A Wisconsin teen with Down syndrome will have a very special prom date this weekend — a bona fide beauty queen.

A mutual friend connected Charlie Gainey, 18, who has Down syndrome, with the reigning Miss Minnesota USA, Danielle Hooper, 20. Now the pair are set to go to the Menomonie High School prom this weekend where Gainey has been nominated to the prom court.

Hooper — who will compete in the Miss USA pageant in June — said she was inspired to join Gainey on his special night in part because she has a 2-year-old cousin with Down syndrome. She got approval from pageant officials and her boyfriend to go forward with the date.

Gainey has a full evening planned for the pair. “Whether I am king or not really doesn’t matter; it’s about dinner, the dance, prom and a lot about Danielle,” he told the (Eau Claire, Wis.) Leader-Telegram. To read more click here.

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