11-Year-Old Girl with Rare Treatment-Resistant Cancer Achieves Dream of Competing in the Westminster Dog Show

Michayla Hopkins has etched her name into Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show history.

The 11-year-old from Plainfield, Connecticut, tells her family she has loved dogs “since I was born,” and she’s been working with them for nearly as long. On Feb. 3, she stepped into the Westminster spotlight, competing alongside adults in the show’s conformation event.

“Michayla has loved dogs since she was a baby. From the time she was a toddler, she always pretended she was a groomer or a handler, practicing for a show. She did her first official show when she was seven. It was with Frankie, a Miniature American Shepherd. Michayla was a natural. She blew everyone away in the PeeWee class. She’s even beat me, and I’ve been showing dogs for years!” says her grandmother, Jennifer Brown.

For Michayla, Westminster had long been a dream. In May 2025, that goal took on even more meaning when she was diagnosed with Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma — a rare cancer that affects roughly 80 people a year in the U.S. and does not respond to traditional chemotherapy. She says the news was frightening at first, but she refused to let it derail what she loves.

“I try to think about one day at a time,” she says.

Soon after the diagnosis, Michayla had surgery to remove the initial tumor in her bicep. The procedure left her without a large portion of the muscle. Three months later, scans showed the cancer had spread to her lungs. She tried an oral form of TKI therapy, but after it didn’t work for her, she began immunotherapy IV infusions.

Even with months of appointments and treatment, Michayla stayed committed to dog handling. She currently holds the title of the nation’s top Miniature American Shepherd Junior Handler.

That dedication reached Sarah Crepeau of Southwick Vizslas in Southwick, Massachusetts. Impressed by Michayla’s skill, determination, and enthusiasm, Crepeau invited her to handle one of the kennel’s dogs during the Vizsla Best in Breed round at the 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Michayla approached the opportunity with care, choosing an outfit that matched the dog’s coat and spending significant time practicing presentation, grooming, and ring routine ahead of the event.

To help her feel confident heading into the ring, nonprofit The Basic Six — which provides complimentary beauty services to women with cancer — arranged for professionals to do Michayla’s hair and makeup.

Michayla and the Vizsla, Sunny, competed against more than 30 others in the ring. While they didn’t take Best in Breed, the moment still felt like a win.

“It was really cool and fun. It was really nice to be in the ring. I liked it best when it was my turn to present because I got to show off my dog. It feels really good to be out there,” she says.

She adds that being around dogs helps her feel steady, confident, and happy no matter what else is happening — and that her Westminster experience reinforced the importance of holding onto what motivates you.

“I’m living my life and not giving up, and I have a lot of people to help, lean on, and pray for me,” she says. For anyone going through something difficult, she adds: “Stay strong. You can do it. It’s ok to be scared if something like this happens, but then find something else to focus on, like dogs.”

Michayla’s family hopes her story brings encouragement to others — and also helps connect them with more information and resources for her care.

“If anyone has any connections to experts on Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma, new research, or scientific breakthroughs, we’d like to know about them. We have a great medical team, but no one can know everything that is happening when it comes to rare diseases. So, the family is trying to get the word out to learn as much as possible about every single option for Michaylam,” Brown says.

Michayla’s family has also started a GoFundMe for the girl’s medical treatment and care, where they share updates on her health.