Homer Glen Trustee Nicole La Ha Zwiercan was crowned Mrs. America 2022 on Saturday at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino becoming the 44th Mrs. America and the second from Illinois to win the title.
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The competition included 51 women — representing each state and the District of Columbia. As the winner, La Ha Zwiercan goes on to represent America and compete at the Mrs. World competition.
She said during the competition she was both peaceful and proud of what she could bring to the table. She was still in shock and honored that she won.
“I will take this year and this opportunity to inspire people,” La Ha Zwiercan said. “I’m ready to get to work.”
A mother of two, including daughter Ashlynn who was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, La Ha Zwiercan has been an advocate for communities to become more inclusive and accommodating for those with disabilities.
A lifelong Homer Glen resident, La Ha Zwiercan said she will use her Mrs. America platform to inspire others to create a more accessible world. She will also work with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation to prevent drug addiction and bridge the gap between resources available for those who are disabled, noting that people with disabilities are at a higher risk to misuse opioids than the general population.
Even before she was an advocate for people with disabilities, she worked to prevent workplace bullying.
Her message never changes: Be kind and be empathetic.
“Integrity guides every action I speak or do,” La Ha Zwiercan said.
La Ha Zwiercan was elected to the Homer Glen Village Board in 2021 and became the first chairperson of the village’s Ability Awareness Committee, which advocates for inclusivity and accessibility for people with special needs. She also co-chairs the village’s parks and recreation committee, where she has been active in ensuring that the village’s parks have something for everyone.
In the last year on the Homer Glen Village Board, the Ability Awareness Committee has hosted various educational roundtable discussions and presentations, such as understanding your child’s individualized education program, how to make homes more accessible in case of an emergency and basics of sign language.
In June, the committee raised funds to bring an inclusive swing to Homer Glen’s Heritage Park. The swing, which is expected to be installed later this year, will allow children who may not have head or neck support to participate in a fun activity at the park.
The Ability Awareness Committee also partnered with Homer Township for the first-ever Homer Township Highway Commissioner’s Special Needs Grant, which was awarded in July.
Before her time on the Village Board, she advocated for area grocery stores to purchase special inclusive shopping carts that can accommodate children with disabilities.
“This is my purpose, my legacy — to advocate for a more inclusive world, not just for my daughter but for people everywhere,” La Ha Zwiercan said.
La Ha Zwiercan is married to Dr. Christopher Zwiercan and has two children, Cristiano, 7, and Ashlynn, who is almost 5.
She was named Mrs. Illinois in June. Previously, she won the title of Mrs. Illinois International in 2016 and Mrs. USA Universe in 2018.
In addition to being first runner-up at the Mrs. Universe Pageant, she was given the 2018 Mrs. Universe Humanitarian Award for her work in her community.
She was included on the 2020 list for “Top 15 Most Influential Women in Pageantry.” She also was named one of Chicago’s “Most Inspiring People” by Voyage Chicago Magazine.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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