My name is Kelsi Gagne, and I am your Mrs. Maine American 2023! I know my reign will be filled with amazing adventures and novel   opportunities as I represent our beautiful state of Maine.  I was born and raised in Maine and love exploring all of the beauty Maine has to offer.   From its beaches to state parks and everything in between! My husband and I have been married for 7 years and reside in Freeport with our two   beautiful daughters, Hadley, age 6, and Hayley, age 4.

 I attended the University of New England for my bachelor’s in Health Science and my Master’s in Occupational Therapy.  I played collegiate   basketball and created lifelong friendships and memories. I went on to obtain my doctorate degree at Nova Southeastern University in Fort   Lauderdale, Florida. My doctorate focused on health policy and occupational therapy interventions for the geriatric population suffering from   low vision.  As an occupational therapist, I have worked in a variety of positions from a rehabilitation director, brain injury specialist to an   adjunct faculty member for the University of Southern Maine. 

 However, my main role, and favorite job, has been being a wife and a mother to my two beautiful girls. My family loves to travel to Disney   yearly, go camping, enjoy the ocean, and participate in a variety of sports and extracurricular activities.

 After my pregnancy with my second daughter, we found out that I had contracted a virus called Cytomegalovirus (CMV) during my pregnancy   that had ultimately caused my daughter Hayley to have profound hearing loss. I had never heard of this virus and I later found out 91% of   pregnant or expecting women are unaware of CMV. As I step into the role of Mrs. Maine American 2023, I will continue my work with the   National CMV Foundation as the Maine CCA chair to help promote awareness and stop CMV at the state and national level.

 My daughter’s diagnosis lit my internal fire to become my daughter’s biggest advocate but also demonstrate what conquering your biggest   dreams looks like for my girls. I started writing every morning at 4:30 a.m. for 2 years. Multiple editors and revisions later, my 8TH grade     dream was finished. My book, The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow: What To Do In The MEAN Time was published. However, the fire in me   kept building and I signed up for the Mrs. Maine America pageant to further grow and prove to myself that any goal is possible.

 I am beyond grateful to start the reign of Mrs. Maine American and excited to work with the Mrs. Maine America Organization over this next   year. As Mrs. Maine American 2023, I will continue to serve my Freeport community, the state of Maine, and will optimize all opportunities to                                                                                  promote CMV awareness and highlight Maine and our organization with professionalism, grace and integrity.

                                                                               With gratitude and love,

                                                                               Kelsi Gagne, your Mrs. Maine American 2023