WHEN Jude Mabone suffered a staggering six heart attacks, she knew that if she survived, she wanted to achieve her dream.
And last June she made that dream of becoming a beauty queen come true - as she was crowned Miss District of Columbia 2023.
It was an incredibly proud moment for Jude, now 28, after staring death in the face so many times.
She had vowed to herself that if she was going to die, then she wanted to spend the rest of her time living an amazing life.
And on her bucket list was being a pageant queen.
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"When I had my first couple of heart attacks, I was ashamed of the stigma associated with it," said Jude, who lives in Washington DC, USA.
"Heart disease is often linked with an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking or drinking, and I didn’t do any of those.
"I was very fit and loved cross country running.
"I was so ashamed that for a while, I didn’t tell anyone around me what was happening to me, as I thought it would be seen as though I had done something wrong that was causing me to have these heart attacks.
"When I was on the stage after being crowned Miss America, it was an extremely proud moment,
"And to talk about heart attacks through being in the competition was very healing for me.
"I know now that it's nothing to be ashamed of."
Jude was a super fit 16-year-old out on a run when she suffered her first heart attack in July 2012.
"I was in great shape," she said.
"I started out on a six-mile run and after five miles I suddenly developed chest pains.
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"I thought it was because it was very hot and I hadn’t drunk enough water, but as I carried on, it became more and more severe.
"I had pain in my shoulder and I felt sick and dizzy too.
"I was near my high school when I stopped and called my mum and she drove me to the nearest hospital."
The doctors carried out tests, and told her that she had suffered a heart attack.
Jude, who has a boyfriend called Royce, 28, said: "I couldn’t believe it.
"I knew I had all the classic signs of having a heart attack, but I couldn’t understand why I had one when I was a young and fit 16-year-old."
Over the next two years, Jude suffered another five heart attacks.
I thought if I was at the end of my life, then I needed to make the most of it
Jude Mabone
At first, doctors were mystified about what was causing it, but then they discovered she was suffering from coronary vasospasm (CAS) - when the heart’s arteries suddenly constrict, causing spasms that can trigger a heart attack.
They told her it was brought on exercise, which was devastating for her as she had always loved running.
"My heart attacks were all brought on when I was running, so for a while I had to stop whilst doctors controlled it with medication," said Jude.
She has now learned to live with her condition and control it with beta blockers, and she has been able to run again.
She says she is actually in better physical shape now than before.
After her heart attacks, she started a bucket list which includes visiting all the states in America and every continent, plus learning to sail and ride a horse.
At the very top of her list was becoming a beauty queen.
She said: "I thought if I was at the end of my life, then I needed to make the most of it."
She entered the beauty contest seven times, but failed to win, coming first runner up on several occasions.
Then the age limit for the competition was raised, and she decided to try one more time in June last year.
And this time, she managed to take the crown as Miss District of Columbia 2023.
She said: "It was such a thrilling moment. And I see this opportunity to really change the way people view heart disease.
"It kills more people than cancer, but it receives only a small percentage of funding.
"I hope as Miss America, I can help improve heart health."
