ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Miss Southwest Heritage crown is now officially on a new head.
Yazmin Enriquez was officially crowned in the role at the end of the Miss Southwest Heritage Pageant that kicked off this year’s Southwest Community Fiesta festivities, and she was very happy to receive the honor.
“I’m so happy and grateful, and I can’t say thanks enough to my family and everyone else who supported me through all of this,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez said it was earlier this year when the idea of competing in the pageant came to her.
“My cousin also does pageants, and I’ve loved watching her do that stuff, but until now I never felt confident enough to do it myself,” Enriquez said. “But then earlier this year, I decided to go ahead and go for it, and it’s given me more confidence in myself. I’d been thinking about doing something like this for years and years, and it wasn’t until more recently I realized I wanted to push myself. Winning the crown isn’t just about being pretty, it’s also about having self-confidence, and I feel like I’ve really found that by going through all of this.”
Enriquez added she enjoyed the prep work beforehand.
“I enjoyed being around all the girls and practicing everything with them and going through the same thing,” Enriquez said. “And all of the other girls are so, so good and did an amazing job. And with my culture costume, I’d had my quinceañera just a couple years ago and I’d kept my dress from it because I loved it so much and it was just so beautiful, and I’m also really proud of my Mexican heritage. When we were told the guidelines for the culture costume, I realized that dress would fit those guidelines PERFECTLY and I decided to show it off again.”
Like other pageant winners, Enriquez said there were many emotions and thoughts going through her mind upon hearing her name called as the winner. Enriquez also took home the crown for Best Culture Costume.
“When I heard my name, I was so happy and was about to start crying,” Enriquez said. “I really felt like a winner and I want to be a good role model to other little girls and young women in the area and let them know they can believe in themselves and their dreams. It felt amazing winning the culture costume portion, I’d been kind of nervous about how everything would turn out with that.”
Enriquez said she is excited to take on the role for the next year.
“I’m just really excited to get out in the community and be a role model and help other little girls have the confidence to participate in events like this,” Enriquez said. “These pageants are for EVERY girl, and everyone should have the chance to participate in big events like this and push themselves. I also want to encourage everyone to believe in themselves, believe in their dreams, and everyone should be confident to bring their light everywhere, because everyone matters.”
