When Maggie Jackson takes the stage at Mrs. America on August 27 in Las Vegas, it will be more than just a pageant moment. “It will be a powerful declaration of purpose,” she tells the Los Angeles Inquisitor. Representing California with pride, Maggie brings beauty as well as a deeply personal mission: mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Her platform, Your Mind Matters, is not only rooted in lived experience but in the unshakable belief that healing is possible, and no one should have to struggle alone.
Twelve years ago, Maggie’s life was forever changed when her older brother, Yancey, died by suicide. It was just one day before her birthday. “We were two years and two months apart,” she shares. “We grew up best friends. We moved around a lot, so we leaned on each other.”
Yancey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his late teens, but his struggles intensified over time. After her brother passed, Maggie felt pressure to be “the strong one.” She recalled feeling as if she needed to smile through his funeral to keep others from being uncomfortable or risk having her family judged. “Suicide was still taboo,” she said. “Even his mental illness was hard to talk about. I wish I had been more real about it.”
Young Maggie with her brother Yancey
Eventually, Maggie got married and had children, but inside, the grief remained unprocessed. “Once I had kids—two years apart, just like Yancey and me—those old wounds opened. I started reacting in ways I didn’t understand. It was then, in 2024, that I finally sought therapy. And it changed everything.”
Out of her healing journey came a mission: Your Mind Matters. It’s an initiative dedicated to promoting open conversation, education, and support for mental health and suicide prevention. “The name came from how I felt for so long. I didn’t think my pain was ‘bad enough ’to deserve therapy. But we all deserve support. Everyone’s mind matters.”
Through this initiative, Maggie now gives talks at schools, community centers, and organizations across California. She’s partnering with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to become a certified speaker for their Ending the Silence program, educating middle and high school students on mental illness and suicide prevention.
But Maggie doesn’t want to stop there. “I want to make mental health support more accessible, especially for young people,” she says. “Sometimes mental health events can feel intimidating. I want to create spaces that feel relaxed and welcoming.” She’s working with NAMI to launch monthly meetups that pair physical activity (like yoga or hiking) with community connection. “No pressure, no pamphlets, just people coming together, feeling seen, feeling safe, and knowing they’re not alone.”
In remembrance of her brother, Maggie is also planning to launch a ‘Wear Yellow for Yancey ’on October 22, his birthday. “We’re considering something simple but powerful to raise awareness for suicide prevention.”
As for the future, Maggie is writing a book that will explore both her story and Yancey’s, in hopes of helping other families through similar losses.“It’s emotional. It’s hard. But if sharing our story helps just one person feel less alone, it’s worth it.”
For Maggie, becoming Mrs. California was life-changing. Alissa Schwartz, a former Mrs. California, encouraged Maggie when they met while working on a TV segment. She inspired Maggie to enter and share her story. Maggie entered. And won.
