Tears were flowing Saturday afternoon as Miss Las Cruces Taylor Rey, 22, was crowned as Miss New Mexico 2017.
She will now compete in the Miss America 2018 pageant to be held in Atlantic City on September 10th 2017. The event will be broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields from Arkansas will officially crown her successor.
Rey had competed three times previously, twice for Miss New Mexico and once for Miss New Mexico Outstanding Teen. Previous to the win, she took two years off to finish college.
"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Rey. "I never actually thought this would happen." She further said, "I really wanted to be able to concentrate and do the job, “who is graduated from Oklahoma City University with a bachelor's in musical theater.
Miss New Mexico 2017, Rey and Miss Teen New Mexico 2017, Mascarenas’s talents were both musically oriented: the Miss Teen danced while the Miss New Mexico sang and performed.
At the end of the pageant, Rey said her whole future is concentrated on going for Miss America. "I'm going to make the state very proud".