Once she was crowned as Miss New Mexico 2017, she embarked on a “Year of Service” to the Miss New Mexico Scholarship Organization and the entire State of New Mexico. While she fulfills her duties including speaking engagements to children and civics groups, making appearances and traveling to raise awareness for scholarships through the organization, she seizes every day to encourage kids who have dreams of pursuing the performing arts through her platform “P.L.A.Y: Promoting a Love of Art in Youth.” Through following her practice of discipline, persistence and embracing her love of singing, she recently performed on Broadway in Kristin Chenoweth’s “My Love Letter To Broadway.” We are pleased to introduce a young woman with a radiant voice and bright future to keep an eye on … Taylor Rey.
SWD Guest Q&A
SWD: Are you originally from the Southwest? If not what brought you here?
Taylor: I am, I was born in Las Cruces and grew up and lived in New Mexico my whole life.
SWD: Soft tacos or crunchy?
Taylor: I like soft tacos the best, my favorite are street tacos because they have so much flavor and those are always soft.
SWD: What are your favorite adventures or getaways in the Southwest?
Taylor: One of the best things about New Mexico is that we have such a variety of things to do. I like to go hiking at Dripping Springs, skiing in Taos or going out on the lake at Elephant Butte. There are adventures to be had all over the state.
SWD: What is your favorite Southwestern National Park?
Taylor: I love White Sands, just because I grew up near it and I have really fond memories of field trips, sledding on the sand in elementary school and going out to watch the sunset in high school.
SWD: Red or Green (or Christmas?)
Taylor: It depends on what you’re eating! I love red chile with breakfast food or on an enchilada with an egg, but if I’m eating a burger it has to have green chile.
SWD: What is the most satisfying aspect of what you do?
Taylor: I love getting to interact with children across the state, little kids really respond to the crown and it’s a joy to be a role model for them.
SWD: What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?
Taylor: Being Miss New Mexico has been incredibly rewarding and it’s hard to think of any part of it that I haven’t enjoyed. I do a lot of traveling, which I’ve liked. But it can be challenging not knowing where you’re going to be from week to week.
SWD: Corn or flour tortillas?
Taylor: I like corn tortillas, they just have a lighter taste that I like better. And they’re better for you!
SWD: What do you absolutely refuse to eat?
Taylor: I’ll try anything. I try to be very open minded. Who knows — my new favorite food could be out there and I just haven’t tried it yet!
SWD: This may have just been answered, but … What are your thoughts on menudo (and no, we don’t mean the boy band)?
Taylor: Menudo is great when you have a cold, it’s not my favorite food but I do have it from time to time.
SWD: If you hypothetically moved away from the Southwest, what would you ask people to send to you in a care package? What would you miss the most about the Southwest?
Taylor: I went to college out of state and so there were definitely things I missed from home. Hatch green chile, seeing chile ristras hanging everywhere, and the biggest thing was the way the creosote bush smells after it rains. When I was in college I always wished someone could find a way to send me some creosote because I really missed the smell!
SWD: Where is your favorite Green Chile Cheeseburger?
Taylor: Blake’s Lotaburger, but you can get a green chile cheeseburger almost anywhere here.
SWD: Is there a place outside of the Southwest you would like to visit? Some intriguing spot around the world?
Taylor: I did study abroad in Spain in college and it really gave me the travel bug. I’d love to continue exploring Europe and go to London and France someday.
SWD: Is there a Southwestern destination you’ve been wanting to visit?
Taylor: I want to swim at the Blue Hole. I haven’t had a chance to go yet and I’d very much like to.
SWD: Do you have a mantra?
Taylor: Something my peers always said in undergrad was “you are enough”, and that’s something I use as my mantra now. Being a performer can be difficult because you don’t always know when you’re going to work again and you face a lot of rejection. It’s good to remind yourself that you are good enough just the way you are and not to doubt yourself.
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Miss New Mexico Scholarship Organization
Photo Credit: Bernie Maese at Hawk and Hero’s
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12 comments
Looking forward to her starring role on broadway. Check out her Miss NM talent on youtube. Amazing!
Daniela, we saw her winning performance on youtube … WOW! She is definitely one to watch.
It’s incredible that Taylor has already performed on Broadway and has a maturity beyond her years. Can’t wait to watch her career!
Janna, yes — she is one to keep an eye on!
I love these Q&A answers – they take me to your region and I learn so much about new places. Taylor is a genuinely lovely woman. I enjoyed ‘meeting’ her.
MsM, your comment means the world to us, and we are so happy to introduce Taylor to you. 🙂
Such a beautiful young woman. Her family must be very very proud.
Chilesage, yes – her family and the state of New Mexico. Such a lovely young woman.
She loves working with children, her mantra is so authentic and inspiring, and she loves Blake’s Lotaburger. Thank you Taylor for representing New Mexico and making us so proud!
Carmen, we agree – she is authentic and a lovely person to represent New Mexico. And she knows her GCCBs! 🙂
What an inspiration Taylor is to young children in the performing arts, and also to follow your dreams. Beautiful woman, beautiful mantra. Love love love this.
Ally, we could not agree more. And her mantra – so heartwarming.