Dana Hills High School celebrates their homecoming queen
Dana Point, CA (FOX 11) - An entire high school erupted in cheers for their new homecoming queen Riley McCoy.
It was a special moment for the senior who said she voted for another classmate on the homecoming court.
"I felt very surprised and I was afraid I wasn't going to get it," she said. "I got it, so I'm super happy."
On Friday night Riley was wearing a beautiful blue dress, but normally she's covered head to toe protecting her delicate skin from the sun.
Riley suffers from a rare condition that causes her skin to blister and burn from even the slightest sun exposure.
Her story has managed to rally her classmates at Dana Hills High School as they support her battling this disease.
"I got a lot of encouragement after all this time and I'm very thankful and blessed to have these amazing people in my life," she said.
Riley was escorted down the 50 yard line by her father Mike McCoy.
She received a standing ovation from her classmates.
"It' s a special time and we never would have expected this we never knew if she would be able to go to school," her father said.
The crowd chanted Riley's name after her win.
Then a flurry of hugs from her teachers and friends as Riley reveled in the moment as homecoming queen.
"Look at these kids the way they treat her," her mother Pam McCoy said. "They way they act it's just that they want her to win they want her to succeed."
As for what's next for the senior.
She plans to participate in her first school play, graduate high school and attend college next fall.