Bright eyes and a quick smile may be part of what helped Mescalero's Vanessa Hernandez gain the Miss New Mexico United States title April 25 in Albuquerque.
The win makes her the first contestant to represent a reservation at the state level. She will go on to compete for Miss United States Aug. 3 and 4 in Las Vegas.
The competition is lesser known than its more famous counterparts, but Hernandez appreciates the fact that it is open to a wider group of contestants that range from three- to 55-years-old.
"It really gives an opportunity for all walks and all women," Hernandez said.
The fact that she is the local Cinderella Pageant preliminary director would lead people to assume she is a seasoned pageant contestant, but that was not the case.
"I took the opportunity and I've never competed at a pageant at this level," Hernadez said.
The girls she mentors as a pageant director are the reason she competed for the title in the first place. At their urging she decided to throw her hat into the ring and wound up with the crown and the Miss New Mexico title.
She lives in Alamogordo, but some of Hernandez's childhood was spent on the Mescalero reservation and she also works as the benefits manager at Inn of the Mountain Gods.
"For me, working at the Inn of the Mountain Gods is a way of giving back to my tribe and I really do enjoy it," Hernandez said.
It took Hernandez five months of preparation for the state pageant, stretching her mentally, physically and spiritually. She now has just a few weeks to be in top form for the national competition.
"Every part of my training, I really just amped up," she said, joking that she will be putting sleep off for awhile.
Hernandez said the process has helped her learn more about herself and to lead younger girls that look up to her by example.
"My platform started with empowering young women and now its transformed into being an ambassador for multiracial young girls," Hernandez said. "I have a very diverse ethnicity so I faced a lot of bullying because of that. I want to be a voice for those girls that also have that background.To help them learn to embrace every part of who they are."
Whether or not she wins on a national level, Hernandez said she will use her state title to spread her message.
"It's been on my heart to lead the younger generation by example," she said. "I've worked with young girls ages three to 17 for the last four years so I'm always trying to be on my game."
As an active community community member, she said having the crown has enhanced her ability to spread her message as she continues to lead by example, represent her tribe and offer encouragement to the wide-eyed little girls who want to follow in her footsteps.
The Miss United States National Pageant will be at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 30 to Aug. 4. For more information on the pageant visit unitedstatesnationalpageants.com ormissnewmexicounitedstates.com.
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