Corraleno and RRHS graduate is Miss New Mexico in Miss America

CORRALES/RIO RANCHO — A Rio Rancho High School graduate from Corrales is heading to Florida to represent New Mexico in the nation’s platform pageant for women everywhere: Miss America.

Madyson Kettler, a senior at University of New Mexico majoring in exercise science, is Miss New Mexico.

“I was born and raised in New Mexico. We have generational roots here as a family, so I love our community. I love our state,” Kettler said in a July 10 interview.

She said she got into the pageant world as a kid for the scholarships.

“I loved the friendships, the connections I was able to create with other girls my age, but now to say that I’m competing for Miss America. It’s such a dream. I grew up watching Miss America on TV with my family, and this year I decided to compete for it, and now I get to say that I will be dancing, walking, speaking on the Miss America stage,” she said.

In winning Miss New Mexico, Kettler won $17,000. If she wins Miss America, she could win $50,000 in tuition scholarship money, which she said would go towards furthering her education.

“So I’m graduating this December with my exercise science degree from the University of New Mexico and right now, I’m in the process of applying to physical therapy programs. I would end up being able to go to the University of New Mexico for physical therapy school with the doctoral program,” she explained. “It’s expensive, and so to have the scholarships is super important.”

She wants to use those skills to help the senior community with their care. She observed a huge need for senior care locally and nationally.

The journey to prepare for the competition hasn’t been easy for Kettler. Miss America has several stages of competition including interviews with the contestants, fitness modeling, an evening gown competition and the talent portion. Being on stage is not a new thing for Kettler, however.

“I think everyone is nervous. We’re excited to be there excited to represent our states. Beyond that stepping on the stage does feel like home for me as a dancer. I dance with the New Mexico Ballet company and so I love to be on stage, so it’s really just the anticipation that makes me nervous. But once I’m on stage, it’s more just feeling like home and being excited to express myself on stage,” she said.

People may have seen her in the Nutcracker, The Great Gatsby and Wizard of Oz with the New Mexico Ballet Company. I’ve done Nutcracker the past several years. We’ve done The Great Gatsby we’ve done Wizard of Oz, so if anybody has been there.

“I have been in those I’ve been able to do some special roles in the Nutcracker like doll lead mirliton, my first year,” she said.

Part of her goal with the competition is to bring a positive and elegant outlook on her home state. She said she tackles misconceptions about the pageant by making sure the community knows what it is all about. Miss America is focused on four points, like on the crown, including scholarship, service, style and success.

She also wants to be a good representation for fellow women and little girls aspiring to be on Miss America one day.

“I would tell them to be themselves because every state title holder every local title holder is different and unique, and we all have special abilities and talents that we can bring to the pageant world. They don’t have to be me to be where I am at,” she said.

Kettler has to get past the preliminaries before possibly competing in the top five for the pageant.

The Miss America finals in Orlando at Walt Disney Theater will be streamed in September 7 live on YouTube and PageantVision.com. The preliminary competitions and some additional events are also available for streaming on PageantVision.com from September 2 up until the final.