The sparkle of a crown may catch the eye, but for Maggie Jackson, Mrs. California 2025, the true story lies in the weight she carries—a story of loss, love, and purpose.
Today, Jackson will step onto the Mrs. America stage, representing her home state. But her path here began more than a decade ago, with the loss of her brother, Yancey, to suicide. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Yancey had been her best friend and constant companion through a childhood marked by frequent moves.
“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,” Jackson says. “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 kept her grief tucked away, speaking about it only when asked. That shifted after meeting former Mrs. California Alissa Schwartz while working at KCAL News. “I met Alissa while working at KCAL News, and I shared my story with her,” she recalls. “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.”
In 2023, Jackson began therapy to process not only her loss but the emotions resurfacing as she raised two children—the same age gap apart as she and her brother. That perspective fueled her initiative, Your Mind Matters, which partners with schools, businesses, and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to normalize mental health conversations.
Soon, Jackson will serve as a spokesperson for NAMI’s Ending the Silence program, speaking directly to teens about warning signs and ways to seek help. “Three out of five people know someone who’s died by suicide,” she 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 ideas extend beyond the classroom—monthly peer-led hikes and gatherings, as well as a national Your Mind Matters Day each September. “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.”
While she’s preparing for Mrs. America, Jackson keeps her approach grounded. “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.”
Balancing advocacy, career, and motherhood is never perfect, and she’s honest about it. “There’s no such thing as perfect balance. Some days I’m shooting TV segments, other days I’m packing lunches and wiping tears,” she says. “But I try to be fully present wherever I am.”
