Rehoboth Woman Advocates for Children’s Mental Health as Mrs. Massachusetts Petite

At 28 years old, Chrystal Lopes of Rehoboth is not just a titleholder in the pageant world, but also a passionate advocate for children’s mental health.

Having won the prestigious title of Mrs. Massachusetts Petite at the New England Petite Pageant on March 24 in Concord, New Hampshire, Lopes is now preparing to represent her state at the national Petite USA competition, scheduled for July 31 to August 3 in Chicago.

As a local occupational therapist, Lopes has dedicated her platform, "Be Resilient," to supporting children who have experienced trauma and mental health challenges. Inspired by the remarkable resilience of the kids she works with, Lopes is on a mission to bring awareness and provide tangible support to this vulnerable population.

"These kids are the most resilient kids ever," Lopes said. "They stay positive, they're amazing, and they always put their best foot forward. I've learned so much from working with them, and it has made me think differently about the world."

Chrystal Lopes' Teddy and Backpack Drives

Lopes' commitment to making a difference extends beyond her professional work.

Recently, she organized a teddy bear drive, recognizing the comfort and solace that stuffed animals can provide to children in distress.

"Most kids find comfort in hugging a stuffed animal," Lopes said. "We will be distributing these teddy bears to various places to help bring a sense of security and comfort to more children."

In addition to the teddy bear drive, Lopes is spearheading a backpack drive, collecting school supplies for children. The Amazon wish list for the drive has shown great support from the community, reflecting the collective effort to support these children.

Chrystal Lopes Beyond the Pageant

Lopes emphasizes that her involvement in pageants goes far beyond the fanciness often associated with these events.

"Pageants aren’t just about glitz and glam," she said. "I'm in it for the right reasons — to make a difference in my community and bring some positivity and attention to this population of children. It's a known issue, but no one wants to talk about it or help these kids."

Her goal is to use her platform to extend her impact across all 50 states if she wins the title of Mrs. USA Petite. "I would love to use my platform to help children across the country, specifically focused around kids in foster care."

Looking Ahead

With the upcoming Petite USA competition and a possible future title of Mrs. Universal Petite, which takes place on a cruise in international waters, Lopes remains dedicated to her cause.

In her spare time, she continues to give back to the community, participating in book fairs and other charitable activities.

Through her "Be Resilient" initiative, she is making a significant impact, one teddy bear and backpack at a time, and inspiring others to join her in supporting children who need it the most.