Miss New Mexico USA 2021 Christa Schafer, 27, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States will crown her successor at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces on June 5, 2022. It is the 69th edition of the state-level beauty pageant that selects New Mexico’s candidate for Miss USA, which selects the Miss Universe candidate of the U.S.

Currently, New Mexico has 18 Miss USA placements including the coronation of Mai Shanley in 1984. The most recent one was in 2019 when Alejandra Gonzalez finished as the first runner-up.

Schafer was crowned Miss New Mexico USA 2021 at Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces on August 15, 2021. The respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up were Ayana Pai, Elizabeth Nelson, Dominique Ehrl and Sapphire Persinger.

There are 24 women competing for the Miss New Mexico USA 2022 title. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 6 candidates:

#6. Mackenzie Sydow (North Valley)

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#5. Francesca Covino (Santa Fe)

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#4. Bianca Wright (Organ Mountains)

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#3. Nalanie Miranda (Sunland Park)

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#2. Suzanne Perez (Portales)

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#1. Brooke Ayala (Academy Hills)