New queens crowned

By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times

The 2024 Miss Texas Val Verde and Del Rio Pageant winners were crowned at the Ramada Inn Saturday.

The winners of Miss Del Rio Texas and Miss Val Verde Texas in

the Teen and Miss Divisions will
go on to represent Del Rio and Val Verde County at nation-wide pageant competitions.

In the Teen Division, Allisandra Sandoval was crowned Miss Del Rio Texas Teen 2024-2025,
and Ava Darden was crowned Miss Val Verde Texas Teen 2024-2025.

In the Miss Division, Tatiana Castillo was awarded Miss Val Verde Texas 2024-2025, and
Jessica Reyes was awarded Miss Del Rio Texas 2024-2025.

The pageant was organized by Queens City Productions and was held in the ballroom area at
the Ramada. Friends and family members filled the room and showed support by cheering and
clapping from their seats and bringing flowers and gifts to present to the winners afterward.

The pageant winners will represent Del Rio at the Miss Texas USA Pageant and the
Miss Teen Texas USA Pageant in Houston, Texas on May 2-4, 2025.

The pageant was hosted by Michelle Gonzalez and Peter Ojeda. Gonzalez mentioned the

winners of Saturday’s pageant would have their entry fees paid for the 2025 Miss Texas USA
and 2025 Miss Texas Teen USA pageants with an award amount of $1,195.

Edward Guerrero, pageant director, said his goal is to provide an “inclusive and welcoming
experience” for the girls contending in the Miss Del Rio Texas and Miss Val Verde Texas
pageants. “These young ladies have spirit. It takes confidence to be up here; it is a far-fetched
accomplishment. Today is the beginning of hope for many of them. They are going to walk out of
here wanting to achieve so much more,” Guerrero said.

During the pageant, Guerrero recognized Elsa Reyes, former Miss Del Rio pageant director.
Guerrero said Reyes spent 26 years involved in the Miss Del Rio pageant.

The pageant included several categories for the contestants, including best in evening gown,
best in active-wear and best in swimsuit. Later in the evening, the contestants were asked to
express their experiences in joining the pageant, and they were also given separate questions
to answer based on their beliefs and personal experiences.

Special awards were given early in the pageant, including the People’s Choice award and Miss
Congeniality, which is an award voted on by the contestants.
The People’s Choice award went to Damarys Alonzo, and Miss Congeniality was awarded to
Nicole Mestas.

The winners of the Miss Division spoke with the 830 Times after the pageant was over, and
Reyes said it was a dream of hers to be crowned Miss Del Rio Texas.

“I put in so much hard work, and it has definitely paid off tonight,” Reyes said.

Castillo said it was her first time competing in a pageant, and she felt “extremely grateful to be
crowned (Miss Val Verde Texas).”

The winners of the Teen Division also spoke about being crowned at the pageant. Darden said it
is going to be a great opportunity to compete with other contestants in the state, and Sandoval
said she was thrilled to be the next Miss Del Rio Texas Teen.

Here is a recap of the awards won: