My name is Christina Erde, and I am your Mrs. Maine American 2022! I look forward to a year full of new experiences and opportunities as I represent our beautiful state of Maine.

My husband and I have been married for 16 years and reside in Windham with our two lively boys ages 8 and 10 years old. I have lived in Maine my whole life, apart from spending a year in Rockford, Illinois.

I attended Central Maine Community College where I studied culinary arts with the dream of one day owning and operating a bed & breakfast. When my husband and I were dating, we found out that he had the EXACT same dream! I guess you could say we were destined to be together! We both enjoy gourmet food and discovering new restaurants all over Southern Maine. I have worked in the food industry and restaurant business for the past 22 years as a waitress and in food preparation. I am currently a waitress at a family-owned Italian restaurant in my town where I absolutely love meeting new people and building relationships with the locals.

During Maine’s beautiful summer months, my family and I enjoy camping on Sebago Lake, visiting Two Lights State Park, hiking Bradbury Mountain, and taking in as much of the warm weather we can before the long winter! I also have a large, extended family where we all live within 10 minutes of each other, have children close in age, and spend lots of time together. I love watching my boys and their cousins make memories and grow up as best friends.

As I step into the role of Mrs. Maine American 2022, I will continue my work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness as a mental health advocate. My goal is to bring awareness, educate, and help remove the stigma associated with mental illness. As a person living with a severe mental heath condition, I know firsthand how important it is to take care of your mental health. I want to encourage others that recovery is possible, and you CAN live a fulfilling life despite having a mental health condition. I am living proof!

I am so excited to work with the Mrs. Maine America Organization and will look for opportunities to promote the pageant with grace and integrity. I will encourage other women to value, honor, and cherish themselves for who they are and to be proud of their accomplishments. As David Marmel, founder of the Mrs. America Organization said, “America’s greatest natural resource is the married woman!” 

                                                                               With much love and appreciation,

                                                                               Christina Erde