KAITLYN MARIA TRAINED with her horse for just six months—yet still made history. The 20-year-old Belén electrician became one of the first Navajo women crowned New Mexico State Fair Rodeo Queen by riding her appendix gelding, Manny, and impressing judges in interviews. Now, Maria serves as the fair’s official ambassador—poised, powerful, and proudly representing her people.
When they called my name, I was shocked.
My horse was acting up—I thought there was no way. Usually, the girls who compete for rodeo queen have had their horses their whole life. I bought Manny when I got my “big girl job” as an electrician. We’d only been together for six months. But I think letting my personality shine through helped.
Becoming queen has been a dream since I was 13. I’ve been going to the state fair since I was a little kid. It was my dad who first introduced me to the rodeo and horses. He put me on one a few days after I was born.
All my outfits are made by my mom. She picks all the fabrics and designs. We’re so alike, I always love what she creates. My favorite outfit is the turquoise blue dress I wore when I was crowned. She took it apart seven times, kept adding more sparkles, made it puffier, longer.
Being a rodeo queen, people think your life must be perfect. But I struggled with self-harm since sixth grade and was hospitalized from cutting at 17. After I got released from the hospital, I got involved in rodeo. It saved me. Even though you’re competitors, you’re always friends. That kind of community changed my life. That’s why my platform this year is “Anything Is Possible”—like being a Navajo crowned rodeo queen.
A lot of people don’t see us because we’re on the reservation. After being crowned, I met these girls—Little Beaver Rodeo Roundup royalty. They had never seen a girl like them compete for a higher title. They told me, “I wanna be like you.” It brought tears to my eyes.