When uttering the word “pageant,” thoughts soon follow of beauty contests, layers of makeup and tape in uncomfortable spots.

Felipa Reyes jokingly admits she’s glad the Miss Latina NIU Pageant wasn’t that kind of pageant.

“If it was all about beauty, I probably wouldn’t have tried,” she said, just a week after being named the second Miss Latina NIU.

Not that she wouldn’t qualify for the stereotypical pageant & but this event involved much more than smiles and an interview with a cheesy emcee.

Five categories helped separate Reyes from her three competitors, enabling her to represent the pageant at a number of events during the next year.

“We were like, ‘Whoever wins, it’s still a good thing,'” said the sophomore business management major. “But on the other hand, I wanted to win, too.”

Participants were judged in five categories: cultural wear, a personally created decorative sash, individual talent and formal wear. And don’t worry, there still was the interview question to wrap things up.

Lore Herrera, president of pageant organizer Sigma Lambda Gamma, said the pageant’s goal since the beginning was to make the campus community aware of the diverse Hispanic culture. And while only in its second year, turnout increased with hopes that the trend will continue next year.

“I think she’ll do a great job positively promoting the crown,” Herrera said.

The crown came after plenty of nervousness, Reyes said. Speaking publicly or dancing a salsa in front of a large crowd isn’t an everyday occurrence, after all.

“I was scared out of my mind,” she said.

But when it came to why she participated and what it meant to her, the words flowed a bit easier. The question she was asked was the open-ended “What is a virtuous woman?”

“She has to be strong and determined, have character and charisma,” she replied. “She also has to be independent.”

The nervousness was eased with the support of her fraternity members at Alpha Psi Lambda, who cheered her on.

Also helping her was a fortified background in Mexican culture. Her parents are from the state of Guanajuato, in the southern region of Mexico. The

ranching community creates a much different picture than the tourist behemoths like Cancun.

Reyes’ duties now include some speaking engagements and 15 hours of community service. And she’ll continue with the thoughts and goals that won her the crown.

“It’s a double barrier, being a woman and Latina,” she said. “We have to face double challenges … We have to be independent and just work harder.”