer Smestad competes in the Miss America pageant on Sunday, she'll be fighting not only for the title, but also for her voice to be heard.

The 20-year-old Miss Arizona was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at the age of ten, and after being cured five years later, she hopes to turn her pageant win into a platform for raising awareness of the neurological disorder.

The brunette wrote on her Facebook in August: 'I am beyond blessed to be able to spread awareness and educate others about something that is so personal to me.'

Tourette's syndrome is a disorder that causes sufferers to make involuntary movements and sounds.

Jennifer first began exhibiting symptoms when she was ten, but now she says they have all nearly disappeared, thanks to Chinese acupuncture that apparently helps keep her body in balance.

'I don't struggle with it as much anymore,' the Grand Canyon University student told InMaricopa.com.

'But I still know how it feels, so I can relate to the children and other people who face the same thing.'

As such, her platform at the pageant is 'Tourette Syndrome Awareness and Advocacy,' which she hopes will provide moral support to children with the disorder, which can be isolating.

'There were times when I felt very alone,' she said to AZCentral.

'I was embarrassed. It was more the fear of being bullied rather than actual bullying, but there was definitely fear.'

The beauty queen, who won Miss City of Maricopa in 2012 before going on to earn the title of Miss Arizona, said her disorder left her wondering why God had given it to her, and she even questioned why she was alive.

'Now I know why I had it,' she says. 'To be here and to help others not feel that way.'

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Overcoming trials: Jennifer (with her sister Kalynn, right) first began exhibiting symptoms when at ten, but now she says they have all nearly disappeared, thanks to Chinese acupuncture

Helping others: Her platform at the pageant is 'Tourette Syndrome Awareness and Advocacy,' which she hopes will provide moral support to children with the disorder, which can be isolating

Jennifer isn't this year's only Miss America contestant who has made the most of a difficult situation in order

Miss Iowa Nicole Kelly, 23, was born without her left forearm, but that hasn't stopped her from giving her all to the beauty pageant.

The Keokuk, Iowa resident told the Associated Press on Monday: 'I'm here not because I look different but because I have the intelligence, I have the ability and all the things that Miss America needs to have.'

Inspirational beauty says God gave me Tourettes for a reason