LAS CRUCES — You might have a chance to meet the newly crowned Miss New Mexico and Miss Teen New Mexico, if you can catch them between their classes in Las Cruces. For the first time, both reigning queens hail from the City of Crosses.
Last weekend at the Inn of the Mountain Gods near Ruidoso, Jessica Martin, a 21-year-old Mayfield graduate and current New Mexico State University student, was crowned Miss New Mexico USA. Jacqueline Cai, a 17-year-old Mesilla Valley Christian High School senior, took home the roses as Miss Teen New Mexico USA.
Martin will represent the state in June in Las Vegas, Nev. Cai will be in the Bahamas in July. The competition is a CR Productions Entertainment Managment effort in affilliation with NBC Universal and Donald Trump, with Curtis Rosemond and Belia Alvarez as state directors.
Both say their southern New Mexico roots played into their wins, and speak to their strength in the upcoming national competition.
“We are still very shocked,” Martin said. Her parents, Guy and Julie Martin, and grandparents, Art and Sylvia Caballero of Deming, had the same reaction about her trip to national competition, she said.
“I’m there. Not that I don’t want to win, but if I do, I’ll enjoy it so much better.”
“It was a tremendous experience,” Cai said. “I’ve never done pageants before. It was a great platform.”
Cai credits her faith, parents and school for her success.
“I give all the credit to God, my supporters and family,” she said. “I want to send the message that you can do anything. Believe in yourself, even if it’s out of your bubble.”
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Distributed by MCT Information Services
