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Siyona Karkera renews Arkansas children’s mental health pledge
The former Miss Arkansas Teen USA has led youth mental health advocacy efforts in the state for more than five years.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 25, May 2026
- 17:58 EDT
- 49
Siyona Karkera / LinkedIn/ Siyona Karkera
Former Miss Arkansas Teen USA Siyona Karkera renewed the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Proclamation in Arkansas for the fifth consecutive year, continuing her advocacy for youth mental health awareness across the state.
In a LinkedIn post shared during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Karkera said she was “honored to receive and renew the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Proclamation for the fifth year.”
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“Thank you to Governor Sanders for your continued support of children’s mental health initiatives across Arkansas,” she wrote.
Karkera said she has spent more than five years advocating for young people and raising awareness about mental health challenges affecting children and families.
“This work has allowed me to engage with communities, encourage meaningful conversations, and help remind children and families that they are not alone,” she said.
She added that she hoped to continue promoting “awareness, understanding, and access to mental health resources for youth across our state.”
Karkera made history in 2024 as the first Indian American to win the Miss Arkansas Teen USA title and later placed in the top 10 at the national Miss Teen USA competition in Los Angeles.
The Little Rock native has also been recognized as the first Indian American to appear in an F1 commercial. Alongside her modeling career, she has continued leading community initiatives focused on children’s mental health awareness and youth outreach in Arkansas.
Karkera has worked with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has led public awareness initiatives in Arkansas, including efforts encouraging open conversations around mental health and reducing stigma associated with seeking support.
According to local event organizers, much of Karkera’s advocacy platform has focused on creating safe spaces for children and teenagers to discuss mental health openly and access community resources.
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