Watch Served Like a Girl

Served Like a Girl, released in 2017, is a documentary film directed and produced by Lysa Heslov, following a group of American women veterans as they compete in the Ms. Veteran America competition. The film, which was shot over the course of several months in 2015, highlights the struggles that women in the military face, including homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other challenges that are unique to their gender.

The film starts with the introduction of Ms. Veteran America, which is a beauty pageant that has been organized since 2012 to raise funds for the Final Salute, an organization that provides transitional housing for homeless women veterans and their children. Heslov's lens focuses on five women who have participated in this competition and are battling back from a range of problems since their time in the military.

The first character is Nichole Alred, an army veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) when her helicopter crashed during a combat mission. She has undergone numerous facial surgeries to repair the damage from the crash and is in constant pain. Despite the physical and emotional pain, Nichole is determined to show the world what she's capable of as she steps onto the pageant stage and compete for the title of Ms. Veteran America.

Another character in the film is Jas Boothe, an army veteran, who lost everything to Hurricane Katrina, including her home and her military records. She moved to California with her son and started a non-profit organization, Final Salute, to provide transitional housing for homeless women veterans. She is also the founder of the Ms. Veteran America competition. Jas is a driving force behind the women participating in the pageant, pushing them to be their best selves and not giving up, no matter how tough the circumstances.

Rachel Engler is a navy veteran who suffered from PTSD and depression after serving in Iraq. Her experience in the military left her with anxiety and depression, which led to her becoming socially isolated. But through the Ms. Veteran America competition, she finds a like-minded community of women and the confidence to take on new challenges.

The film highlights various aspects of the lives of these women veterans, including their experiences during the military, including sexism, sexual assault, and emotional trauma. The documentary also shows how war can impact the personal lives of these soldiers, with many of them experiencing the breakup of their marriages or being forced to give up their children for adoption.

Despite the physical and mental pain, these women never gave up and found a way to turn their lives around. Served Like a Girl showcases their inspiring journey, from the competition's early stages to the final pageant. It also touches on the personal side of their lives, the sacrifices they made, their hopes, and the challenges they encountered.

In conclusion, Served Like a Girl is an inspiring and thoughtful film that highlights the struggles of women veterans while serving in the military and beyond. It also showcases how these women are fighting to break down barriers to equality and to create a better future for themselves and their families. It's a powerful testament to the bravery, resilience, and determination of these women who have given so much to their country.

Served Like a Girl is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 85.