The Prospector 04 08 2025 by UTEP Prospector

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ARTS & CULTURE Page 6

SPORTS Page 11 AI in the world of journalism

Feel the sting with Maria Rojas

Redefining pachuco, introducing estrellito

Between 1910 and 1920, the Mexican Revolution contributed to an influx of Mexican immigrants. These immigrants were fleeing violence and in search of stability and job opportunities in the U.S.

In the following years, Mexican immigrants would be subjected to segregation, lynchings and other violence. In the late 1930s, the zoot suit would emerge among Mexican American youths as a symbol of their rejection of assimilation. This group of Mexican Americans created a subculture – they called themselves “pachucos.”

The zoot suit became the most prominent image associated with pachuco culture. What makes the suit unique is its similarity to the frock coat – a long coat with wide lapels and broad padded shoulders, that is paired with high waisted, drop-loop trousers.

The zoot suit is more than a symbol of pachuco culture and fashion, it is a testament to Mexican American pride for many. Today, the zoot suit has taken on a new meaning for PoloTeo Medina, a proud El Pasoan and selfproclaimed zoot suit aficionado.

“There was a lot of crime with Pachucos that [historians] don’t talk about. Pachucos were drug runners. They were in a gang, they were violent,” Medina said. “It did evolve from back then to now and we’ve turned it into something a little bit more classy, a little more respectful. I wear it because I'm proud of El Paso. I am Chuco, I'm not pachuco.”

The zoot suit has been passed down from generation to generation. Medina shared that it was his grandfather who introduced him to the fashion.

“I started when I was 18 so it’s been about 30 years. I kind of got it from my grandfather,” Medina said.

“I’ve always dressed in slacks, collar shirts and ties, and he gave me his last hat. So, his last hat was my first hat.”

Medina, a first-year Chicano Studies student at The University of Texas at El Paso, says he chooses to adorn the zoot suit to educate others on the history of the suit.

“I’ve been studying the zoot suit for the past eight years.

And the whole point of me doing it is because I’ve read a lot of books, I’ve talked to a lot of professors, all around the country, and a lot of the history that they say, I don’t agree with it,” Medina said.

Medina hopes to change the way Chicano history is taught to include more accuracy about the representation of the culture.

“First, my respect to them [Chicano history professors], I'm all in it to learn. But at the same time, I will call it out. I have more passion about zoot suit culture because I live it. I am that culture,” Medina said.

While he is proud to represent the culture, Medina said he has created a new term for the fashion – estrellito.

“El Paso is called Chuco Town. But what's so famous here in El Paso? The star on the mountain,” Medina said.

“That star represents El Paso, so I coined that term in 2017, because you know what? I'm born here. I was raised here, and I live in Chuco.”

The zoot suit that once served as a tool to otherize Mexican Americans evolved to cultivate communities of proud Chicanos throughout the borderland.

Alyda Muela is the arts & culture editor and may be reached at armuela2@miners.utep.edu; @alyrose.photos on Instagram.

Cinta De Oro brings Lucha Libre to support the youth

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR THE PROSPECTOR

ALYDA MUELA B Y

Medina layers personal meaning into every detail of his outfit, from the UTEP tie clip and flower pin to the gold cross; fusing faith, education, and style as part of his mission to challenge dominant historical narratives. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

Polished leather shoes complete Medina’s estrellito ensemble, grounding his interpretation of the zoot suit in the tradition passed down by his grandfather. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/The Prospector

News

Avery Escamilla-Wendell, editor-in-chief

AI in the world of journalism

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, more and more professions are continuing to be affected by the new technology. One profession where AI may seem taboo is news. Journalists are utilizing artificial intelligence as a useful tool for tasks and assistance, but while some only see AI as a helpful instrument for their work, other journalists are beginning to see the potential conflict that could ensue.

AI has seen a rise in popularity in the 21st century. Whether it’s to make life simpler or to use it as a tool, AI continues to be recognized as a helpful invention.

In journalism, AI is being used for creating pitches for new stories, writing headlines and even collecting data. Journalists have come to the stance that the utilization of AI for stories is acceptable to a certain degree.

Robert Moore, founder and chief executive officer of El Paso Matters recalled times when certain parts of investigative journalism took hours of work that can now be completed in minutes with today’s technology.

“I’ve been in journalism since 1983,” Moore said. “When I first started if you wanted to know who the biggest contributors were to a particular political candidate, you had to gather up all of this paper and get a calculator out and spend hours going through it, so what used to be days is now minutes.”

Moore suggests that AI should be used as a tool in journalism, and depending on the extent it was utilized for, journalists may or may not need to disclose its use.

“If all you’ve used it for is to suggest a headline or improve

search engine optimization, I don’t think you need to disclose that,” Moore said.

Furthering this idea, journalists should always double check work that has been done by AI. Without a human voice, news writing will lack that connection that is neccessary in journalism.

Moore expressed that if a larger portion of a story or report was done using AI, it must be disclosed to the public and audience.

“If you wind up using it in your reporting like for drawing conclusions or analyzing data, I think given the shortcomings of AI and the problems with hallucinations and things like that, I think you have to disclose that to readers,” Moore said.

AI is not a perfect tool and mistakes are bound to happen, however these mistakes could lead to issues and controversy.

Senior Vice President of the Poynter Institute Kelly McBride, believes that changes will rise in journalism and involvements of AI, however, with that involvement could bring conflict.

“No doubt in my mind that over the next five to 10 years, AI is going to dramatically change how we do journalism and how we deliver journalism to the audience,” McBride said.

While AI is not used by all journalists, there is no reason to think AI hasn’t made its presence known in the journalism field. With rapidly advancing technology, journalists might want to approach with caution when reporting.

State senator comes home midway through 89th legislature

Fresh off a flight from Austin, Texas and a little over the midway point of the 89th Texas Legislature session, Senator Cesar Jose Blanco, who represents the state’s 29th district in a 31-member senate, paid a visit to his alma-mater the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), to discuss Texas’ pressing issues currently being debated in the bi-yearly legislature.

Blanco focused on the bills affecting education, private school vouchers and firearms, categorizing the legislation into three different categories, “the good,” “the bad,” and “the ugly.”

“The Good.”

Senator Blanco highlighted Senate Bill 26, which increases teacher pay by doubling the existing Teacher Incentive Allotment. The incentive program was established to

“We all remember those teachers that made a huge impact in our lives,” Blanco said. “We just don’t pay them enough. Teachers in the state of Texas are paid $10,000 less than the national average. That’s not acceptable in my perspective.”

The bill, which passed unanimously through the senate, will provide an increase in pay based on district size and teacher experience. The districts with less than 5,000 students will receive $2,500 to increase the wages of teachers with three to five years of experience, and $5,500 to pay more to teachers with more than five years of tenure.

Meanwhile, school districts with 5,000 students or fewer will receive $5,000 to raise the salary of teachers who have three to five years of experience, and $10,000 to increase pay for teachers with five or more years of experience.

Blanco said.

Senate Bill 26 now awaits its fate in the state’s house of representatives.

“The Bad.”

Two years ago, the 88th Texas Legislature, through Senate Bill 17, made any form of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), including departments, offices or practices, illegal in all public Texas Universities. Now, the senate has passed Senate Bill 12, which if passed by the house, would ban DEI in K-12 public education.

“They’re trying to ban DEI in public schools, making it harder for teachers to have real conversations about race, about U.S. history, about identity,” Blanco said. “It’s important that we learn from the mistakes of our past and a lot of this stuff is being banned now in our schools.”

Unlike an earlier version, the bill approved by the senate did not include a provision that suggested public school districts could lose funding if they didn’t comply with the ban.

Joseph Montero is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at jemontero@miners.utep.edu

While AI may be a beneficial tool, journalists should still double check information generated by AI. Photo by Iziah Moreno /The Prospector

Senator Cesar J. Blanco visits UTEP, his former campus, to discuss Texas’ most pressing issues.

Photo by Iziah Moreno/ The Prospector

Horizon City Council candidates focus on city growth in upcoming May election

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series.

Five seats are up for grab as Horizon City holds elections for city council. From retaining local talent to the city’s continued growth, candidates share their visions for the future of Horizon.

Guillermo (Willie) Ortega running for Alderman Place No. 1

Ortega is a longtime resident of Horizon City. He moved there there in 1997 and has worked with the El Paso Fire Department for over two decades.

Ortega’s major goals are to attract more businesses to Horizon City and to retain local talent.

“Whether it’s teaching or whether it’s working, owning your own business, we want that talent to stay in Horizon City,” Ortega said.

He believes that the biggest challenge facing the City of Horizon is acquiring property and expanding .

He states that expansion could open the door for more bigname companies as well as small businesses, which could bring more opportunities to local residents.

“I think it would be a little unfair for the residents to pick up the tap on property taxes,” Ortega said.

“We don’t want the businesses just for their tax revenue, but we would love for them to bring in jobs for the talent that we have in El Paso

that goes unnoticed.”

Ortega encourages voters to attend Horizon’s town hall meetings to get well informed about the city’s growth ahead of the election. He also plans to encourage voter registration through door-todoor outreach.

Robert Avila, running for Alderman Place No. 4

Avila worked for 20 years with the El Paso Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic. His work in Horizon City Planning and Zoning Commission, inspired him to do more for the community and run for city council.

In his campaign, Avila is focused on effective public safety, ensuring public servants have the resources to perform their jobs efficiently while maintaining communication to keep residents informed. He wants to encourage diversity in community development and continued growth with businesses in the city.

“I would like to see different

types of diverse opportunities for people that are interested in moving to Horizon, I’m talking about apartments, duplexes, condominiums, communities that have amenities,” Avila said. “I’d like to see more businesses coming to Horizon, within our city limits.”

Avila believes that one of the biggest challenges the city council will have to face is Horizon’s population growth and making sure that each community members’ voices’ are heard.

“One of the challenges that we’re going to have as a council is trying to make sure that we’re able to expedite the process so that we can capitalize on those opportunities,” Avila said. “However, at the same time, we need to make sure that if there’s any concerns, that they are heard and addressed.”

As an avid cyclist, Avila also hopes to make Horizon a better bicycling community by working with local bicycle clubs, businesses and government agencies to encourage

development of more bicycle lanes and community events.

“We might be able to also help encourage a healthier lifestyle and encourage trying to improve the carbon footprint that that we have by the constant reliance on automobiles,” Avila said.

Katherine Ames, running for Alderman Place No. 5

Ames works for the El Paso County Emergency Service District No. 1. After seeing the low number of volunteers within the community, She decided to run for city council

A key goal for Ames is to improve infrastructure to support the growth of Horizon.

“My concern is to make sure that we have the infrastructure for the growth, and that we’re considering everything that needs to go into it,” Ames said. “Because with that comes obviously more 911 calls for police and fire, and just more traffic, more residents. So, making sure that we are well developed, and we have a good plan in place for these additional residents.”

Ames shared that one of the biggest challenges she sees in the community is that many landowners are unaware of their property ownership.

“It’s hard for the Town of Horizon to grow in certain areas, because one plot of land might be owned by 12 owners, but then it’s somebody who bought it 80 years ago,” Ames

said. “Now, it’s a great niece who has it, and they don’t even know where that land is, and they didn’t even know they were landowners,”

She shares that as part of the city council, she hopes to be an independent thinker and to encourage the community that while the city has a small town feel it should have a big town mentality.

“My goal is to be well informed and to make decisions that are what I think is going to be best for everyone in the Town of Horizon,” Ames said.

Mattew Gardea, running for Alderman Place No. 6

For five years, Gardea has served as the Vice Chairman of the Horizon City Planning Commission.

“My plan is an eight-point plan that includes supporting our seniors, public safety, community engagement, connecting infrastructure, defining Horizon, housing diversity, talent retention and economic development,” Gardea said.

A major focus in Gardea’s campaign is the retention of local graduates by bringing more economic development to the area.

“It’s important to be sure that we align industries we bring to Horizon, skills produced through the Independent School District and professions that our local university produces,” Gardea said.

the Feel THE STING with Maria Rojas

REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR

JESIE GARCIA B Y

Maria Rojas is a local fashion designer that has been making waves recently, with her most recent fashion show held on March 1, where models walked the runway showcasing many of her designs and styling.

Photos by Sadie Briones/The Prospector

the

Muñekita honors Magoffin Home with unique concepts dolls.

JESIE GARCIA B Y

On March 27, models walked down a runway in doll-like attire in representation of a variety of dolls. The show told the story of people who grew up and once lived in the historical Magoffin Home.

The Muñekita fashion show held at the Magoffin Home was produced by Ximena Mata, 20, an El Paso Community College (EPCC) fashion student who came up with the idea in her fashion promotion class taught by Vanessa Ramirez, the EPCC Fashion Tech Program coordinator since 2018.

The show began with outfits that depicted brand new dolls dressed in pink costumes and bright makeup. By the finale, they stumbled down the runway and transformed into cracked porcelain dolls with gothic attire and dark, eerie makeup.

The Muñekita show was not Mata’s first-time modeling but was her first time producing a show as she was nominated by her class as the producer for the show based on her talent.

“Being a producer feels way different than a model, and it feels a bit more fun because I’m in control of how I want my concept to come to life, and I can make it as strange as much as I want to make it strange. I hope I shocked people,” Mata said.

Mata says the doll concept was inspired by fashion designer Mason Margiela’s porcelain doll looks from 2024, while also drawing from the Magoffin Home’s history.

The multicultural Magoffin family occupied the home in the early 1900s and had a large influence on the development of the Southwest. They participated in American expansion and their lineage had affiliation in conflicts such as the Civil War and U.S.-Mexico relations. The home was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

“Part of the show was the idea that people grow old, and they pass on

[their items],” Ramirez said. “Their vintage dolls get played with and they get kind of used, but they’re beautiful. The idea of the Magoffin’s spirits living on is something that we wanted to be highlighted during the show. [They’re] living on in fashion and being beautiful.”

Muñekita also received the help of a local El Paso organization, The Sun Country Doll Club, whose purpose is to educate people about doll history and preservation.

Sun Country Doll Club treasurer and retired founder of the EPCC fashion design degree Trish Winstead donated $500 to the EPCC fashion program for the purpose of buying dolls.

“This is the kind of stuff that we like to get involved with — helping young students get involved,” Winstead said.

With that came the Sun City Doll Competition, where people of different age ranges were invited to design clothes for different fashion dolls, or even their own doll of choice. Awards were given at the show right before the doll-like looks made their debut.

Winstead shared her excitement over the show, the EPCC fashion program and its collaboration with Sun Country Doll Club.

“El Paso is such a magical place. People do what they want here. I hardly ever meet people [who] are paying attention to the latest fashion or something,” Winstead said. “People here make fashion. They decide what they want to look like. In the three decades I taught, there were always students coming up with the most amazing clothing. I hope [the community] sees that these young people are serious about their careers.”

Mata and Ramirez said they were overwhelmed by the support of the community and people who helped make Muñekita a success. The EPCC fashion program hopes to keep seeing their students continue to excel in their fashion careers and make a name for themselves in larger realms of fashion.

Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at jlgarcia36@miners.utep.edu or may be found on Instagram at @empanaditawrites.

The Muñekita Fashion Show, hosted by EPCC fashion student Ximena Mata, took place at the Magoffin Home. Photos by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

Your body is not a temple, it’s a canvas

An “inked up” arm or jewelry through one’s nose or lips could tell many stories, or it could be a simple symbol of a person’s personality. The evolution of tattoos in the modern day comes with different perspectives and views that are ever-changing.

Worldwide, tattooing and body modifications could be traced back to before 3300 B.C.E., and has history everywhere in the world. Tattoos were a norm in Japan during the Paleolithic era, Egypt

modifications to a pedestal as they symbolized adulthood and mourning. Ages of conservatism in the 19th and 20th century turned tattoos and piercings into taboo symbols as they were often seen on criminals and non-conformists when it came to counter-culture movements. This further associated these types of body modifications with acts of defiance.

In 2025, it’s not uncommon to find someone else who has a tattoo or piercing. The reasons behind people’s body modifications vary from person to person and so do the reactions to needle poking and

and Greece were also pioneers of body modification, and the word “tattoo” originated from the Samoan and Polynesian people. Native Americans also held body

piercing people’s skin.

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) student, Sydney Brock, is studying art with a minor in education and has a total of 13

tattoos and piercings. They work as an elementary school intern helping out the drama club and is constantly surrounded by older and newer generations. Brock said that their body modifications of choice is a topic of conversation that many can’t resist to bring up. For negative comments made, they also get an equal share of approval and praise.

“If someone, were to tell me that my piercings were unprofessional, I get it from people who are older like more Generation X and Boomer people than millennials and Generation Z,” Brock said. Brock feels as if a cultural shift in the attitude towards body modifications is changing. They recall having K-12 teachers who had tattoos, piercings and gauges and never believing it was a big deal. Now as an elementary school intern, they also notice their look is not a significant determining factor to the quality of work they produce. In fact, their look gets the kids to warm up to them.

“My students actually think that I’m really cool because I not only have the (piercings) that I have, but I also have my tattoos,” Brock said.

Despite this, the backlash from older generations still happens.

Brock said their older family members took some time to adjust to the idea that their kids and grandkids were using their bodies as canvases of personal expression.

“They were confused at first, but as time went on, and more of us kept getting (body mods), they started being like, ‘Oh that’s cool,’” Brock said.

Tattoo artist of almost three years, Vanessa Gardea, has also noticed the cultural shift, as older generations have become more accepting of body modifications and encourage to express in the same way after years of doubt.

“I have received so much love from the older generation (in my journey),” Gardea said. “They are starting to live their lives out. It’s like they’ve been concealing themselves for so many years

under that influence that tattoos and piercings are not okay. Our generation is way more accepting.”

In her line of work, Gardea sees that a new acceptance of the quirkiness and “weirdness” of body modifications is becoming something that is making people of all ages learn to be themselves.

“These older generations are coming to me and telling me because ‘I didn’t want to seem like a bad person. But now I’m older, I don’t care,’ and they’re getting their first tattoos at the age of 40 and up. It’s amazing to see the world become accepting of expression on our bodies,” Gardea said.

Although frowned upon in prior years, young fans of body modifications have seen the cultural shift starting within their own communities, opening the door to freedom of expression.

Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at jlgarcia36@miners.utep.edu or on Instagram @ empanaditawrites.

Compared to older generations, tattoos and piercings have evolved from the previous stereotypes; their origin can be traced back to 10,000 years ago in the Alps. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

In today’s age, it is more common to express oneself through different types of piercings and tattoos. Photo by Iziah Moreno/The Prospector

REPORTER THE PROSPECTOR

JESIE GARCIA B Y

Thrift store culture in the midst of fast fashion

JAZMINE GARCIA B Y

Thrift stores are spaces where electric fashion tastes are discovered and catered to for reasonable prices. However, the increase in fast fashion with retailers like SHEIN and H&M appealing to the masses by mass-producing cheap, underpriced clothing that quickly gains popularity, has led to an increase of these items being donated to secondhand stores.

According to the New York Times, there has been an influx of fast fashion items overwhelmingly dominating the racks, with online retailers like ThredUp recording a 186% increase in items from Shein and a 75% uptick in items from PrettyLittleThing.

Amaris Juarez, a digital marketing student at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), has been thrifting for three years, starting her senior year of high school. She recalls much of her early years spending money on rare items that once prevailed, which have now been replaced by mass-produced products driven by temporary trends. This has discouraged Juarez from visiting thrift stores as often.

“I believe fast fashion has altered the way people view thrift stores because of overconsumption, leading some to view thrift stores as places to offload disposable clothing rather than [to find]

treasure troves or unique finds,”

Juarez said.

With a rapid rise of micro-trends, items with fleeting popularity have been mass produced and consumed. As a result, the average lifespan of fast fashion items is estimated to be just a year — some discarded after only 10 uses, according to Greenpeace. Eventually, these discarded products end up in thrift stores, which the public sifts through.

“My only concern is that one day we will all be wearing the same clothes,” Juarez said. “The sustainability argument for thrifting is valid; the influx of fast fashion creates challenges as lower quality items can not create longterm benefits of reuse.”

Thrift stores are renowned for their affordability and for providing assurance in fulfilling consumers’ needs. For Luz Train, a freshman at UTEP, thrift stores serve as a refuge from the stress of overpriced items, offering a wide variety of budget-friendly clothing.

Train’s relationship with thrift stores stems from a familial tradition. Her uncle, who worked at Savers, would encourage her and her mother to visit, letting them know when a new shipment of clothing had arrived. Since then, Train makes an effort to visit thrift stores once a month.

“It’s the best way to get things I know will work for me.

That is the reason we come here (to thrift stores). We know we are going to find something there,” Train said.

Material culture has shifted, as clothing manufacturers that once prioritized quality and craftsmanship, with a lengthy production process to ensure durability, have been replaced by fast fashion models focused on speed and mass production.

“Back then, I know we would find a bunch of jean jackets, Levi’s, Western Wear stuff like that, and now most of the time we’re finding things that are being discarded for

market becomes oversaturated with inexpensive, mass-produced items, unintended consequences arise, limiting customers’ ability to find cheap clothing and unique items.

Mia Espinoza, a sophomore at Jefferson High School, began thrifting at the age of seven with her mother, who would take her to thrift stores like Goodwill and Family Thrift. Now, it is a hobby she tries to do once a month.

“I think it’s good that people are resorting to thrifting, but at the same time it’s not good since people who aren’t as wealthy, don’t

have the same accessibility they used to,” Espinoza said.

To remedy the influx of fast fashion and ensure that thrift stores remain sanctuaries for affordable finds and authentic items, consumers can become conscious participants of their shopping experience by refraining from following temporary fashion trends, choosing ethically sourced and quality items and taking care of their clothes — repurposing and upcycling when necessary.

Jazmine Gracia is a writing contributor for The Prospector and can be reached jigracia@miners.utep.edu

Amaris Juarez peers through layers of thrifted clothes, portraying the challenge of finding authenticity in thrift stores in the age of fast fashion. Photo by SalmaPaola Baca/ The Prospector

...brings Lucha Libre to support the youth

El Paso’s own Cinta De Oro, formerly known as WWE wrestler Sin Cara, is set to bring live lucha libre events to downtown El Paso in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club.

Beginning March 22, the monthly event aims to support the club by raising funds while delivering highenergy lucha libre entertainment to the Segundo Barrio community.

This collaboration highlights Cinta De Oro’s commitment to giving back to his hometown, using his platform to promote both the sport and local youth programs.

“I am thankful for everyone who came out and supported this lucha libre event tonight. It was put together with a lot of hard work, love, and dedication,” Cinta De Oro said. “I am grateful that people keep showing up. Tonight was proof that the crowd enjoyed the event and had great feedback.”

The Boys and Girls Club, a longstanding organization dedicated to providing resources and support for El Paso’s youth, sees this initiative as an opportunity to engage the community and generate crucial funding.

“I want to create consistency with these lucha libre events at the Boys and Girls Club,” Cinta De Oro said. “I am really excited for the upcoming shows on April 12 and May 22 and so on.”

With monthly events planned, the partnership is expected to bring excitement to downtown El Paso while fostering support for young athletes and students in the area.

“I want this promotion to be consistent. I want people to come, enjoy what we do, and keep having fun,” Cinta De Oro said. “I also have more projects in the works, like a wrestling seminar for kids who want to learn this beautiful lucha libre sport.”

Lucha libre fans and supporters of the Boys and Girls Club can look forward to an ongoing series of action-packed nights featuring both local and international talent. Cinta De Oro will return on April 12, bringing new wrestlers and continuing his mission to support the club while growing the sport’s local presence.

Dream in the ring: Nayeli Rodriguez

Stepping into the ring for the very first time, an 8-year-old Nayeli Rodriguez felt her body shut down – her knees and elbows shaking. She recalls her father then kissing her forehead to calm her nerves. What the father-daughter duo did not know was the fight marked the beginning of a boxing dream fueled by hard work and perseverance.

Now, with a 5-0 record, Rodriguez is proving that determination and dedication pave the way to success in the world of boxing. The road to turning professional is not easy for some, but for Rodriguez, the sacrifices, countless hours in the gym, and extensive amateur career with over 100 fights gave her the opportunity for a smooth transition.

Although her amateur record does reflect some losses, there were also significant victories, including winning a national championship in Mexico and being runner-up in the U.S., as well as her participation in the Olympic Trials.

“I have loved this sport ever since I was little, I just had so much passion for it I fell in love with it

from the first day,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez broke into the pro boxing world on Aug. 31, 2024, in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico where she won her fight by unanimous decision. Rodriguez said the city holds a special place in her heart because that is where most of her family is from.

“My first professional fight was crazy, the adrenaline was insane,” Rodriguez said. “It was also emotional. My dad kissed my forehead and said, ‘You got this,’ just like he did in my very first fight. I fought and loved it because I was able to fight in front of my family from Juarez and from here too.”

Pondering the decision of going pro in Mexico, Rodriguez said she not only felt that she was given more opportunities to prove herself among the top athletes in her division but felt that more doors have been opening ever since.

“I had a tough route over there. I had to win the regionals at Juarez, then go to state, then go to nationals. All those times I fought the number ones the very first day, and they gave me the win,” Rodriguez said.

Nayeli Rodriguez pushes through a training session at Rodriguez Fight Team Gym, working on her technique before her next fights. Photo by Diego Cruz-Castruita/The Prospector