Madeline Mitchell

Madeline Mitchell Gwin (née Mitchell; born May 17, 1989) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Russellville, Alabama.

Mitchell had previously competed in the 2008 Miss Alabama USA pageant and placed as the second runner-up.

On September 26, 2008, while she was on her way to show her mother her new dress for the 2008 Miss Alabama USA competition, she hit a deer and lost control of her vehicle.

The car went into 40 ft ravine and caught fire just off of Alabama State Route 13.

Walmart truck driver Gary Lewellen extinguished the fire in her car during the accident.

She and her boyfriend were trapped, hanging upside down, in the car.

She spent 12 days in a coma at the University of Alabama Hospital following the accident and had multiple fractures to her leg, broken ribs, and internal injuries.

She spent 21 days on a respirator and two months in a wheelchair.

With a femur broken in 12 places and pneumonia, she was at risk of losing not only her leg, but also her life.

Although doctors had doubted the possibility, she was able to walk after several months.

, she was in the final year of studies at the University of Alabama, where she studied elementary education.

She returned one year later and competed in the 2009 Miss Alabama USA competition and only finished Top 15.

On November 7, 2010, as Miss Tuscaloosa, she won the title of Miss Alabama USA at the Bama Theatre in Tuscaloosa.

Her parents are Suzanne and John Mitchell.

She won the title of Miss Alabama USA 2011 and competed in the Miss USA 2011 competition, where she finished as the second runner-up.

Mitchell was named 2nd runner-up at Miss USA 2011 pageant held at Las Vegas on June 19, 2011.

With her then fiancé Ryan Gwin, Mitchell competed in the first season of Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls which premiered on July 8, 2013 on NBC.

The couple finished in 4th place in the penultimate episode.

She later won the Mrs. America 2015 pageant.

She won the Mrs. America 2015 pageant on March 28.