Miss El Paso, Miss Teen El Paso USA crowned Sunday night
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Sunday night, two El Pasoans took home the 2026 Miss El Paso USA and Miss El Paso Teen USA titles. Laura’s Productions hosted the final part of the pageant at Bowie High School’s Fine Arts building.
Lauren Elizabeth Hernandez won the 2026 Miss El Paso USA title.
Victoria Benitez won the 2026 Miss El Paso Teen USA title.
Pageant director Laura Rayborn said every woman and girl competing for the title has been preparing for almost a year for pageant night.
“A lot of people think it just takes a girl and then she just walks on stage but it’s quite a bit of work,” Rayborn said. “These young ladies are having to perfect their interviews, perfect their fitness, being able to do their walks on the runway, get sponsors, it’s a lot of work.”
Work that payed off as the preliminary round kicked off with each contestant making their mark in a gown that fit perfectly and applause from the family and friends of each contestant as they strutted up and down the stage with judges tabulating their scores based on each move the contestant makes.
One person who told ABC-7 what it’s like to compete was 2026 Mrs. El Paso winner Jennifer Feely, who described going on the stage as nerve racking but exciting especially the chance to meet new people throughout the process.
Women Feely said help build each other up and inspire each other.
“The big thing is just go out there and have fun,” Feely said. “Yes it’s nerve wracking, but at the same time it’s very exciting and just being on stage, the crowd cheering for you, just giving it your all and just shining out there and your confidence it’s what’s most important.”
This was just the first round, judges still had to make cuts to get each field to 12 during the intermission, a time Feely said can feel like ‘forever’ as each woman and girl was waiting to see if they would move on.
“It seems like it’s forever waiting. For you to come out, for them to announce your name and then finally, when you’re out there on stage and doing your poses, it’s just very surreal,” Feely said.
The title is more than a crown though according to both women, Rayborn said it means to Represent El Paso including community work with non-profits and foundations within the city like the El Paso Villa Maria homeless shelter.
Feely said her title is an honor to her, meaning she gets to be a more of a part of the El Paso community as she also pointed to the charity and non-profit work which comes with the title.
“Being Mrs. El Paso to me means just being part of the El Paso community,” Feely said. “It’s just such an honor to be able to represent this amazing city and just being a part of charities, different work that we do.”
After cuts it was time for those chosen to begin the next rounds, the remaining Miss El Paso contestants participating in the swimsuit portion of the competition and the remaining Miss El Paso Teen contestants began their activewear round.
A chance to show the work put into fitness Rayborn mentioned with each contestant again receiving a wave of applause as they once again posed for the judges before another round of evening gowns for both fields
Only two would walk away with a title at the end of the night, a moment Feely remembers well.
“Oh my gosh, it was absolutely amazing, it almost felt like a dream,” Feely said. “You know putting that crown on, putting the sash on, having your family members and just the audience cheering for you it was absolutely amazing.”
A title Rayborn said comes with a new Audi for the Miss El Paso USA winner to drive in their time as winner in addition to both winners receiving diamond rings Rayborn said are courtesy of Johnson Jewelers.
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