Meet Kristin Walton
What follows is an edited version of an article originally written by Amber Olesen for The Maine Switch. You can see the article in its entirety at The Maine Switch.
Kristin Walton, 42, married her high school sweetheart, Bob, 21 years ago. With three teenage boys and a part-time job as a nanny for two young girls, she definitely loves children and family. Add being a Maine native to that resumé and who else would be more appropriate to hold the title of Mrs. Maine, United States?
Walton has called Brunswick home for the last six years and is also a licensed manicurist. She no longer works in a salon, but still takes time to work for her friends. Five years ago, a client decided to run for Mrs. Maine and tried to encourage Walton to do the same. Without giving it much thought, she continued on with her family life and career.
A Childhood Dream
Competing in pageants was a childhood dream she never carried out. Kristin's father didn't believe in pageantry and said she she was good the way she was and didn't need a pageant title to prove it. But a mother of her son’s friend was a pageant coach and, with the support of others, finally convinced her to run.
The Platform
Kristin's platform is helping women with depression. Having dealt with depression for most of her adult life, she thought this would be a great opportunity to get her story out and let people know what she’s been through. Kristin Walton strongly believes that if she can overcome the hold of depression, other women can too. “I see this as a great opportunity to get my story out and break the stigma of how society views depression,” she says. “I want people to get the help that they need.”
Her Plans as Mrs. Maine 2008
Now that she has the title of Mrs. Maine, she has many plans and efforts in the works. She hopes to speak at conventions and conduct group meetings about depression. Walton also has organized a community garden in Brunswick for the Pink Tulip Project and all proceeds will go directly to the Maine Cancer Foundation. She plans to continue this project into Topsham and Lisbon as well, long after the reign of Mrs. Maine is over.
Currently prepping herself for the Mrs. Maine United States pageant held in Las Vegas, Mrs. Maine 2008 also would like to help other women run for pageants in the future. Walton speaks of the relationships built, friendships made and worthy causes. She describes pageants and the pageant process as educational, and she credits the experience to teaching her how to take care of herself, emotionally, psychically and mentally.
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Age: 42
Home: Brunswick, Maine
Profession: Wife, Mom, Manicurist, Nanny
Platform: Helping women with depression
In the News
As Kristin travels the state during her reign as Mrs. Maine United States, we'll post articles written about her here. Keep an eye on Mrs. Maine!
February 21, 2008 - Biddeford Courier
January 6, 2008 - Portland Press Herald
January 2,
2008 - The Maine Switch
December 27,
2007 - Times Record
Kristin Walton's Personal Goals
“In the future, my dream would be to work with women with depression,” she says. “After this year of networking to get the door open for myself, I would really like someday to have my own organization — an office, with licensed people ... where people can come in, look for different support groups, have a place to talk to someone 24 hours a day and we can help them through.”