Onawa Lacy
Encyclopedia
Onawa Lynn Lacy is a beauty queen from Gamerco, New Mexico who has competed in the Miss USA
pageant.
Lacy won the Miss New Mexico USA
2006 title in a state pageant held in Las Cruces, New Mexico
in October 2005. It was Lacy's first attempt at the title. She became the first titleholder to hail from Gallup, New Mexico
and the first of Native American
origin. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation with ancestry also found in the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Lacy competed for the title of Miss USA
in Baltimore, MD on April 21, 2006. Onawa appeared on NBC's hit game show Deal or No Deal as briefcase model #15; MTV's Total Request Live; Fox New's Dayside; NBC's Today show; LIVE! with Regis and Kelly, and The Morning Show. Onawa has also appeared in an issue of Trump magazine.
Onawa is no stranger to pageantry, having previously held the titles of Miss Indian New Mexico 2001-2002 and Miss Indian World 2003-2004.
Lacy grew up in Gallup
with her parents Rodney and Rena Lacy and has one older brother (Rodney Jr.) and one younger sister (Sheyenne).
Lacy graduated from Gallup High School
in 2000 and has since received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Native American Studies from the University of New Mexico
in 2006. Onawa previously worked in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Associate for Johnston & Associates, LLC with Gregory A. Smith, Esq. and Former LA Senator Bennett Johnston lobbying for American Indian issues. She lobbied on Capitol Hill alongside Navajo Code Talkers on behalf of the Esther Martinez Save Native Languages Act which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 12, 2006. She studied Liberal Studies with an emphasis in International Government at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is the first college graduate from her family. Lacy is currently pursuing a Juris Doctorate and Indian Law Certificate at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Lacy is a member of the Order of Omega
Honor Society and has received a number of academic awards, including placement on the National Dean's List, Clauve Outstanding Senior Award and American Indian Student Services Outstanding Senior Award. She is also a founding member of the Delta Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega
Sorority at the University of New Mexico
. In February 2007, Onawa was recognized by the New Mexico State legislators for her outstanding academic and community service work.
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant.
Lacy won the Miss New Mexico USA
Miss New Mexico USA
For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss New MexicoThe Miss New Mexico USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Mexico in the Miss USA pageant....
2006 title in a state pageant held in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
in October 2005. It was Lacy's first attempt at the title. She became the first titleholder to hail from Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
and the first of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
origin. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation with ancestry also found in the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Lacy competed for the title of Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
in Baltimore, MD on April 21, 2006. Onawa appeared on NBC's hit game show Deal or No Deal as briefcase model #15; MTV's Total Request Live; Fox New's Dayside; NBC's Today show; LIVE! with Regis and Kelly, and The Morning Show. Onawa has also appeared in an issue of Trump magazine.
Onawa is no stranger to pageantry, having previously held the titles of Miss Indian New Mexico 2001-2002 and Miss Indian World 2003-2004.
Lacy grew up in Gallup
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
with her parents Rodney and Rena Lacy and has one older brother (Rodney Jr.) and one younger sister (Sheyenne).
Lacy graduated from Gallup High School
Gallup High School
Gallup High School is a public high school in Gallup, New Mexico. Gallup HS is the largest high school in the Gallup-McKinley County School District. The school's campus is relatively new as GHS moved to its current location in 1998 and the old campus became known as Gallup Junior High School...
in 2000 and has since received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Native American Studies from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 2006. Onawa previously worked in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Associate for Johnston & Associates, LLC with Gregory A. Smith, Esq. and Former LA Senator Bennett Johnston lobbying for American Indian issues. She lobbied on Capitol Hill alongside Navajo Code Talkers on behalf of the Esther Martinez Save Native Languages Act which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 12, 2006. She studied Liberal Studies with an emphasis in International Government at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is the first college graduate from her family. Lacy is currently pursuing a Juris Doctorate and Indian Law Certificate at the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Lacy is a member of the Order of Omega
Order of Omega
The Order of Omega is an undergraduate Greek society recognizing "fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternity activities." It functions as an adjunct to traditional fraternal organizations, rather than a social or professional group in se...
Honor Society and has received a number of academic awards, including placement on the National Dean's List, Clauve Outstanding Senior Award and American Indian Student Services Outstanding Senior Award. She is also a founding member of the Delta Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega
Alpha Pi Omega
Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. is the oldest historically American Indian sorority. It is also the largest Native American Greek letter organization, with 13 chapters in five states, one provisional chapter and interest groups in three additional states....
Sorority at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. In February 2007, Onawa was recognized by the New Mexico State legislators for her outstanding academic and community service work.