| In order to provide
you with the most current and accurate information, content on this
page is subject to update or change at any time. |
A panel of judges will interview each contestant. This is done in a one-on-one format. Each contestant will spend a few moments with each judge individually. She will be asked questions she can easily answer. She will not be asked questions about politics, religion, dating, etc. Judges will not score contestants on what they know, but on their poise, personality, appearance, and self confidence.
See the Outfits Page and Pageant Outfits Section to learn more about particulars of your outfits' appearance and requirements for your escort.
Judges are also involved in many of the optional contests.
We're still collecting pictures and biographies for our judges this year. Here is what we have so far:
| Judges |
We are now collecting and posting information about on our 2007 Judges. Check back to see new information as we receive it from our judges.
| Pageant
Judges for the 2007 Pageant |
||
 |
Dacia Nicole Rutske, Board
of Directors, Miss America New Mexico Dacia has been on the Board for the Miss America's Miss New Mexico Board of Directors for 3 years, She is the proud Director of the Miss New Mexico's Outstanding Teen and has judged local and State pageants. She currently works for Bank Card Depot leasing and reprogramming credit card machines to businesses. She trained and holds a license in Massage Therapy. Dacia was born in Alamogordo New Mexico, where she graduated from Alamogordo High School in 1994. She joined the Air Force as a Munitions Systems Specialist after graduating basic training, she was stationed in Koreas at Osan Air Base from 1996-1997. After her year in Korea she moved to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport Louisiana where she met her husband of 9 years, Jim Rutske, a Master Sergeant in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (Air Force Bomb Squad). She and Jim have two boys, Blake and Cody and cares for their Goddaughter Tayler. |
|
 |
Marcela Sandoval, Ms.
Senior New Mexico, 2006 Marcela Sandoval is a native New Mexican. She attended Los Lunas High School, the University of New Mexico, and Cal State Hayward. She earned a B.S. in Education and Spanish. Her Masters is in Bilingual Education. She has worked in Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Missouri, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She taught Spanish, Mexican folk dance, and was the Bilingual Program Coordinator at Albuquerque High School. She has traveled to almost every State in the Union, throughout Mexico, Spain and Italy, to Puerto Rico, and to Ashkabad, Turkmenistan. She received the Albuquerque Arts Alliance Bravos Award, was designated as a Master Teacher, and was a recipient of the PNM Innovative classroom Grant. She is a member of the National Cancer Institute CARRA program, on the Board of Directors for People Living Through Cancer, On Borrowed Time, and the Annette Chestnut Marrs Foundation for the Arts. She takes classes in Jazzercise, Pilates, and Yoga, not to mention being a cheerleader for all the events her five granddaughters participate in. In fact, she’s been a cheerleader most of her life: she started in high school, continued at the University of New Mexico, and was even a Redskinette for the Washington Redskins. She has been a performer with Miguel Caro’s professional dance company, Fiesta Mexicana, for 21 years. In 2006, she was selected Ms Senior New Mexico and participated in the Ms Senior America pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
|
 |
Amanda Foor, Miss
Teen New Mexico International 2003 Amanda has been involved with pageantry for over 15 years as a contestant, judge, and coach. She has held various titles on local, state, and national levels with her most recent title being Miss Teen New Mexico International 2003. Amanda competed at the Miss Teen International Pageant in Chicago, Illinois. She is a 2006 graduate of the University of New Mexico and holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications and has started a career in public relations at Presbyterian Hospital. Amanda lives in Albuquerque with her husband Jeremy and she competed for the title of Mrs. New Mexico America in 2007. Amanda returns to us as a judge from the 2006 pageant. |
|
 |
Dr. Victor Mancha, MD, AluraDerm MD
Med Spa Dr. Victor Mancha, a long-time resident of |
|
 |
Shannon Woodside, Mrs New Mexico 2006 Shannon was Mrs. New Mexico 2006. She has been competing in pageants for 13 years and held several local titles in the Miss America system. She also has competed in the Miss USA system. Shannon is an Assistant Manager at An Mathews Special Occasions. She has been married to her husband Brent for two and a half years and they have just started Pivot Pageant Consulting. |
|
Optional Judges for the 2007 Pageant |
||
 |
 |
Desiree Whitt, Director, Valencia
County Cinderella Pageant Desiree Whitt is the Director for the Valencia County Cinderella Scholarship Pageant and the Co-Director/Producer for the New Mexico State Cinderella Scholarship Pageant. She has been involved with pageantry for 13 years as a participant, judge, coach, director and an Emcee. She has also been dancing for 19 years, 13 of which she has been a member of The STARS National Dance Team and has served as an instructor for the Albuquerque STARS Dance Team. Desiree currently resides in Albuquerque with her beautiful four-year-old twin daughters Christianna and Ariah and her 19 month old son Josiah. In her spare time she enjoys watching her twins participate in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, and gymnastics. |
 |
Ramona Vega, Former New Mexico
American Coed Hostess Ramona Vega is a former Miss New Mexico Hostess American Coed 1988! She competed in her first Miss New Mexico American Coed pageant in 1986. She is currently a Student at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, majoring in Media Arts which includes four tracks: 3D Animation, Film Technology, Graphic Design,and Theater Arts. She is learning various aspects of theatrical productions including acting, directing, genres, lighting, sound, and set design. Ramona is a proud mom of two children, ages six and eight, and works as an auditor and front desk clerk for the Holiday Inn Express Artesia, New Mexico. During High School she was very active in marching band, performed in chorus school productions, and was selected in the Who’s Who Among American High School students. She enjoys travel planning and traveling with her husband and family to Disney theme parks. She also enjoys singing, watching great talent, and listening to music. |
|
|
|
Teresa Conway, Promotions
Assistant & D.J., Radio Disney, Albuquerque Teresa started out at Radio Disney as a performer. She graduated from high school on year early to pursue a degree in broadcasting at UNM. She is currently the Sunday morning D.J. for Radio Disney and is the voice of Albuquerque. Teresa is also the promotions assistant at Radio Disney. |
|
Mini Optional Judges for the 2007 Pageant |
||
 |
Cortney Whitley, Mrs. New
Mexico-America 2007 Cortney Whitley is the reigning Mrs. New Mexico-America 2007 and will travel to Tucson, AZ in September to compete in the national Mrs. America pageant. A native of New Mexico, she currently resides in Hobbs with her husband and five year old son. Recently, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the College of the Southwest. Through her volunteer work with the VFW, she creates care packages for the soldiers of Lea County who are currently serving overseas. She is also a member of the Hobbs Beautiful Committee, which has allowed her to develop environment awareness curriculum for the schools and initiate changes to the recycling program in Hobbs. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at the lake with her family, trying new recipes in the kitchen, and entertaining on her patio. Courtney will also be judging and available during Family Night at our pageant. See www.mrsnewmexicoamerica.com for more information about Courtney. |
|
 |
Lisa
Leger-Baillio, Practice Manager for Western Dermatology and the
Spa at WDC Lisa has been the practice manager for WD and WDC for five years. She has been in the medical profession for twenty years. She is a native Albuquerquean and enjoys life with her boyfriend, Chris Davis, and her three children. Western Dermatology Consultants has offices located both on the east and west sides of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They offer a wide range of advanced techniques in the fields of medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatologic procedures. |
|
 |
Lilia Pedrego, Conventions Director,
John Robert Powers Lilia Pedrego is conventions director at John Robert Powers and also an instructor for dance and image. Lilia Pedrego's passion for dance began at the age of ten. She has studied with various dance instructors in Arizona, California and New Mexico in styles such as hip-hop, salsa, flamenco, jazz, ballet and African dance. Since the salsa rave has hit Albuquerque, Lilia has volunteered her time teaching salsa technique to the local community. She has taught the La Cueva Spanish Club and also provided instruction at the Friday Night Fiebre Fundraiser to benefit the UNM School of Medicine. She has also taught hip-hop to children ages 8-16 at Camp Weequahic in Pennsylvania. It is at Weequahic that Lilia also worked with the adolescent group on health maintenance and image. Lilia utilizes her broad range of experience to teach through art of dance, better poise and a stronger sense of self. |
|
 |
Dane Brown, Model, Actor Dane has been pursuing modeling for a number of years. He has modeled internationally for Calvin Kline, Abercrombie & Fitch, GQ, and Ralph Lauren. He is one of 14 Ralph Lauren model men in the world at the time of this pageant. Dane is focusing now on a movie career and has just obtained his first part, filming to start in August 2007. He wishes all the contestants good luck. |
|
 |
Monica Sanchez, Ms. Mujer Latina
United States, New Mexico 2007 Monica is the 2007 Mujer Latina United States New Mexico and previously held the 2006 Beauties of America 30's New Mexico title. She is involved with MADD and collects cell phones to trade them in for calling cards for U.S. Soldiers in IRAQ. Monica coaches cheerleading in her spare time. She works for the City of Albuquerque Insurance & Benefits Department and loves to play sports, camp, dance, and sing. She is the parent of three children, Clarissa 14, Johnny Ray 11, and Isaiah 6. |
|
Prior year's Judges: 2006