San Antonio, TX – At 12 years old, while many kids are navigating the challenges of pre-teen life and the onset of puberty, others face a harrowing reality: fleeing from domestic violence to protect themselves and their siblings. Allegra Rodriguez, Miss Texas Latina, lived this reality. Searching for a better future, she moved to the U.S. and spent her childhood moving family to family. If you look up resilience and strength, a photo of 12-year-old Allegra would appear. She searched for something to occupy her and a place where she could shift her energy onto something else. This led to her joining a FIRST Robotics Competition team in Hidalgo, TX team 2966 / Hidalgo Early College High School. Robotics was her saving grace, instead of trying to mend what was broken around her, she immersed herself in the fascinating world of building and programming robots.
Allegra recounts the moment she first realized her passion for STEM: “I remember I was 10, we were at the NASA headquarters, and I saw a lot of airplanes. I saw a lot of rockets and I’m like all this sounds amazing. ” Fifteen years later, she is now a graph technician at one of the biggest aviation companies in the world! She keeps the airplanes air worthy: inspections, moving instruments, paperwork. It’s a very important and potentially dangerous role, yet Allegra approaches it with the grace and confidence of royalty. Participating in FRC equipped her with invaluable skills that boosted her confidence for this role. The hands-on experience in robotics honed her problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and leadership qualities, all of which have become essential in her journey. Being a woman of color in the STEM field comes with its challenges, but Allegra views her background as an asset. She believes that her individuality is a strength, stating, “What makes me a great worker is my uniqueness, and uniqueness is diversity, and diversity is what makes a workplace the best.” Her perspective highlights the importance of representation and the value that diversity brings.
Allegra isn’t new to public speaking. Before becoming Miss Texas Latina, she was a guest speaker for young girls, sharing her journey and encouraging them to explore STEM. Her missions: “Inspire others to break barriers and face adversity that they may be facing.” This motivated her to compete for the title, knowing if she won, she’d have a larger platform to inspire even more people. She transitioned from getting booked at speaking events twice a year to twice a month! This was her first pageant, and she’s both honored and excited to represent Texas and Latino communities. The pageant motto is “More than a model, a role model.” When I asked Allegra what that meant to her, her eyes lit up with determination. She passionately spoke about her desire to be a role model for young girls, emphasizing the importance of being someone they can see themselves in. Her commitment to representation and empowerment shines through, inspiring others to believe in their own potential. It gives hope. You never know what someone is going through, but one person to share that it gets better and there’s light at the end of the tunnel can make all the difference. “I can empower others with the scares I have in my body and my heart and all of my experiences.” Sometimes, the most traumatic stories are hidden behind a smile. It’s a powerful reminder to always be kind, as we never truly know the struggles others are facing.
Allegra relays this advice to all the young women out there: “Stay true to your values and yourself; diversity and authenticity makes the workplace better” At first, she believed that changing herself to fit in was the answer, trying to adopt a more “manly” persona and suppressing her true self to meet societal expectations. However, she soon realized that this approach didn’t make her feel good. Now, she confidently embraces her identity, stating that if she wants to wear earrings and makeup to work, she absolutely will! That’s who she is, and she refuses to change for anyone. For those who aspire to be role models in their communities, Allegra suggests that volunteering is a great place to start! It leads to networking and can open unexpected doors. She adds, “Pay it forward! Because if we help one another, we’re going to keep expanding and we’re going to keep growing as a community.”
Twelve-year-old Allegra searched for a better future and created one. Her resilience and determination have not only paved the way for her own success but have also inspired countless others along the way. Her journey illustrates that no matter where you start, with dedication and authenticity, you can achieve greatness. Twelve-year-old Allegra would be incredibly proud of the woman she has become, as she brings a new and profound meaning to the title of Miss Texas Latina. Through her strength and leadership, she embodies hope and empowerment, showing young girls everywhere that they, too, can rise above their circumstances.
