Student crowned Miss N.M.

by Katy Knapp

Daily Lobo

There has not been a Miss USA from New Mexico since 1984.

Student Onawa Lynn Lacy said it is time that changes.

"I'll bring it back," she said.

Lacy, a double-major in English and Native American Studies, beat out 15 other girls from around the state to become Miss New Mexico on Saturday.

She is the first American Indian to hold the title in New Mexico.

"This is a diverse state and we need that diverse representation," she said. "My culture is something I hold close to my heart. Not only do I represent New Mexico, but in a way I feel like I represent Native Americans with this one title."

Lacy, 23, has been competing in pageants since 2001, but all were cultural pageants such as Miss Indian New Mexico and Miss Indian World - both of which she took home the crown.

She said going from those pageants to Miss New Mexico was a difficult transition.

"This was a really big leap for me," she said. "Being able to cross that line, it's a big step. Not a lot of people were able to do that."

Growing up a tomboy in Gallup, N.M., Lacy said she never saw herself competing in pageants.

"I could not remember one time I watched Miss USA when I was younger," she said. "I just kind of jumped in there. But apparently I'm cut out for it."

Lacy said she was nervous going into the competition at the Court Youth Center in Las Cruces, N.M.

"This is a different process from the other pageants I was in," she said. "It was exciting, but it made me a little bit uneasy. I felt a little inexperienced."

The worst part, Lacy said, was going onstage in a bikini.

"That was something completely brand new for me," she said.

Despite her nerves, Lacy did well in all areas of the competition, including the evening gown, interview and swimwear portions. Before she knew it, she was in the top 10.

"I was the tenth person they called for the top 10," she said. "So that was pretty nerve-wracking."

She was the second person named when the judges announced the top five, so her nerves calmed down a little bit. When they named Kacy Hererra as runner-up, she freaked out, she said.

"I was out of my mind because it went so quickly," she said. "It was more than I could ask for, but I did prepare for an entire year. I'm very grateful."

The women competing were supportive of each other, Lacy said.

"If one girl had something another needed, they would let them borrow it," she said. "Not everyone meshed well, but no one was out trying to sabotage each other. We were there for a purpose."

The Miss USA pageant is the sister pageant to the Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA pageants, according the organization's Web site. It began in 1952 as a "bathing beauty" competition in Long Beach, Calif.

The competition should not be confused with Miss America, which is a national scholarship pageant, Lacy said. She said to become Miss New Mexico, she had to fill out an application.

Applicants have to be single, have no children and be between the ages of 18 and 26.

If she wins the Miss USA title early next year, she will be expected to promote the competition's campaign to raise awareness of breast and ovarian cancer across the nation, Lacy said.

She will also get various prizes, including a year's worth of CoverGirl makeup, an SUV, $10,000 in cash, a year's worth of clothes and shoes from Steve Madden and free rent for a year in the Trump World Tower in New York City.

Even with all of that on the line, Lacy said she is not going to let the pressure get to her.

"I'm ready to work," she said. "I'm not going to let nerves get in the way."