By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The 75th Annual Miss Del Rio Pageant was held at the Del Rio Civic Center on Saturday.
The 2025 Miss Del Rio Pageant, touted as Del Rio’s oldest pageant, was hosted by Michelle Gonzalez and Sheanne Geis Espinoza, and is organized by the International Good Neighbor Council of Del Rio.
The January pageant is part of the annual Fiesta de Amistad events, which typically take place in October and honors the close relationship between Del Rio, Texas and Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico.
Claudia Lopez, Miss Del Rio Pageant Chair, said she has been in the director’s role for three years, and has been involved in local pageant events for 34 years, including the Miss Val Verde Pageant.
Lopez was glad to not only celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Miss Del Rio Pageant, but to let people know about its history and traditions.
Saturday’s pageant started with the contestants performing an opening dance choreographed by Nicole Mestas. The contestants for Miss Del Rio 2025 were Rae Valencia, Princessa Rocha, Leilani Garcia, Ariana Mendoza and Evelyn Dominguez.
The pageant had a number of categories, which included Miss Del Rio, Miss Congeniality, Best Interview, Best in Fitness, Miss Photogenic, Best Evening Gown and People’s Choice.
Each winner received a scholarship. Miss Del Rio received a $2,000 scholarship, 1st Runner Up $1,000, 2nd Runner Up $750, Miss Congeniality $500, Miss Photogenic $500, People’s Choice Award $500, Best Panel Interview $250, Best in Sportswear $250 and Best in Evening Gown was $250.
The contestants first modeled on stage in the fitness wear they picked for the Best in Fitness category. Afterward, entertainment was provided by singer Sian Kamila Meza, who sang covers of various songs.
royalty members, in celebration of the 75th Annual Miss Del Rio Pageant. The pageant is
organized by the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC), and Andrew Scarbo, the current
IGNC president, said it was an honor to be at the event and see it continuing for 75 years.
During the middle of the pageant, Mayor Al Arreola was asked to lead everyone in the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” for Miss Del Rio’s 75th Anniversary. Everyone then embraced in an “abrazo” (a hug) with the person closest to them.
After the birthday song, the pageant continued with the Best Evening Gown category, where the contestants walked on the stage showcasing their dresses and the Best Interview category, where the contestants gave answers to a random question they picked.
Each contestant also received leadership and recognition awards granted by Texas Rep. Eddie Morales. Lopez said the pageant serves as a learning experience for young women, fostering their growth to become leaders in their communities.
“We don’t really treat the pageant as a competition or a beauty pageant . . . We stay away from that terminology because we want (the contestants) to know it’s about building their leadership skills and qualities,” Lopez said.
Before the winners of the pageant were announced, the audience gave a final applause to 2024’s Miss Del Rio, Andrea Padilla, as she finished her reign as last year’s Miss Del Rio.
Valencia was first crowned Best Interview. She was also crowned Best in Fitness and People’s Choice. Rocha was then crowned Best Evening Gown.
For the Miss Del Rio Court winners, the First Runner-Up crown went to Valencia, and the Second Runner-Up crown went to Garcia.
The evening ended with Dominguez being crowned Miss Del Rio 2025. Padilla passed on her title of Miss Del Rio by placing her crown on Dominguez’s head, and Arreola and his wife, Myrella Arreola, helped to put on her sash.
Dominguez was also crowned 2024’s Miss Val Verde Teen and Miss Queen City, thus becoming the first double crowned queen in Val Verde County history. She talked with The 830 Times after the pageant to express her feelings about being chosen as Miss Del Rio 2025.
“I feel super accomplished and proud of myself. I did not expect this at all. This is a second in a lifetime moment, because the last time (I was crowned), I said it felt like a ‘once in a lifetime’,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez also mentioned she is excited about attending the IGNC events for 2025. The pageant ended with the winners posing for group pictures and making memories with their friends and families.
