Miss Idaho, Sierra Sandison, wears insulin pump on pageant stage, photo goes viral

An insulin pump isn’t usually part of a pageant queen’s wardrobe. But Sierra Sandison, the newly crowned Miss Idaho, became a social media sensation by strutting the stage with her insulin pump clipped to her swimsuit waistband.

Since Sandison posted the photo Monday, it has received more than 4,500 likes, 2,700 shares and inspired dozens of parents to post photos of their own daughters proudly wearing their own insulin pumps.

TWEETED TOO SOON! It has now been shared 1,730 times and has over 3,000 likes! Im dying guys!! #showmeyourpump #doc pic.twitter.com/o0ZT9Pjyr9

— Sierra Anne Sandison (@sierra_anne93) July 16, 2014

"Honestly, it is terrifying walking out on stage in a swimsuit, let alone attached to a medical device," she said in the post accompanying the photo. "My message to everyone, diabetic or not, is that we all have something that doesn't 'measure up' to the beauty standards set by the media--and that is okay! It does not make you any less beautiful."

"Thank you for proudly showing your insulin pump! My daughter 11.5 dxd at tender age of 14 months does the same!" one mom named Bonnie Pfeiler wrote in a comment under Sandison's photo. Pfeiler included a photo of her smiling daughter in a bathing suit with her insulin pump clipped to the waistband. 

Sandison, 20, who won the Miss Idaho crown on Saturday, said she struggled with her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2012.

Her proud display of the medical device has now sparked a Twitter campaign, asking people to post photos of themselves with their insulin pumps on social media with the hashtag #showmeyourpump.

Here are some responses to Miss Idaho's Twitter campaign:

no shame in the pumpin' game ?? #showmeyourpump #pumpitup #diabeetus @sierra_anne93 pic.twitter.com/RjXwG8lZGn

— Danielle Adams (@DanielleAdams5) July 18, 2014

I have diabetes;diabetes doesn't have me. #showmeyourpump pic.twitter.com/7uzUcnKWZd

— katie elizabeth (@kmcphar) July 18, 2014

#type1diabetes #showmeyourpump pic.twitter.com/8fw2OmltWq

— Airica Cooper (@airicaregan) July 18, 2014

Working out all hooked up #showmeyourpump #stretchmarks pic.twitter.com/OjXGX14oYR

— type one (@imtype1) July 18, 2014

#showmeyourpump pic.twitter.com/NrN8X1pTA5

— Big Tone (@Tonypapola) July 16, 2014