Miss Nalgas USA 2022

“Miss Nalgas USA 2022”, a one-night-only performance artwork, will be presented on Saturday, November 12th at 7 pm at the Farmington Civic Center, Farmington, NM. The Farmington Civic Center is located at 200 W. Arrington St. This performance artwork is a free event for the public. It features Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, Karen Ellsbury, Patrick Hazen, Stephanie Jaquez, Lori Stephens, Doug Gonzalez, Amanda Robles, Scott Michlin, and the Zia Chicks.

“Miss Nalgas USA 2022” is inspired by two books. Arlene Davila’s book Latinos, Inc.: The Marketing and Making of a People discusses the “commodification of ethnicity” and the “re-authentication of U.S. minorities in terms of the ‘right’ way of being an ‘ethnic.’” Myra Mendible’s From Bananas to Buttocks, The Latina Body in Popular Film and Culture discusses how “representations of the Latinas are received, revised and challenged”. This performance artwork uses satire to encourage dialogue about ethnic identity and aging.

The performance features contestants vying for the honor of Miss Nalgas USA 2022. Nalgas means buttocks in the Spanish language. The artist has invented this beauty pageant which focuses on women over 50. There is a term for what happens to women over 50 in society; it is called the Invisible Woman Syndrome. Latina/Coahuiltecan artist Rosemary Meza-DesPlas is the character and pageant winner, Miss Refried Rosi Frijoles. The four judges, Patrick Hazen, Stephanie Jaquez, Amanda Robles, and Doug Gonzalez, act as a modern Greek chorus whose dialogue advances the performance artwork’s themes.

This interdisciplinary performance artwork incorporates spoken word, monologues, music, video, and visual art. Meza-DesPlas’ new poem featured in the performance is titled Pinto Beans. This poem incorporates autobiographical elements alongside references to New Mexico.
This project is supported by the Fulcrum Fund, a grant program of 516 ARTS made possible by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Frederick Hammersley Fund for the Arts at the Albuquerque Community Foundation.