Mariana Loya

Career

At this time Loya was pursuing a Materials Science and Engineering degree from the University of Washington. In 2003, Loya"s family moved to the Army Base at Fort Huachuca, Arizona where her father, Chaplain Juan Loya, retired as a Colonel.

She was in her first year of doctorate study at the time of the pageant.

In 2000 she was named "National Student Role Model of the Year" by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Loya"s other interests include swing and salsa dancing, hiking outdoors, playing the violin, church events, and traveling.

In November 2005, Loya passed on her Mission Arizona United States of America crown to Brenna Sakas of Chandler.

Achievements

• Loya, who previously lived in Tacoma, Washington won her first state pageant title in 1998, when she competed as Mission Pierce County and won the Mission Washington title. She represented Washington in the Mission America 1999 pageant, but failed to place. The pageant was won by Nicole Johnson who represented Virginia. This residency allowed her to compete in the Mission Arizona United States of America 2005 pageant, which she won in late 2004. Loya failed to make the cut at the Mission United States of America 2005 pageant held in Baltimore, Maryland on 11 April 2005, which was won by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina. Loya, successful academic in the field of engineering, was the highest qualified delegate in the Mission United States of America 2005 pageant, having won a full Doctor of Philosophy fellowship for a Materials Science Engineering Degree at the University of California, San Diego.