ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
This year’s Southwest Community Fiesta festivities took place this weekend, and a major part of the festivities was the crowning of the new Miss Southwest Heritage.
Sofia Martinez ultimately ended up with the crown Saturday evening, and she said she was very excited to receive the honor.
“I entered the pageant this year because I wanted to challenge myself and also gain some more leadership skills and confidence. I also wanted to do something where I could help the community in some way,” Martinez said. “I feel truly excited and thankful for everyone who’s supported me with all of this. I also have to thank God for this opportunity being available and for me to win. I want to give back to my community and inspire young women to chase their dreams and know they can do whatever they put their mind to. I can’t say enough thank you’s to everyone who supported me, and this is all in honor of my mother. Before they announced my name, I was holding hands with the first runner-up and praying an Our Father, and by the time I finished it, that’s when they said my name, and I honestly couldn’t believe it.”
Part of the evening was dedicated to cultural costumes, and Martinez said she was excited to show off hers.
“I was inspired by the colors of where my grandparents are from, and I also had embroidered on the skirt ‘Heritage by Strong Woman’ in Spanish, so it was great for me to be able to put that out there,” Martinez said.
Martinez said she is excited for her tenure as Miss Southwest Heritage, and also offered encouragement for other young ladies in the community to participate in future events.
“I’m really excited about starting being a bigger part of the community, and I’d love to meet and talk to as many people as possible while I have the crown. I want to really get myself involved,” Martinez said. “If you have any interest at all in being part of events like this, I would just say go for it. Participating in events like this absolutely helps you gain confidence and the chance to give back to the community. If you want to be active and help in some way, this is absolutely a great way to do that. I’d love to be more involved in the community, especially with the younger population. I’d love to visit schools and talk to the students there and remind them they can follow their dreams, no matter what it is.”
