The Miss New Mexico USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Mexico in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by Laura's Productions based in El Paso, Texas.
New Mexico achieved many placements in the 1960s to the '80s and produced one Miss USA, Mai Shanley in 1984. The most recent placement was Bianca Wright in 2023, placing in the Top 20.
Cara Rgnonti of Rio Rancho was crowned as Miss New Mexico USA 2026 on July 18, 2026 at the NMSU Center for the Arts in Las Cruces. She will represent New Mexico at Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USA: Mai Shanley (1984) 1st runners-up: Brenda Denton (1985), Alejandra Gonzalez (2019) 2nd runner-up: Judith Baldwin (1965) 4th runners-up: Bonnie Tafoya (1968), Marlena Garland (1978) Top 5: Michelle Rios (1999) Top 10/11/12: Donna Reel (1972), Jonelle Bergquist (1976), Denise Funderburk (1977), Kathy Patrick (1980), Kriston "Kiki" Killgore (1987), Alina Ogle (2003), Suzanne Perez (2022) Top 15/16/20: Joan Schwartz (1955), Sandra "Sandi" Fullingim (1963), Mary Gard (1969), Jenna Hardin (2004), Brittany Toll (2011), Bianca Wright (2023), Cara Rgnonti (2026) New Mexico holds a record of 21 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Photogenic: Michele Sandoval (1979) Best State Costume: Kriston "Kiki" Killgore (1987) People's Choice & Fan Favorite: Brittany Toll (2011)
Winners Color key
Year Name Hometown Age Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Cara Rgnonti Rio Rancho 26 Miss Rio Rancho Top 20 2025 Dominique Ehrl Lugo Santa Fe 31 Miss Land of Enchantment 2024 Mackenzie Sydow Albuquerque 22 Miss Uptown 2023 Bianca Wright Anthony 28 Miss Anthony Top 20 2022 Suzanne Perez Portales 25 Miss Portales Top 12 First Filipino American Miss New Mexico USA 2021 Christa Schafer Las Cruces 26 Miss Las Cruces 2020 Cecilia Rodriguez South Valley 27 Miss South Valley Longest reigning Miss New Mexico USA at 2019 Alejandra Gonzalez Las Cruces 26 Miss Las Cruces 1st runner-up 2018 Kristen Leyva Las Cruces 23 Miss Billy The Kid New Mexico State University Graduate 2016, Mechanical Engineering 2017 Ashley Mora Albuquerque 25 Miss Land of Enchantment Previously Miss New Mexico World 2015 Top 22 at Miss World America 2015 2016 Naomie Germain Bernalillo 22 Miss Paradise Hills 2015 Alexis Duprey Alamogordo 24 Miss Mesilla Valley Triple crown winner Previously Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2009 Previously Miss New Mexico 2013 2014 Kamryn Blackwood Farmington 22 Miss Farmington 2013 Kathleen Elizabeth Danzer Rio Rancho 24 Miss Rio Ancho 2012 Jessica Martin Las Cruces 21 Miss Las Cruces 2011 Brittany Toll Las Cruces 22 Miss Billy The Kid Top 16 People's Choice & Fan Favorite in Swimwear Competition Previously Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2005 and Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2005 2010 Rosanne Dene Aguilar Sunland Park 23 Miss Sunland Park Sister of Raelene Aguilar, Miss New Mexico USA 2008 & Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2000. 2009 Bianca Matamoros-Koonce Albuquerque 22 Miss Zia 2008 Raelene Aguilar Sunland Park 26 Miss Sunland Park Previously Miss New Mexico Teen USA 2000 2007 Casey Messer Alamogordo 23 Miss Land of Enchantment 2006 Onawa Lacy Gallup 23 Miss Highland 2005 Jacqueline Deaner Las Cruces 25 2004 Jenna Hardin Lovington 21 Semi-finalist, Finishing in 13th Place 2003 Alina Ogle Albuquerque 21 Semi-finalist, Finishing in 6th Place Previously Miss New Mexico Teen USA 1999 2002 Ellen Colyer Farmington 2001 Jennifer Adams Las Cruces 2000 Christina Ortega Las Cruces 1999 Michelle Rios Santa Teresa 23 Top 5, Finishing in 5th Place 1998 Maya Strunk Farmington 1997 Tanya Harris Tatum 1996 Layla Linn 1995 Jacqueline Grice Albuquerque 1994 Jill Vasquez Albuquerque 24 Previously Miss New Mexico Teen USA 1988 and top 10 at Miss Teen USA 1988; Former co-director of the Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA pageants under her married name, Jill Vasquez-Foley, Former line captain of the NFL Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders 1993 Daniela Johnson Albuquerque Mother of Annika Bennion, Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2020–21, and Bronté Bennion, Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2022 1992 Charlotte Holland 1991 Tiffany Danton 1990 Larissa Canaday 1989 Traci Brubaker Alamogordo 1st runner up in Miss Oktoberfest 1988 1988 Stephanie Storrie Clovis 2nd runner up in Miss Oktoberfest 1987 1987 Kriston "Kiki" Killgore Albuquerque 19 Semi-finalist, Finishing in 7th Place Winner/1st Place - Best State Costume 1986 Heather Howell Farmington 1985 Brenda Denton Hobbs 21 1st runner-up 1st runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1984 as Miss Texas 2nd Runner-up at Miss World 1985 1984 Mai Therese Shanley Alamogordo 21 Miss Alamogordo Miss USA 1984 Previously Miss New Mexico 1983 First Asian American Miss New Mexico USA Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1984 1983 Kristin Larsen Santa Fe Miss Santa Fe 1982 Lisa Allen Las Cruces 1981 Lise Gabrielle Dominique Thevenet Las Cruces 23 Graduated from New Mexico State University in 1979 and died at age 55 on August 2, 2013, in Greenwood Village, Colorado 1980 Tonia Pamelym Moya Albuquerque 18 Miss Bernalillo colspan=3 Kathy Dawn Patrick Anthony 19 Miss Anthony Top 12 1st runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1980 Miss Oktoberfest 1980 as Miss Texas 1979 Michele Sandoval Albuquerque Miss Photogenic 1978 Marlena Garland Las Cruces 4th runner-up 1977 Denise Funderburk Albuquerque Semi-finalist, Finishing in 12th Place 1976 Jonelle Bergquist Albuquerque Semi-finalist, Finishing in 10th Place 1975 Maxine Whisler Albuquerque 1974 Jan Nilsson Las Cruces 1973 Carolyn Cline Albuquerque 20 Later Miss Florida 1978 and then Miss America 1979 2nd runner up. 1972 Donna Frances Reel Albuquerque Top 12 Later Miss New Mexico 1974 and top 10 at Miss America 1975. Miss New Mexico World 1973 and top 16 at Miss World USA 1973. 1971 Debbie Clary 1970 Theresa Ann Phillips Las Cruces 18 1969 Mary Gard Semi-finalist, Finishing in 9th Place 1968 Bonnie Lynn Tafoya Las Cruces 4th runner-up 1967 Clydia Newell Clovis 21 1966 Susan Franz Roswell 19 1965 Judith Lee "Judy" Baldwin Clovis 19 2nd runner-up 1964 Did Not Compete 1963 Sandra Joyce "Sandi" Fullingim Albuquerque 18 Top 15 1962 Herma Loy Elliott Portales 1961 Georgi Edwards 1960 Kaye Smith 1959 Carol Jones Sue Ingersoll Withdrew admidst controversy over the Catholic church's regulations around swimsuit competitions. 1958 Sandi Bullis 1957 Patricia Stafford 1956 Jackie Brown Albuquerque 1955 Joan Schwartz Semi-finalist 1953-1954 Did Not Compete 1952 Kay Nail
References
External links Official website