If you’re a woman in the military, then you have probably felt at some point in your career periods of isolation navigating a “man’s world”. Although we know that women have made history while serving in the U.S. military, we also know that it’s only a staggering 16% that make up our sisters in arms. Most women who join the military have to sacrifice some aspect of themselves when they put on the uniform, whether it be their individuality, femininity, family life, and the list could go on. 

 

So what happens when our sisters in arms hang up their uniforms? I had the pleasure of speaking with 3 competitors for Ms. Veteran America and received quite a bit of insight on the overall initiative that sparked this nontraditional beauty pageant (that’s definitely not a superficial beauty pageant!). 

 

What is Ms. Veteran America?

 

Founded by Major Jas Boothe, Ms. Veteran America is a competition for women veterans across the United States sparked by a movement to uplift and encourage all women veterans to support each other in their success within and beyond the military. One of the largest aspects of this competition is charitable giving. Proceeds from the Ms. Veteran America competition goes to Final Salute. 

 

The competition has three main components to it:

 

• Talent
• Interview
• Advocacy

 

Talent

 

Anybody else getting flashbacks of Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality? Well, I’m here to put your mind at ease if you’re thinking about competing next year for Ms. Veteran America, because the talent portion of this competition is “Lip Sync”. In the age of Tik Tok and Instagram reels, this type of talent display is perfect for the times!

 

CPT Dominique Dove remarked that she even had the help of fellow contestants during her rendition of Shania Twain’s “The Don’t Impress Me Much” for the semi finals competition! Unfortunately, she wouldn’t share with me what song/artist she is rehearsing for the final competition which is being held at the Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida on October 30, 2022. 

 

Interview

 

The interview portion of the competition ranges from personal interviews to questions about military history. This part of the competition highlights each competitor’s “why” and the path that history has forged— why women choose to serve and where the roots formed for their continued service. 

 

Advocacy

 

The foundation of the Ms. Veteran America competition is advocacy for homeless women veterans. A few of the stipulations for the winner is that they fulfill their obligation to be the voice for Final Salute and provide 250 hours of community service during their tour as Ms. Veteran America. 

 

During the competition, each contestant must develop and execute their own plan to raise awareness and garner donations for Final Salute. The contestants have creative freedom when it comes to how they execute their plan. 

 

Finding inspiration from her own hardship, SGT Kiara Mendez chose to turn her love for writing poetry into hosting a writing class as a means to fundraise for Final Salute. Other events in play are charity balls, and the Move With a Purpose Dash. Anyone interested in donating towards this cause can find more information on the Ms. Veteran America webpage. 

 

What is the Final Salute?

 

Final Salute is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to women veterans transitioning from their military service and/or those facing hardships in regards to financial insecurity. 

 

Their “H.O.M.E. program provides transitional housing, on-site case management, food, clothing, transportation, child care subsidy/assistance, employment support, and other essential support services to homeless women Veterans and their children” (Housing Outreach Mentorship Encouragement). 

 

Final Salute’s S.A.F.E. program provides emergency financial assistance and/or financial education in regards to saving, budgeting, and living on a fixed income. 

 

For women veterans transitioning into the civilian career sector, they also provide professional business attire, image consulting, and professional headshots for LinkedIn profiles. 

 

Is Ms. Veteran America a beauty pageant?

 

As explicitly detailed by some of the Army’s very own competitors— Ms. Veteran America is NOT a beauty pageant. However, the glam side of competing in this event is nothing to shy away from. 

 

Former Army Combat Medic, Samantha Downey “I’m a tomboy at heart but I actually really do enjoy the whole getting glitzed up and putting on dresses… I think people forget that women veterans, at the end of the day we are women and sure we can put on boots and uniforms and go out there to do rough and tough stuff, but I’m also a mom, a daughter, a wife, and I’m a woman…”

 

One of the best aspects of this competition is that the women competing come from all walks of life (mimicking the melting pot that the military is!). There is no single standard for beauty and this competition highlights women of all physiques, personalities, and aptitudes. 

 

Sponsorship

 

Competitors for Ms. Veteran America are highly encouraged to seek sponsorship to help support their running as a contestant. Sponsorship can range from finding local boutiques to provide gowns, shoes, and other attire to also raising money for travel to the competition site. 

 

Should you compete in Ms. Veteran America?

 

Almost everyone who has competed in Ms. Veteran America has expressed the same amount of gratitude in simply gaining this experience. Contrary to the stereotype of catty behavior when women are forced to go neck and neck with each other, competitors of Ms. Veteran America cite how amazing the community of women veterans they have added to their network. 

 

CPT Dominique Dove initiated a group chat for the women veterans competing in Ms. Veteran America 2022 where they could all come together, sync ideas for fundraising, and gain support during their journey in this competition. Since then, strong camaraderie has bloomed from the inspiring stories that each contestant uses as motivation to support the organization and each other. 

 

How can you sign up to compete in Ms. Veteran America competitions?

 

Women veterans that are interested in competing can find more information on how to sign up by visiting Ms. Veteran America’s webpage. 

 

Why is Ms. Veteran America important for all women veterans?

 

The competitors of Ms. Veteran America often have the same shared experiences as most women veterans. The motivation that drives each of the contestants may differ slightly, but the foundation of who we are, what we stand for, and what we continue to fight for remains the same. 

 

Dominique Dove

 

CPT Dominique Dove shared her own personal obstacles and hardships that highlight why Ms. Veteran America and Final Salute are important to her and other women veterans. Approximately 40% of homeless women veterans have reported that they were victims of sexual assault. She feels a personal calling to the Final Salute’s mission the more she has participated in their emphasis on advocacy and research she has done on how it has not only affected herself, but also other women veterans.

 

CPT Dove disclosed that she herself was a victim of sexual assault and was also homeless for a semester in college where she has been living out of her own car. She admitted that both of these harsh aspects of her life thwarted her to become a lawyer that advocates for women of domestic violence and is the driving force behind why she feels so strongly about Final Salute’s overall initiative. 

 

On top of being one of the women behind the new Army Directive 06-22, she is developing a white paper to redefine the term “homeless” so that it includes definitions such as “couch surfing” which is not currently recognized as an qualifying condition of homelessness with the VA but is often a reality of women veterans and their children. She hopes this initiative will allow more women veterans and their children access to receive resources to help improve and maintain financial stability. 

 

Kiara Mendez

 

SGT Kiara Mendez was inspired to compete in Ms. Veteran America during her own difficult time in the United States Army. She believes in Final Salute’s mission of helping women veterans get their voice back in the midst of their trials and tribulations. She shared that while she had been experiencing the ebbs and flows of emotion after initiating her own SHARP report, she became really depressed and turned to writing poetry as an outlet. 

 

What started out as questioning her purpose within the military turned into inspiration to help others through difficult times within their military career. As a Religious Affairs Specialist, she is able to provide support for others who may be experiencing a need for religious or spiritual sustenance. 

 

Being one of the youngest competitors this year, SGT Mendez highlighted how eye-opening the competition has been thus far by doting on how inspirational it has been to be surrounded by so many women veterans with command presence. Depending on your experience in the military as a woman, you may not have had access to authoritative women role models. By being exposed to women veterans who have already accomplished so much, SGT Mendez shares that it has helped her redefine her own goals and what is possible for the remainder of her military career. 

 

Samantha Downey

 

Samantha Downey discovered the Ms. Veteran America competition on a whim when she was in search for a scholarship to fund her law school college tuition. Although the possibility of receiving a scholarship seemed like motivation enough to compete, she felt more drawn to apply herself the more she researched Final Salute’s overall mission in providing resources for women veterans. Like the other women in her cohort, she feels that competing in Ms. Veteran America is a great opportunity for women veterans to build confidence in themselves and camaraderie in shared experiences within and outside of the military.

 

Ms. Downey explains that it costs $25 a day to house a veteran woman and her children, but if a person is not able to donate by monetary means then advertising for Final Salute is another great way to spread the word. Unlike competitions like “Best Warrior Competition” or “NCO of the Year”, Ms. Veteran America and Final Salute aren’t widely advertised throughout different components of the military. 

 

The support of these organizations directly affects our sisters in arms who may be struggling to make ends meet, which is why a large emphasis of this competition requires public advocacy. As someone who has transitioned from serving in the military to the civilian sector, Ms. Downey feels organizations like these and stories like hers are important for women veterans to be aware of who may feel stuck in the rat race of LES and Tricare dependence.