A collection agency manager and former Army specialist has cleared another hurdle toward becoming the next Ms. Veteran America, according to a report from ACA International.
Meade will join 24 others in the finals for the competition in Hollywood, Calif. on Oct. 7, according to the report. Meade participated in a semifinal competition in July.
Meade is a collection manager for Universal Credit Services in Hartland, Mich., where she has worked for the past 18 years. She spent four years in the Army after graduating from high school.
“This is the experience of a lifetime,” Meade said in the report. Her platform is geared toward advocating for homeless veterans. Female veterans are up to three times more likely to be homeless than their mail counterparts, according to Final Salute, the group that is organizing the Ms. Veteran America competition, and female veterans are the fastest growing population of homeless people. About 70% of female homeless veterans are single mothers. Final Salute has raised $370,000 to fight homelessness among members of the Armed Services.
During the finals, Meade and the other 24 contestants will be judged on four criteria: Interview, Talent, Military History and Advocacy.
Meade began her quest to be the next Ms. Veteran America back in February.
