By Ed Pierce
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| Christina Erde will represent Windham in the Mrs. Maine America competition to be held in South Portland on April 3. She works at Windham Primary School and also is a waitress at Rose's Italian Restaurant. PHOTO BY GARRICK HOFFMAN |
Christina Erde believes in herself and hopes that her message
of resilience will help win the crown during the 2022 Mrs. Maine America
Pageant in April in South Portland.
Married and the mother of two children, Erde, 37, became
interested in competing for the Mrs. Maine title following a discussion with a
former state pageant winner.
“I met former Mrs. Maine 2017, Cynthia Peters, and she encouraged me to enter the pageant,” Erde said. “I have never competed in a pageant before but when she shared her experience and how much she enjoyed it and gained from it, I thought ‘You know what? I’m just gonna go for it!’ Two weeks after meeting her, I sent in an application and was awarded the title of Mrs. Windham to compete in the 2022 Mrs. Maine America Pageant.”
During
the Mrs. Maine Pageant participants are rated by a panel of judges with 50 percent of scoring based upon an interview (25 percent being
interview and 25 beauty), 25 percent swimsuit, and 25 percent evening gown.
“I grew up in Windham and attended Windham Christian Academy
from kindergarten through my high school graduation in 2002. My family moved to
Otisfield when I was 10 years old, but we continued to commute to Windham for
school,” she said. “I attended Central Maine Community College where I studied
culinary arts and restaurant management.”
She’s been married to Sam Erde for 16 years and the couple has
two two boys, Colin, 10, and Noah, 8.
“I am part of the support staff at the Windham Primary School where I supervise lunch and recess. I also work part time on the weekend waitressing at Roses Italian Restaurant,” Erde said. “I began volunteering four years ago at the primary school when my oldest son was in kindergarten. I then became part of the staff the next year when he was in first grade. I have absolutely loved getting to know the children and families in our town through working at the school. I have also met many local folks as well through working at the restaurant too.”
According to Erde, she usually prefers to work behind the
scenes, but feels that competing in the Mrs. Maine Pageant will help her to
become more confident and appreciate herself for who she is.
“I saw this as a great opportunity for personal growth as well
as a unique platform to promote mental health awareness, a cause that is very
near and dear to my heart,” Erde said. “Four years ago, I was hospitalized
after suffering a severe mental breakdown. It took me a long time to feel
comfortable talking openly with others about my diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
I felt that if people knew I had a mental illness it would affect their view of
who I am as a person. No one should ever have to feel this way. Just because
you have a mental illness doesn’t mean you are less than. If anything, it means
you are strong. You are capable. You can live a fulfilling and meaningful
life.”
She said that experience has made her resilient and determined
to assist others in similar situations.
“Don’t be afraid to get help. I am so glad I did, otherwise I
wouldn’t be where I am today,” Erde said. “As I share my story with others, I
hope to continue to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and give hope
to those who may need it. I am an advocate for mental health and NAMI Maine.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine is dedicated to building
better lives for the one in four Mainers who are affected by mental illness.”
She says that her family supports her desire to compete and
win the state Mrs. Maine Pageant.
“I am so grateful to have my husband and boys by my side,
cheering me on as well as my extended family and friends,” Erde said. “I am so
humbled by the love and support I’ve received from the community as well.
The Mrs. Maine America pageant celebrates the
achievements, poise, and personality of today’s married women. It is the
official state preliminary for the National Mrs. America competition and will
be held at the Double Tree Hotel in South Portland on April 3. If she wins the
state title, she will compete in Las Vegas for the national title next summer.
“I am so thankful to have amazing sponsors who are supporting
me financially or through their services. I wouldn’t be able to do this without
their generosity and support,” Erde said. “I have loved getting to know the
other contestants. It is so awesome to meet other women with such amazing
stories. We come in all shapes and sizes with varying backgrounds. The
comradery is great, and we are all rooting for each other. I have never once
felt judged or mistreated. Our director, Deb Pronovost, is an incredible leader
and wonderful coach. She is very professional and expects the best, yet she is
also friendly and approachable.
As a girl growing up in Windham, Erde said that she used
to watch the pageants on television but never thought she had what it takes to
compete.
“I thought you had to be this Barbie doll with a perfect body
and perfect hair,” she said. “There are so many pageants with different
qualities and requirements. Some focus on beauty and fashion, others on
personality and intelligence. I think over the years many pageants have become
more balanced with their focus being more on the personality of who carries the
crown than solely on looks and intelligence.” <
