New Mexico State University’s American Indian Program held its annual Miss Native American NMSU pageant in the Corbett Auditorium on Friday, March 21. Shaylyn Smith, last year’s pageant winner, passed down her title just under a year after she was awarded the honor.
“I like feeling relief about it because I know I’m handling my title to somebody who will do amazing, as well,” Smith said. “… someone’s going to do something good with what I did and just continue on the culture and community.”
Dylan Carlisle was crowned the 2025-2026 Miss Native American NMSU. Carlisle is a freshman majoring in agriculture economics and agriculture business.
Carlisle presented a story with popsicle stick puppets about the creation of the first horse in Native American culture. She went on to demonstrate how she works with animals within her major, bringing one on stage with her. Audience members gathered in awe and eagerness to learn about agriculture through the lens of a student passionately showcasing livestock in what will undoubtedly be her future career.
“I’m excited! I was talking to my family [about winning prior to the pageant], you know, just like, hypothetically, but I’m super ready to show what I can do during my range,” Carlisle remarked after winning the pageant.
Smith is also a part of the women’s NMSU basketball program, a mentor to high school students, and a middle school coach for the Las Cruces “Bolts”. Leading up to the pageant, Smith and the contestants worked and attended American Indian Week events, including the opening ceremony, a civic engagement event, an Indian taco luncheon, and a country dance night.
“It’s always really awesome to see what the ladies have for us, what they share … you kind of see them come out of their shells as the week goes on,” Smith said.
According to Muniz, American Indian Program is very involved with NMSU campus life, often collaborating with the Asian Pacific Islander Program, pottery pals’ events, and various fundraisers.
Muniz also reflected on UNAO’s recent collaboration with the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, where the organization presented on native languages and tribes across the country to groups of students, both local and in travel communities.
“Native Americans are still living and thriving and giving perspectives that maybe schools don’t want to teach about,” Muniz said.
Muniz remarked that preparing for the pageant “kind of kicks you on your toes,” but the contestants for this year were extremely talented.
“When you’re planning the pageant, you have an idea of how things are going to go … This year’s contestants were super awesome,” Muniz said. “I’ve never seen talents like these.”
In the future, Carlisle said she wants to raise the voices of unrepresented tribes and bring native youth communities together, further being a representative and inspiration to native children and women in agriculture.
“We want to have a student ambassador that is there to represent our students, to represent their culture and community and the rest of the campus, but also outside of campus as well,” said Michael Ray, the director of American Indian Program.
Miss Native American NMSU has been a long-standing tradition with AIP, which was established on campus sometime between 1971-1975. Ray remarked that the growth of diversity programs on campus, including American Indian Program, was “a result of our students wanting more, in particular ethnic studies or culture studies.”
The NMSU and Las Cruces community can find a variety of support in the American Indian Program, from its dedicated faculty and staff, the UNAO, and the newly elected Miss Native American NMSU.
