What does "clams" mean here?

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“I love that story because I loved Heather Grossman. She inspired me with her will to live after the crippling shot. With her tenacity raising her children. With how beautiful and strong she seemed in her wheelchair, even with her body lost.
She couldn’t breath on her own. She couldn’t live on her own. But she competed in Mrs. Wheelchair America. I mean, the clams on this girl.”

What does "clams" mean here?
Is there really a Mrs. Wheelchair America competition in the US?

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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 944 • Replies: 11

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View best answer, chosen by Justin Xu

@Justin Xu,

I think it means "secretive or silent."

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@Justin Xu,

I haven't heard that one once in my entire life.

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@roger,

I've heard it as a slang for money too!

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@cicerone imposter,

Oh, yeah. I think five clams is the same as five hundred dollars.

I've heard the expression "Happy as a clam." Never did figure that one out.

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@Justin Xu,

Justin, in the US, there is a competition for everything. I wouldn't be the least surprised to hear of a Miss or Mrs. Southern Fried Sweet Potato competition.

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The passage doesn't make sense to me. I have heard of the word "clam" used to mean delicious sea creatures, money, or a vagina. None of these make sense in the context of this passage.

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@roger,

"Happy as a clam" seems to mean he/she's happy to be in seclusion.

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@cicerone imposter,

Sure. And "Patient as an oyster" is very patient indeed.

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In the context, it's probably supposed to mean something like strong will, determination, guts, but nobody here, including me, has ever heard the word usedin a way that would make much sense here. Maybe the author made it up out of whole cloth. Maybe he or she lives in a small speech area of his or her own. I wouldn't use it in such a way if I were you.

I googled it. Naturally. It's actually Ms. Wheelchair America.

Ms. Wheelchair America, 2009:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zsyu-6458ic/SI8463_VkLI/AAAAAAAABAc/towZBdKHyS4/s400/michelle+win.jpg

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@MontereyJack,

I think we're all trying to "guess" the use of "clam" in that paragraph, but we gave it our best shot. Mr. Green

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@Justin Xu,

It means the "balls" on the this girl. She's got a set of clams, steel nuts, testicles made of iron, she can take a hit and still get up. It's not uncommon to compare a tough woman to a man.

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What does "clams" mean here?

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