(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — June 25, 2025) — Aspen Armendariz, a student at Coronado High School, is making waves both in the classroom and on the stage. This spring, Aspen was crowned the first-ever Miss Sun City Teen USA, marking the beginning of an exciting new journey for the El Paso native. In May, she took her talents statewide to compete in the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant in Houston, where she placed in the Top 15 and received the Miss Congeniality award—a title given to the contestant who most inspires kindness and camaraderie.
What makes her accomplishments even more remarkable? This was Aspen’s very first pageant.
“I was really nervous competing in the pageant, but people told me to just be myself, and it was the best advice I was given,” Aspen said. “It was an amazing experience, but I had a very good support group guiding me.”
Aspen credits her mother for encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone and give pageantry a try—something that proved to be transformative. “Performing in front of a large audience really pushed me,” she said. “This experience helped me build confidence and showed me how much I’ve grown as a person.”
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A proud product of El Paso ISD, Aspen attended Rosa Guerrero and Polk Elementary Schools before continuing on to Hornedo Middle School and eventually Coronado High School. She currently takes Advanced Placement (AP) courses, is a member of the art club, and plans to study child psychology in college, with hopes of attending The University of Texas at Austin. “I connect well with kids and want to help them navigate tough emotions and challenges,” she said.
When she’s not in class or preparing for competition, Aspen finds joy in creative expression. “Art is my outlet,” she said. “I love painting and drawing, and I’ve taken ceramics, which has been a fun new challenge.”
She also credits English teacher Erica Bahnmiller for inspiring her to believe in herself and aim high. Aspen’s journey has been one of independence and resilience—from raising the funds for her pageant entry to balancing school and extracurriculars.
“This pageant empowered me in ways I didn’t expect,” she said. “It’s not just about the crown. It’s about self-growth, confidence, and showing other young women that they can pursue any dream they set their mind to.”