“I’ve always wanted to be an inspiration to young girls in the community,” Tsinnajinnie said. “I get to represent not just New Mexico Highlands and Las Vegas, but all 24 tribes that reside here in New Mexico. I wanted to take that initiative and be that inspiration for young girls, boys, and especially two-spirited individuals. So I decided to go after it.”
A native of Santo Domingo Pueblo between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, Tsinnajinnie also has Navajo roots through her father’s side. Combined with her experience as a Highlands student and as Miss Indian New Mexico LVI, she said that gives her a strong perspective on Indigenous life in the state and how she can be a voice for change.
“It’s something I’m very passionate about,” she said. “Social work is such a well-versed degree. It goes into so much of what I love, and it connects to a lot of traditional cultural teachings — being helpful to others, being there for each other, advocating for what we need and respecting each other’s cultures.”
Tsinnajinnie said her time at Highlands helped her during the Miss Indian New Mexico application process and throughout the contest itself.
“My education from Highlands really helped me become the individual I am right now, and it definitely helped me with writing those essays,” she said. “In social work, you write a lot of essays, and that gave me an advantage. I’m very grateful to Highlands, and I’m very grateful for social work professors like Dr. Benjamin Bencomo. They’re all excellent teachers.”
A big bonus for Tsinnajinnie was joining the university’s Native American Club as a freshman.
“At the time, it was very small, but I got to meet people who really changed my life,” she said. “Those relationships taught me things I didn’t know and gave me space to talk about the significance of who we are as Navajo and Tribal people, and to learn about current issues I might not have been aware of.”
As a sophomore, Tsinnajinnie became president of the club and helped change its name to the Indigenous Student Union to make it more welcoming to other Native groups.
“That club was incredibly helpful,” she said. “They taught me so many things I didn’t know and helped me become a better person. They supported me in becoming independent and capable of doing things I didn’t realize I could. I’m genuinely grateful for my friends, my teachers, and everyone who was willing to help a clueless girl.”
When it comes to being Miss Indian New Mexico, however, Tsinnajinnie is far from clueless.
“My goal right now is really hearing the lived experience from these different communities, from families, from youth and elders, and sharing how I got here and the knowledge I can offer,” she said.
“Not only do I get to visit different places, I also participate in Native youth summits, do interviews such as this, and attend the intertribal ceremony for the pageant where I’ll be judging traditional foods. I’m excited for that, but it’s really about being in the community, listening, staying open, and coming with a humble spirit.”
While she is pleased to have won the title, Tsinnajinnie said she did not expect to be crowned.
“I was shocked. I wasn’t expecting to win Miss Indian New Mexico,” she said. “I thought the other girls were amazing — so talented, so knowledgeable, so sweet. When they called my name, the waterworks just came. I was crying like a baby. Being there was incredibly exciting and nerve-wracking, but it was a privilege to share that space with other girls who also wanted to serve their communities. Each of us had strong passions and clear goals for what we wanted to accomplish.”