Featured Profile

Angelica Allsup and Madison Snipe’s friendship demonstrates the true power of the Best Buddies Friendship program. They have been best buddies for more than two years and love to spend time together shopping, watching movies, traveling, and competing in beauty pageants. Angelica is the National Miss Amazing 2016 — a pageant that celebrates and empowers girls and women with disabilities. Madison and Angelica are also fierce advocates of the Spread of the Word to End the Word campaign that works to eliminate the use of the hurtful R-word in society.

“My best buddy Angelica has been such a light in my life! We traveled to Chicago together so that she could compete in Miss Amazing, which Angelica won!” said Madison Snipes. “She’s my best friend and has become an integral part of my family. That’s what’s so great about Best Buddies, you don’t just get a friend, you also get family. We’ve had the opportunity to travel together to the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana and we’ve presented speeches in front of elected officials and commissioners, said Madison.

“I’ve gained so much from this friendship. Angelica is a testament of how to live your life.” She’s overcome so many hardships in her life, graduated college and is working hard at her life goals. She’s absolutely amazing. She is the kind of woman I want to be.”

“Instead of seeing my disability, Madison sees me,” said Angelica Allsup. “She’s someone I can talk to and be myself with. We love to get our nails done, go out to eat, and attend each other’s pageants. Best Buddies has not only given me Madison, but her family as well — we are one big family. I love Madison and her parents. I don’t know what I would be doing with my life if it weren’t for Best Buddies. I’m incredibly thankful that the University of Memphis had a Best Buddies program!”

“Best Buddies has given me so many wonderful opportunities and allowed me to meet so many amazing people…this organization has been a life saver.”