Miss Michigan Finds Role as Spokesperson 'Humbling'

Jaclyn Schultz has found the support of a whole new community while giving a voice to others.

Schultz, a Wyandotte native and Miss Michigan USA, recently opened up about life without a uterus and her role as a spokesperson for Beautiful You MRKH in an interview with Stephanie Steinberg of U.S. News and World Report.

Schultz told Steinberg that it was difficult when she first learned she had the little-known Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Schultz is one of 75,000 women in the United States to be born without a uterus.

“To hear that, it’s tough,” Schultz said in the interview, which was posted on YouTube.

But Schultz said she has found strength in speaking openly about MRKH in recent months.

“It’s really nothing to be ashamed about,” she said. “It’s not talked about it so it puts this stigma on it that it’s a bad thing, and it’s not a bad thing. It’s just something all MRKH women unique. It’s not a bad thing, so I just wanted to come out with it.”

In addition, Schultz said she her role with Beautiful Your MRKH has given her a new perspective.

“I’ve had women from Ireland and Sweden and Australia message me, thanking me for coming out with this because no one has before. It’s just been a little overwhelming and really humbling to know that I’m giving the girls a little bit inspiration to know that they’re not alone. When I was diagnosed I thought that I was the only person with it. And up until 7 months ago, I had never even spoken to anyone with MRKH. So when I found the community of girls, it was amazing.”

Schultz will compete in the Miss USA pageant on June 16. The show will be televised on NBC at 9 p.m.

Read all of the story on U.S. News and World Report.

• RELATED: City Officials to Post Miss Michigan Signs Around Wyandotte