15-year-old Anna Hankins has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare, incurable genetic disorder that makes her constantly starving hungry. Her condition means she has low muscle tone, short stature, and can’t stop eating.
When she was a toddler she would pinch food from her parents’ plates, eat entire cookies in one go, and would even dig through the bins in search of more food. She was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome when she was two, after her hunger became so extreme that her parents had to lock the fridge and cupboards to stop their daughter from ransacking them.
When Anna was 14, Jennifer attended an event at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh where she met specialists and learned about the condition. Anna was put on a special diet made up of three meals a day including plenty of vegetables, a little bit of meat, rice, fruit and vitamin supplements. She cannot have sweets or fatty foods because they cause her to rapidly gain weight, and in spite of the plan she currently tips the scales at 380lbs.
Because her body cannot break down food properly, Anna can’t lose weight. She also needs extra oxygen to help her breathe and is unable to dress herself or tie her shoelaces because of her size. Those are the physical effects of Anna’s condition. She also has to deal with isolation, stares from strangers, and comments from her peers. In short: Life isn’t easy. But that hasn’t held her back.
Anna loves competing in pageants, and was recently crowned queen in an event celebrating women and girls with disabilities.
Competing in pageants has done wonders for Anna’s confidence, and she loves preparing for each event.