Iyana holds a trophy and wears a sash for her win in the Miss Amazing Illinois, which seeks to increase the self-confidence of young women with disabilities. “She didn’t want to be classified as having sickle cell disease; she wanted to be classified as Iyana,” said her mother, Tech. Sgt. Shonda Blanks, 375th Operations Support Squadron commander’s support staff NCOIC. “That’s who she was as a person. She was very sweet - had the biggest, prettiest smile, and was very nice to people.” (Photo courtesy)