There were times when Jennifer Smestad felt alone and confused — she even recalls asking God to take her life away.

At 10 years old, Smestad was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, a disorder of the nervous system that causes involuntary movements. 

“I always wondered ‘Why God?’ ‘Why do I have this?’” she said. 

Today, Smestad knows the answer: To inspire hope. 

“I think God gave me it for a reason and that reason’s to now be Miss Arizona and be able to give hope to people who are also facing challenges,” she said. 

Twenty-year-old Smestad of Gilbert, who was crowned Miss City of Maricopa last fall, became Miss Arizona 2013 on June 22 and will go on to compete at the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, N.J. in September. 

Event organizers of the Miss Maricopa competition opened the pageant last year to residents beyond the city’s borders after receiving a small turnout to participate, a move permitted according to Miss America rules.

As a pageant contestant, Smestad was required to take up a platform — an issue the contestant can promote through the popularity of their title. It was an obvious choice for Smestad: Tourette syndrome. 

The college student, who has dreams of becoming a country singer, said today nearly all her symptoms have gone away. She attributes her good fortune to Chinese acupuncture that has helped with her blood flow and kept her body in balance. 

“I don’t struggle with it as much anymore but I still know how it feels, so I can relate to the children and other people who face the same thing,” she said. 

As part of her platform, Smestad has worked with the Arizona chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association to spread awareness about the disorder and help those who’ve been struggling. 

She takes part in monthly support groups where families come together to share their stories of success and frustration. 

“We’re able to really support each other and help each other,” she said. 

In the Miss Arizona competition, Smestad was required to write an essay about her platform issue. Smestad received the Quality of Life award, which is given to contestants based on their essays. 

Smestad had an opportunity to meet Miss Iowa — Mariah Cary — who competed at the Miss America competition in Las Vegas last year.

Smestad discovered in a newsletter that Cary also suffered from Tourette syndrome. She messaged her on Facebook and the two have remained in contact ever since. 

Because of her new role as Miss Arizona, Smestad will be taking a year off school. 

She’ll continue her education next year at Grand Canyon University where she’ll be pursuing a degree in communications. If the country singer dream does not work out, Smestad said she plans to go into sports broadcasting or become a certified dietitian and personal trainer. 

As Miss Arizona, Smestad will travel the state and make appearances, helping promote the Miss America platform that focuses on the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Miss Arizona program that raises awareness about child abuse as well as her own platform.

“I’ll be supporting all three of those platforms throughout my year,” she said.