From Combat Veteran to Crown
When Dr. Carol Meza-Bakke made the decision to enter the Mrs. Kansas-America competition, she was stepping into entirely new territory. A decorated combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, social worker, professor, mother, and long-time community advocate, Carol had never pictured herself in a pageant. But something about the unfamiliarity of it made her lean in.
“Pageantry was something I had never considered before,” she said. “It felt intimidating, unfamiliar, maybe even a little out of reach. But that’s exactly why I did it. I wanted to challenge myself and grow.”
She didn’t take the leap just for herself. She wanted to make a statement to other women, veterans, and community members that it’s okay to be seen, to take up space, and to celebrate yourself, even after a life spent in service to others. “I’ve spent most of my life putting others first – in the military, in social work, in education, as a mom. This was a chance to step forward and say, ‘You matter too.’”
The competition was her first experience in the world of pageantry. So when she found out she had been named Mrs. Kansas-America 2025, the moment was overwhelming. “I was shocked. It was a rush of pride, disbelief, and mostly gratitude. I just kept thinking about the girl I used to be, the one who didn’t grow up with much, who lived in poverty, who thought dreams like this weren’t made for people like her.”
A Platform with Purpose
Her platform, Veterans Mental Health Awareness, is more than a cause, it’s her reality. As someone who has walked through the invisible wounds of war, and whose doctoral work focused on military sexual trauma, she has spent her personal and professional life advocating for those who often go unseen. Her passion for trauma recovery and mental health access has shaped not only her career but her community work as well. “Veterans’ mental health is not just something I care about,” she said. “It’s something I live. I’ve walked through it, and I’ve dedicated my career to helping others do the same.”
Carol’s advocacy for veterans and trauma survivors has been a driving force both professionally and locally. As a founding member of the Advisory Board at Crawford County Mental Health Center (CCMHC), Carol has helped guide the development of services by working directly with program directors and staff. The Advisory Board is made up of clients, family members, advocates, and passionate community members, and meets quarterly to provide insight, give feedback, and shape the future of service delivery at CCMHC.
Prior to her role on the Advisory Board, she was especially influential in helping get the Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF) program at CCMHC off the ground. “That work was so meaningful to me,” Carol said. “It was a chance to bring my lived experience and my clinical knowledge to the table and help build something that didn’t just check boxes, but truly met people where they were.”
As she steps into her new statewide role, Carol plans to keep that momentum going. Over the next year, she’ll attend community events, reunifications, speaking engagements, and fundraisers across Kansas. She’ll also host nature-based retreats through her nonprofit, Outside the Wire Veterans Foundation, which creates spaces for veterans and their families to reconnect, reflect, and heal.
A Message of Healing and Hope
While she’ll be wearing the crown, Carol sees the work ahead as deeply collaborative and rooted in purpose. “My goal is to reduce stigma, to open conversations, and to amplify awareness, not just about veterans’ mental health, but about healing in general. There’s so much power in being honest about what we’ve been through.”
That message of honesty and healing is why Crawford County Mental Health Center is proud to support Carol in her journey. Our missions are deeply aligned: accessible care, compassionate outreach, and a belief that everyone deserves to be heard.
“Having CCMHC as a sponsor means everything to me,” Carol said. “Their generosity and belief in what I’m doing, it left me emotional. It reminded me that we really are stronger when we come together. We’re sending a clear message to veterans and to anyone who’s struggling: you matter, your story matters, and help is here.”
Carol hopes her story inspires others to face their own fears and to ask for help when they need it. “Healing is possible,” she said. “And there’s incredible strength in just showing up for yourself, one day at a time.”
To follow along with her journey as Mrs. Kansas-America 2025, you can connect with Carol on Facebook at facebook.com/mrskansasamerica and on Instagram at @dr.cmeza. From the battlefield to the classroom, from the therapy office to the pageant stage, Dr. Carol Meza-Bakke continues to show that leadership comes in many forms, and that it always starts with compassion and courage.
