Mrs. California Maggie Jackson: Using the Mrs. America Stage to Break Mental Health Stigma
By Ashley Foster
When Maggie Jackson walks onto the Mrs. America stage on August 27, 2025, she’ll be wearing more than a sash that reads California. She’ll carry a deeply personal mission—to make mental health conversations as common as talking about physical health.
A wife, mother of two, and freelance TV host from Los Angeles, Jackson is the founder of Your Mind Matters, an initiative born from the loss of her brother, Yancey, to suicide 12 years ago. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Yancey was more than just her sibling—he was her anchor.
"We moved a lot growing up, so my brother and I really leaned on each other. He was my lunch buddy at every new school, my constant,” she recalls. “Watching him suffer and ultimately lose his life to mental illness was heartbreaking. For a long time, I didn’t feel like I was worthy of speaking out. For me, I didn’t save him, so how could I help anyone else?”
For years, Jackson shared her story only when asked. That changed after meeting former Mrs. California Alissa Schwartz, who encouraged her to see the pageant as a platform. “I met Alissa while working at KCAL News, and I shared my story with her,” Jackson says. “She opened up about her own family's mental health challenges and encouraged me to use my voice. At first, I laughed off the idea of competing. But then something clicked. It felt like a calling. Like all the stars aligned.”
Since then, Jackson has worked closely with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to make resources more accessible. She’s preparing to become a spokesperson for NAMI’s Ending the Silence program, which educates middle and high school students on recognizing mental health warning signs and getting help early.
“Three out of five people know someone who’s died by suicide,” Jackson says. “Yet we still don’t talk about it enough. If my brother, Yancey, had felt more accepted, more seen, maybe things would have been different. I want to be part of changing that narrative.”
Her vision includes monthly peer-led events—such as community hikes and casual gatherings—to create safe spaces for connection and healing. She’s also advocating for a national Your Mind Matters Day every September, during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, where people wear yellow to honor loved ones and spark dialogue. “I picture a day where we all wear yellow, the color of suicide prevention, to honor loved ones and open up the dialogue,” she says. “It’s about giving people space to speak, share, and heal.”
Jackson plans to write a book chronicling her journey alongside her brother’s story, with the aim of breaking the silence and shame that too often surrounds mental illness.
While preparing for Mrs. America, she stays focused on authenticity over appearance. “I’m not on some extreme diet or fitness plan,” she laughs. “I’ve always loved movement and taking care of my body and mind. Pageantry is about putting your best self forward, and I’ve been on that journey long before the competition.”
Her husband’s encouragement fuels her. “He told me, ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Go for it. Don’t feel guilty.’ Hearing that gave me so much peace. He’s been incredibly supportive, and knowing we’re a team makes all the difference.”
For Jackson, the Mrs. America stage is more than a competition—it’s a microphone. “I’m doing this for him,” she says. “And for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to suffer in silence.”
