HERstory

the legacy

The Miss Indian New Mexico title has been in existence since the 1960s. In 1964, the first pageant was held and the title was originally named “Miss O‐Ween Gay”. It was not until 1968 that the pageant and title were renamed “Miss Indian New Mexico”. Since 1964, young Indigenous women from the New Mexico Pueblos and Tribes have competed for this prestigious title.

In 2014, the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen came into existence as an opportunity for our youth to also serve as a goodwill ambassador along with her older sister titleholder, Miss Indian New Mexico. In building the sisterhood between the two titles, it became apparent that our organization needed to focus on one title, thus in 2022, the Miss Indian New Mexico Teen title was retired.

The 2020 Year of Hiatus

In this uncertain time, we continue to join in constant prayer and good thoughts for the well-being of all people in the world.

At the time, the Miss Indian New Mexico, Inc. Board of Directors voted to place a hold on planning for the 2020 Miss Indian New Mexico and Miss Indian New Mexico Teen pageant. Similar to all other organizations, we kept a close observation on the state events and following suit of leadership. As the events of the pandemic unfurled in front of us and our Native communities facing tremendous measures to keep our people safe, we decided to postpone the pageant and enter into a year of hiatus. The year of hiatus was not only done for the safety of our former titleholders but also to respect the importance of keeping families and communities safe. We hope the year of hiatus allowed us to pause and reflect on what is truly important.

Now that our state and tribal communities are slowly opening back up, we felt that with safety measures and precautions, we would host a pageant in 2021 and continue the legacy of Miss Indian New Mexico and Miss Indian New Mexico Teen.

Honoring the Legacy

Former

Miss Indian New Mexico’s

Our former titleholders – To date, Fifty-Four Miss Indian New Mexico’s have represented our Tribal Nations since 1964. Our titleholders have come from various Tribes and we welcome you to join us.

It is our hope to honor the legacy of the title and the women who held it. Please reach out to us if you are a former Miss Indian New Mexico and would like to be included in the photo gallery below with your biography or for future events.

Miss O Ween Gay II- Florina Tolino

Florina is the second Miss O Ween Gay (1966-1967). She is from the Navajo Nation. The title of Miss O Ween Gay lasted for 3 years and in 1968 changed to Miss Indian New Mexico.

Past Miss Indian New Mexico Crown

MINM I- Margary Haurey

Margary is the first Miss Indian New Mexico (1968-1969). She is from the Navajo Nation. This is the year the title was changed to Miss Indian New Mexico, making her the first to hold this title.

MINM VI- Mary Annette Cherino

Mary Annette held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico VI from 1973-1974. She is from Isleta Pueblo.

MINM IX- Gina Klinekale

Gina held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico IX from 1976-1977. She is from the Mescalero Apache Nation.

MINM X- Orlinda Platero

Orlinda held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico X from 1977-1978. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XI- Leva DeDios

Leva held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XI from 1978-1979. She is from the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

MINM XIII- Ramona Wanya

Ramona held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XIII from 1980-1981. She is from the Pueblo of Acoma and Hopi Tribe.

MINM XV - Virginia Yazzie Ballenger

Virginia held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XV from 1982-1983. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XVIII- Carleen Riley

Carleen held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XVIII from 1985-1986. She is from the Pueblo of Acoma and Laguna Pueblo.

MINM XIX - Patricia Irene Michaels

Patricia held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XIX from 1986-1987. She is from Taos Pueblo.

MINM XX- Yvonne Holgate

Yvonne held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XX from 1987-1988. She is from Taos Pueblo and the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXI- Monica Jojola

Monica held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXI from 1988-1989. She is from Isleta Pueblo.

MINM XXII- Shelly Chimoni

Shelly held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXII from 1989-1990. She is from Zuni Pueblo.

MINM XXIV- Allison Cheykaychi

Allison held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXIV from 1991-1992. She is from the Kewa Pueblo.

MINM XXVI- Sandra Storer

Sandra held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXVI from 1993-1994. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXVII- Vivian Montoya

Vivian held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXVII from 1994-1995. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXVIII - Wendolyn Murphy (Brueninger)

Wendolyn held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXVIII from 1995-1996. She is from the Mescalero Apache Nation.

MINM XXIX- Tunte' Vigil

Tunte’ held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXIX from 1996-1997. She is from Tesuque Pueblo and Lakota Nation.

MINM XXX- Robyn Simmons

Robyn held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXX from 1997-1998. She is from the Mescalero Apache Nation.

MINM XXXI- Sarita Yazzie

Sarita held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXI from 1998-1999. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXXIV- Onawa Lacy (Hanes)

Onawa held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXIV from 2001-2002. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXXV- Rayma Adakai (Trujillo)

Rayma held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXV from 2002-2003. She is from the Navajo Nation, Lakota Nation, and Ojibwe Nation.

MINM XXXVI- Paulene Shebala (Abeyta)

Pauline held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXVI from 2003-2004. She is from the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo.

MINM XXXVII- Anthnette Fern Spencer

Anthnette held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXVII in 2005. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XXXIX- Venita Joe (Garcia)

Venita held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XXXIX from 2006-2007. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XL- Raine Vicente (Sanchez)

Raine held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XL from 2007-2008. She is from Acoma Pueblo.

Past Miss Indian New Mexico Crown

From 2008 to 2017, this crown has been used to crown MINM XLI Mary Helen Juanico (Rock), MINM XLII Yolanda Charley, MINM XLIII Monique Garcia, MINM XLIV Eveli Abeyta, MINM XLV Natalie Becenti (Arellanez), MINM XLVI Ashley Pino, MINM XLVII Nicole Johnny, MINM XLVIII Megan Badonie, and MINM LXIX Kerrie Lester.

MINM XLI- MaryHelen Juanico (Rock)

MaryHelen held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLI from 2008-2009. She is from Acoma Pueblo.

MINM XLII- Yolanda Charley

Yolanda held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLII from 2009-2010. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XLIII- Monique Garcia

Monique held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLIII from 2010-2011. She is from Acoma Pueblo.

MINM XLIV- Eveli Abeyta

Eveli held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLIV from 2011-2012. She is from Kewa Pueblo.

MINM XLV- Natalie Becenti (Arellanez)

Natalie held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLV from 2012-2013. She is from Acoma Pueblo and serves as the President of the Board of Directors.

MINM XLVI- Ashley Pino

Ashley held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLVI from 2013-2014. She is from Acoma Pueblo.

MINM XLVII- Nicole Johnny

Nicole held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLVII from 2014-2015. She is from the Navajo Nation and serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors.

MINM XLVIII- Megan Badonie

Megan held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLVIII from 2015-2016. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM XLIX- Kerrie Lester

Kerrie held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico XLIX from 2016-2017. She is from the Mescalero Apache Nation.

Current Miss Indian New Mexico Crown

Since 2018 this crown has been used to crown MINM L Janessa Bowekaty, MINM LI Gwen Sandoval, MINM LII Shenoa Jones, MINM LIII Autumn Montoya, and MINMLIV Alysia Coriz.

MINM L- Janessa Bowekaty

Janessa held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico L from 2017-2018. She is from Zuni Pueblo and serves as a Voting Member of the Board.

MINM LI- Gwen Sandoval

Gwen held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico LI from 2018-2019. She is from San Felipe Pueblo.

MINM LII- Shenoa Jones

Shenoa held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico LII from 2019-2020. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM LIII- Autumn Montoya

Autumn held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico LIII from 2021-2022. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM LIV- Alysia Coriz

Former

Miss Indian New Mexico teen’s

Our former titleholders – To date, Six Miss Indian New Mexico Teen’s have represented our Tribal Nations since 2014. Our titleholders have come from various Tribes.

It is our hope to honor the legacy of the title and the young women who held this title. Please reach out to us if you are a former Miss Indian New Mexico Teen and would like to be included in the photo gallery below with your biography or for future events.

Current Miss Indian New Mexico Teen Crown

Since 2014 this crown has been used to crown MINM Teen I Kari Vallo, MINM Teen II Carly Jo Chavarria, MINM Teen III Shenoa Jones, MINM Teen IV Franki Maestas-Chavez, MINM Teen V Denica Tafoya, and MINM Teen VI Tehya Barber.

MINM Teen I- Kari Vallo

Kari is the first Miss Indian New Mexico Teen from 2014-2015. She is from the Pueblo of Acoma. Kari is the current Vice President of the Board.

MINM Teen II- Carly Jo Chavarria

Carly held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen II from 2015-2016. She is from Santa Clara Pueblo.

MINM Teen III- Shenoa Jones

Shenoa held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen III from 2016-2017. She is from the Navajo Nation.

MINM Teen IV- Franki Maestas-Chavez

Franki held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen IV from 2017-2018. She is from Ohkay Owingeh.

MINM Teen V- Denica Tafoya

Denica held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen V from 2018-2019. She is from Kewa Pueblo.

MINM Teen VI- Tehya Barber

Tehya held the title of Miss Indian New Mexico Teen VI from 2019-2020. She is from the Navajo Nation.

The Sisterhood

All studio portraits are done by Matt Foster Studios.