By Lou Zylka
The 830 Times
The 44th Annual Miss Val Verde Pageant took place at the Del Rio Civic Center Saturday.
Pageant Director Claudia Lopez Cruz said the Miss Val Verde Pageant has been going on since 1980, and she has been a part of it for 35 years. She said this year’s pageant theme was based on the personalities of the girls competing this year.
The event was hosted by Arianna Rodriguez and Cristina Jimenez, and the pageant winners of 2023 attended to show support for the 2024 contestants. Cruz said music for this year’s pageant was provided by DJ Sammy along with vocal performances by Kiontai Lawson.
This year’s pageant had several divisions, including the Mini Division (newborn through two-year-olds), Little Division (four-year-olds through six-year-olds), Junior Division (sixth grade through eighth grade), Teen Division (ninth and 10th graders) and Miss Division (11th and 12th graders).
The Mini Miss Del Rio crown was awarded to Bellarose Roxanne Conchas, Wylei Raeleen Barrera was crowned Mini Miss Val Verde, and the title of Little Miss Val Verde went to Brilee Ramon.
In the Junior Division, Amya Mendoza took the title of Junior Miss Val Verde. The first runner-up in the division was Natalia Limon, and the second runner-up was Madielyn Victoria Byrne.
In the Teen Division, Evelyn Savannah Dominguez was crowned Miss Val Verde Teen, and Nancy Caldera was named first runner-up.
The pageant ended with the Miss Division. Audrey Lynn Benavides was awarded the title of Miss Val Verde. The first runner-up in the division was Isabella Davis, and the second runner-up was Janelle Anahi Rivera.
Specialty awards were presented early on in the event. The first division was Best-in-Public-Speaking. Mendoza received the title in the Junior Division, Dominguez was crowned in the Teen Division, and Benavides was awarded in the Miss Division.
In the Best-in-Fitness-Wear Division, Limon was crowned in the Junior Division, Caldera was crowned in the Teen Division, and Benavides in the Miss Division.
In the Most-Photogenic Division, Mendoza was crown in the Junior Division, Dominguez was crowned in the Teen Division, and Benavides was crowned in Miss Division.
In the Best-Evening-Gown Division, Mendoza was crowned in the Junior Division, Dominguez was crowned in the Teen Division, and Benavides was crowned in the Miss Division.
The People’s Choice for Miss Queen City went to Evelyn Dominguez with 1,018 votes, and Miss Congeniality, which is an award voted on by the contestants, went to Amaya Mendoza. Cruz said it was the first time in a while the People’s Choice award was given to a delegate in the Teen Division.
After the event was over, Benavides said being crowned Miss Val Verde shows how hard she tried to achieve the title. Mendoza expressed her experience being crowned Junior Miss Val Verde and how being a pageant queen means showing respect to others and having fun.
Dominguez, Miss Teen Val Verde, said it feels amazing to be a pageant winner and she felt very confident throughout her journey.
“It was amazing to hear my name called twice because I got Miss Queen City and Miss Val Verde Teen, and that was an amazing experience. I am thankful for everyone that helped me along the way and everyone that attended today,” said Dominguez.
