. >> reporter: backstage in las vegas, alexis wineman, miss montana, beaming like the others as they. but hers is a journey unlike any other. the little girl with the big smile but hiding underneath it, a giant hurdle. >> we knew for a long time there was something wrong, we just didn't know what it was. >> reporter: the little girl unable to relate to other children at school. the unexplained tantrums. the hours spent alone. she had autism but her parents and teachers didn't know it. one teacher saying, i don't get paid enough to handle this. no one talked about it in her small montana town. she wasn't diagnosed until she was 11 and no one thought she would ever make it here. at 18, alexis defied the odds. the first contestant with autism to compete in miss america. so you've had a little practice? >> oh, yes. >> reporter: and for the talent portion she plans a stand-up act. this is where you have to be funny up there. >> yes. i'm always funny up there. >> reporter: the same little girl who will tell you she never got the jokes. how did you know you were funny? >> i use it to deal w

expecting to win. >> reporter: that win put her on the national stage in las vegas. >> miss montana alexis wineman>> reporter: wineman made it as far as the top 15 and won the america's choice award for garnering the most online votes. she said the whole experience has been an amazing ride. >> it's been a challenge but i've enjoyed it immensely. there are times when i feel a bit overwhelmed, but those are going to happen in life any way, whether you're going to be miss america or not. so i'm willing to take all of that on. >> reporter: dr. sanjay gupta, cnn, reporting. >>> we are less than a half hour away from president obama's announcement of the steps he plans to take and the measures that he'll support to try to make america safer while at the same time upholding the second amendment of the u.s. constitution. my colleague wolf blitzer joins me now to set the stage. wo wolf, it appears for right now the public polls show that the public is on the president's side. we have brand new numbers we want to release now. a cnn/orc poll taken january 14th to 15th. there you have it. 55% of those asked f

alexis wineman. >> reporter: wineman made it as far as the top 15 and won the america's choice awardng the most online voice votes. she says the whole experience has been an amazing ride. >> i've enjoyed it immensely. there are times when i do feel a little bit overwhelmed. but those are going to happen in life anyway, whether you're going to be in ms. america or not. so i'm willing to take all of that on. >> dr. sanjay gupta, cnn, reporting. [ female announcer ] what if the next big thing, isn't a thing at all? it's lots of things. all waking up. connecting to the global phenomenon we call the internet of everything. ♪ it's going to be amazing. and exciting. and maybe, most remarkably, not that far away. we're going to wake the world up. and watch, with eyes wide, as it gets to work. cisco. tomorrow starts here. >>> michelle obama has redefined the role of first lady. okay, you could say every first lady tweaks a role to suit her strengths. michelle obama is the only african to ever serve as first lady. now she is on the verge of another four years in the white house, four years wit

alexis wineman spent time alone. >> i was very quiet because i couldn't say anything right. i was picked on for the way i spoke. i didn't have any friends. >> her parents knew there was something wrong, but the small town didn't have the resources to figure out what it was. at the age of 11 after years and years of searching for answers, a doctor put a name to wineman's condition. pervasive development disorder, a mild form of autism. >> children with autism are very intelligent, but very quiet and socially awkward and don't respond appropriately to interactions with other people. typically they don't become beauty queens either, but one day she simply decided not to let her condition define her. >> i longed to accept myself and my autism and i realized my autism is not what defines me. i define what is autism. >> she entered the pageant as a way to prove she can do anything she set her mind to. >> i fell in love with the program and it's a good thing because i won. it's funny how things work out sometimes. >> that are win put her on the national stage in las vegas. >> miss

reporter: her talent, a comedy routine. >> i realize, if i laugh at myself, then that's okay. >> alexis wineman knows just by competing, she is inspiring others. >> a girl who has a few differences is miss america material, no matter what they are. >> no question about that. thank you, bianna. more on that in "pageant confidential" the road to miss america. she got unprecedented access, following the contestants for months. that's at 8:00 on abc. followed by the 2013 miss america competition. sam will be judging. >> what an honor it was working with those ladies. >>> right now, it is time. jumpstart your january. we have with us, well, needs no introduction, really. the most famous supermodel on the planet, iman, revealing makeup tips, live, in a moment. first, here's a look at iman's groundbreaking career. ♪ hers is a flawless face that's synonymous with fashion. for four decades, iman has been beauty and grace and a designer's dream. the author, philanthropist, wife and mother, conquers every world she encounters, from model to mogul. now, 57 years young, the icon has become the paragon of ag

we took you backstage in las vegas, to meet alexis wineman, miss montana, with all of the others as they crown. but her journey unlike any other, her family telling us the stories of the little girl unable to relate to the little girls at school, the hours spent alone, she had autism but they didn't know it. the teacher who once said i don't get paid enough to handle this. but 11 years old, finally answer. a diagnosis. no one thought she would make it here. i'm david. good to meet you. at 18, alexis has defied the odds. the first contestant with autism to compete in miss america. she came with a message for other children with special needs. what do you say to other young people who feel alone? >> i wish they would embrace themselves for who they are. >> reporter: and when she didn't have any friends growing up, i heard you had one best friend? >> oh, yes. in the fourth grade, i had a giant winnie the pooh doll. >> reporter: winnie the pooh, still loyal today. there are so many young women here who have defied the odds from small-town america. from ohio, miss fallen timbers. miss wyoming

alexis wineman! wineman made it as far as the top 15 and won the america's choice award for garnering the most online votes. she says the whole experience has been an amazing ride. >> it's been a challenge, but i've enjoyed it immensely. there are times when i do feel a bit overwhelmed, but those are going to happen in life anyway, whether you're going to be in miss america or not. so i'm willing to take all of that on. >> dr. sanjay gupta. ♪ if loving you is wrong ♪ i don't wanna be right [ record scratch ] what?! it's not bad for you. it just tastes that way. [ female announcer ] honey nut cheerios cereal -- heart-healthy, whole grain oats. are you flo? yes. is this the thing you gave my husband? well, yeah, yes. the "name your price" tool. you tell us the price you want to pay, and we give you a range of options to choose from. careful, though -- that kind of power can go to your head. that explains a lot. yo, buddy! i got this. gimme one, gimme one, gimme one! the power of the "name your price" to

joining me now, miss montana, 2012, alexis wineman. good morning to you.ch for getting up so early. >> thank you for having me, gretchen. >> gretchen: tell people about your story because not only is it amazing that you're only 18 years old and have accomplished this goal of becoming miss montana, but you were diagnosed at 11 with autism. i know it was a struggle because you didn't know what was wrong with you up until that point, right? >> that is correct. i for the longest time really wanted to know what was wrong with me. when i was finally diagnosed, i felt like it came too late. but when i got right down to it, it really helped. i found ways to cope with it and now it's part of who i am and i feel blessed that i'm able to define my autism rather than it define me. >> gretchen: so tell us what types of symptoms and signs that you have and how you cope with it. >> i have very mild symptoms. but i do suffer from constant meltdowns if things get too stressful. i have problems understanding common things. i take things very literally. i have trouble commun

miss montana, alexis wineman, is the first miss america contestant diagnosed with autism.he said she used to spend hours alone in her room refuse to go talk to anyone. even though she was considered highly functioning, she was ridiculed because of a speech impediment and intense shyness. >> growing up, i was a loner, i barely hung out with anyone. i would stay in my room for hours just not wanting to talk to anyone. the girl you are seeing now is not the same girl you would have saw ten years ago. i have overcome so many of my symptoms. >> alexis credits her family with helping her become comfortable with herself. she said that enabled her to get out and try new things. >> you can see how she does in the 2013 miss america competition tonight at nine right here on abc7. something else you can expect. tomorrow some bart riders will be a bit underdressed as in they will not be wearing any pants. organizers improv everywhere have declared tomorrow to be the day for the twelfth annual no pants subway ride. the no pants party starts boarding around noon with a group photo planne

history.this ii 18 year old alexis wineman... or miss montana.wineman... has autism.crown... because sse wants to bring awarenees to autism..and show hat people even labeld as ann"outcaat"... can be miss ameeica material. an n-b-a team owner... fined for his words on sociil networking weesiit! pebsite!the tweet that's costing dallas maverick's of doolarr! dollars! yyu''e all loccl.. aal morning. 3 ((break 1)) this cold season, nasal congestion won't stop me. i made the clear choice. claritin-d. decongestant products on the shelf can take hours to start working. claritin-d starts to work in just 30 minutes. power through nasal congestion fast. get claritin-d at the pharmacy counter. p3 3 3 p3 3 3 president obama's inauguration is less than two weeks away... and hees brinning in some histo. hiitooy. he two items he'll have on hand... whhie he's swearing in. in. yoo're watching fox 45 morninggnews.. all local.. all morring. ((break 2))), >> creed's sound was definitely rock and roll, and their meaningful lyrics touched fans in a whole new way. ♪ can you take me higher >>