Veronica Iris Bates was crowned Miss Maine USA 2021 on 20th June 2021 at the Sheraton Sable Oaks in South Portland, Maine. Veronica succeeds and was crowned by Miss Maine USA 2020 Julia Van Steenberghe.
21-years-old, Veronica attends American Military University, which is based in Charlestown, Virginia, USA, where she is studying health science and criminal justice. After being diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she became an advocate for other U.S. Air Force veterans who suffer from PTSD.
She plans to use her platform to advocate for other veterans who suffer from PTSD. “Everything that I’ve accomplished in my life has been with other people, the biggest one being graduating from basic military training. You know, you’re with a group. This is the first thing I’ve ever done on my own, so it was just a surreal feeling,” Bates said.