USF student will be first woman with autism to compete in Miss Florida pageant
A University of South Florida student is set to be the first woman with autism to compete in the Miss Florida pageant.
Rachel Barcellona will represent Manatee River in the pageant later this month in Lakeland.
According to a blog post from the Els for Autism Foundation, Barcellona was Miss Florida International 2016 and National American Miss Florida for 2018. The post's author said she's considered a "real role model" in her community.