Miss New Mexico
On August 17 Miss New Mexico was crowned and she is Dominique Ehrl, the daughter of our neighbors over the fence to the side of our house. Our yard and theirs are both private inside our fences, but my potting bench and their hammock are truly just inches from each other, separated only by skinny coyote fence poles.
 |
| The crowning event |
We don't know each other well, but we've met and talked and say hi over the fence and they are lovely people. Fred is German (hence "Ehrl") and Xochitl is Mexican. Dominique is, yes, truly beautiful, a mix of her unusually paired immigrant parents.
She'll go on to represent New Mexico at the Miss USA pageant, which then sends the winner of that to the Miss Universe contest. At six feet tall, she'd tie for tallest Miss USA beauty queen if she wins.
 |
| Dominique Ehrl, Miss New Mexico 2025 |
The title "Miss New Mexico" is confusing, because there are two national pageants: Miss America and Miss USA. Dominique is a contestant in the Miss USA contest, one of 50 from each state.
Remember when watching Miss America on TV was a staple of viewing excitement? That was a long time ago, but pageants are still very much alive although TV ratings declined over the years and Miss America isn't even on TV any more, just on streaming outlets.
I remember avidly watching Miss America beauty pageants when I was young -- the suspense of who would win, rooting for my state, the fascination with such gorgeous beauty and the stiff interviews -- I loved it all.
 |
| Remember?? |
But Miss USA is not the Miss America I remember. It became a spin off of the Miss America franchise in 1950 when a Miss America contestant refused to wear a bathing suit, and Catalina, the bathing suit sponsor, was enraged.
Catalina Bathing Suits went off and sponsored a whole new beauty pageant, Miss USA. Bathing suits required for sure, no talent portion and emphasis on beauty. There is an evening gown portion, and a Q&A session with the top contenders. The top prize is lucrative: wardrobes, paid for apartments, cars, modeling contracts, etc.
 |
| Dominique in the bathing suit part of the competition |
Miss America, meanwhile, became a huge non profit women's scholarship entity. They have a judged interview, evening gowns, and talent displays. Top prizes are college scholarships. No bathing suits any more, though.
The Miss USA organization is no stranger to scandals and news upsets of course. Over its history there have been a few, and at one point the owner of the competition was an outrageously tacky and polarizing figure. You know.
I didn't realize beauty pageants were still a big deal, but here we are, and I wish Dominique success in it and I wish her parents great joy in seeing their beautiful daughter compete.
👑
Comments