During her time as a New England Patriots cheerleader, Kayshauna Montaño proudly wore her hair in box braids on the sideline.

She didn't always feel this way, though. As a Black woman who was adopted, it took growing up to realize her differences were actually an asset. But with that same confidence she exuded in her cheer uniform at Gillette Stadium, she recently competed in the Miss Massachusetts USA pageant and won.

On June 21, she made history as the first Miss Massachusetts USA to be crowned in braids.

"I will always be grateful to the Patriots organization for embracing me exactly as I am because it was a place where I truly felt like I belonged," Montaño said.

"Making the team while wearing my braids reinforced a lesson that has become central to my platform: you never have to change who you are to fit someone else's definition of success. You were born to stand out, and the right spaces will celebrate your authenticity. The Patriots organization did that for me, and now, as the first state titleholder crowned while wearing braids, I hope more people feel empowered to show up exactly as they are."

Montaño made the Patriots cheerleading squad after her first time trying out, representing the organization in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Being crowned as Miss Massachusetts USA, however, was six years in the making.

The 28-year-old West Springfield native had tried pageants as a young girl, but was more focused on cheer and modeling. During her senior year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she decided to get back into pageants to push herself.

"I wanted to strengthen my public speaking, professionalism, confidence, and stage presence, and I realized I had never truly given pageantry a fair chance as an adult," Montaño said.

"I entered my first state pageant in 2020, and from that moment, I was hooked. Winning Miss Massachusetts USA has been years in the making, which makes this title incredibly meaningful."

Like cheerleading, prep for the pageant was both mental and physical.

Women are evaluated across four main preliminary scoring categories: personal interview, commercial appeal, swimwear, and evening gown, with each category making up 25 percent of the total score.

Montaño says hearing her name called was a surreal feeling. She experienced gratitude, excitement, and disbelief all at once.

"What changed for me this year was my mindset," Montaño said.

"This was the most fun I've ever had competing. I wasn't focused on perfection – I was fully present, enjoying every moment on stage and genuinely appreciating the weekend with such an inspiring group of women. I think allowing myself to simply be authentic and enjoy the experience helped me show up as my best self."

As Miss Massachusetts USA she hopes to continue growing her program, "Fit Your Mold," where she encourages young people to embrace what makes them unique through workshops and partnerships with nonprofits.

It's a deeply personal message for someone who was adopted and grew up navigating questions about her identity and belonging.

Montaño hopes to use her title as Miss Massachusetts USA to remind individuals that their differences can often be their greatest strengths.

She takes her platform to Miami this week, where she will represent the Commonwealth on the national stage: competing for the Miss USA.

"My goal isn't just to compete well—it's to represent Massachusetts with authenticity, work as hard as I possibly can, connect with the incredible women from across the country," Montaño said.

"I want to leave knowing I gave this experience everything I had while truly enjoying it."

This year's Miss USA Final Pageant & Coronation marks the 75th anniversary of the pageant, making it all the more exciting for Montaño. The competition will be broadcasted live on the Queen Beauty Network on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET.

While the sash she wears will say Miss Massachusetts, she'll also be representing the organization that helped her find her confidence.

"Being a Patriots cheerleader taught me what it truly means to be an ambassador," Montaño said.

"It showed me that representing an organization is about something so much bigger than yourself – it's about serving your community and allowing others to see themselves reflected in you."