Brooke Mills: From Chiropractic Fellow to Miss America Contender: A Unique Journey to the National Stage
Brooke Mills DC, a trailblazing figure in both the chiropractic and pageantry worlds, recently celebrated a monumental victory by winning the Miss New Hampshire Pageant. This achievement is not just a personal triumph but a historical one, as it sets the stage for her to compete in the Miss America Pageant in January 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Brooke's success is particularly noteworthy as she follows in the footsteps of her mother, Stephanie Foisy Mills DC, Miss New Hampshire 1995, marking them as the first mother-daughter duo to achieve this honor in the pageant's history. Even more unique is that they are both chiropractors with Mills having recently graduated from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg South Carolina.
Brooke's journey intertwines her burgeoning career in chiropractic with her pageantry pursuits. As recent graduate of Sherman College of Chiropractic and as the new Executive Director of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation (FVS), she has immersed herself in significant research, especially during the COVID pandemic as a Research Fellow with the Foundation. Her involvement in pivotal projects, such as the FVS's immunity project and the development of Best Practices documents on immunity, highlights her dedication to advancing chiropractic knowledge.
In her role as the Executive Director of FVS, Brooke has represented the Foundation and, by extension, Sherman College, at various national chiropractic events. Her deep understanding of chiropractic philosophy has enabled her to speak authoritatively on behalf of the Foundation, fostering strong connections within the chiropractic community and supporting scholarship students at Sherman College. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her receipt of the Young Researcher Award at the International Research & Philosophy Symposium (IRAPS) during Sherman College's 50th Anniversary Lyceum.
Mills, who suffered a concussion as a freshman in high school didn’t know much about concussions before March of 2014, when she was kicked in the head and knocked unconscious during a mandatory handball game in gym class. She had never thought she would suffer from a concussion — they are so commonly associated with athletes. But Brooke had, in fact, experienced a concussion that would go beyond bruising her brain, but also affect everything from her social life to her academics.
Brooke suffered from memory loss and had to wear sunglasses indoors because the lighting in her school was too harsh, which led to teasing and bullying from her classmates. She also had to strictly limit the time she spent on her phone, which affected her ability to hang out with friends and use social media — a difficult situation for someone who just started high school.
But today, she’s overcome those challenges and she’s made it her mission to raise awareness around concussions. She founded National Concussion Awareness Day® in 2016 with the purpose of creating an opportunity for public discussion of this issue. By raising awareness of the importance of recognizing a concussion, treating it appropriately and supporting the injured she believes we can positively impact lives across the country.
As Brooke prepares for the Miss America competition, she also carries the unique distinction of being the first chiropractor to compete in the pageant. Her achievement transcends the boundaries of traditional pageantry, blending academic prowess, professional dedication, and a commitment to humanitarian causes. Brooke Mills stands as a remarkable role model, embodying the spirit of perseverance and versatility, and her journey from chiropractic excellence to pageant history is a source of inspiration for many.
