Curran , then 20 , represented Iowa at the Miss USA 2008 pageant in Las Vegas , held on April 11 , 2008 , where she competed against District of Columbia and fifty other delegates . Curran was the first contestant with a disability . Curran was born with cerebral palsy . She also made an appearance on '' The Ellen DeGeneres Show '' , CBS ' '' The Early Show '' , '' Inside Edition '' , '' Access Hollywood '' , '' Extra '' , and '' CNN Headline News '' . She also had an exclusive feature story in '' People Magazine ''
Miss USA 2008
Miss USA 2008
Abbey Curran