A Transitional Journey from Combat Uniforms to Pageantry Gowns – Meet Olivia Nunn, a Military Veteran and Pageant Queen

Only a zealous spirit does not let the wind extinguish its flame and instead burns through the storm. To embody this spirit means acknowledging and accepting change, that is, transitioning from one phase of life to another. Having served as a senior army officer and been through retirement, Olivia Nunn has extensive experience with the trials and tribulations that the transitional phases entail and how to overcome them!

As part of the US army, Olivia was entirely dedicated to serving her country, completing whatever the mission asked for. She spent 20 years as the sole female combatant in forward-deployment combat arms units. With such an attachment to her job and the institution, retirement was tough on her. Simultaneously, things took a turn for the worse in her personal life as well. On the one hand, her career, which had been deeply embedded in her identity, was ending; on the other, she was ending a loving relationship with her partner of 20 years. These incidents took a toll on her mental health, causing much damage. 

However, Olivia worked her way forward to deal with her mental health. In the spirit of connecting with herself, Olivia became a part of the pageantry community. She knew that this endeavor would help channel her energy, ultimately serving as an excellent way to promote her goal – to bring the military and civilian communities together. 

In 2022, she competed and won the title of Ms. Georgetown. As Ms. Georgetown, Olivia walked in solidarity with the non-profit organization, ‘The Mission Continues,’ to honor the 117 women who have died in combat since 9/11; she says, “They are gone but not forgotten.”

She also participated in the United States of America Pageantry competition and won the crown for Ms. New York. She currently holds the title of Ms. Virginia Petite. Through the medium, she is working on promoting her cause of bridging the gap between military personnel and the general public. 

Olivia has a relentless spirit and hopes to change the narrative regarding the mental health of the military community by allowing them to express themselves and own what they enjoy freely. Her Instagram is a testimony of how she gives back to the community and wishes to create more opportunities for those struggling.