Aurora Gayheart

(Michael Andrew Martinez)

Aurora Gayheart (Michael Andrew Martinez Arenas) of Chino, California began her gay rodeo journey in the early 2000's as part of the The Phoenix Phollies at the then Road Runner Regional Rodeo in Scottsdale, AZ. She was Arizona Central Pride's Miss Gay Pride 2001-2002 and was Miss Gay Phoenix America 2003. She won Miss Congeniality at Miss Gay America 2003. She was a High School and College All-American Cheerleader and has been a Flight Attendant for almost 20 years with American Airlines. Aurora has been called a breath of fresh air with a bubbly personality by her counterparts. She is well received on the IGRA circuit and looks forward to a long lasting relationship with the associations she is a member of as well as IGRA as a whole.

It was at the Zia Regional Rodeo in 2022 after an almost 20 year hiatus where she performed for an adoring crowd and set her sights on becoming Miss NMGRA 2023. She has drawn much inspiration from her late auntie Miss Ebony who was Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo 1983 as well as from many former IGRA team members who are still active on the circuit today. She is proud to have reignited interest in Royalty at NMGRA.

Aurora and her husband Thom and their pop up western wear store Not My First Rodeo enjoy sponsoring award buckles and up and coming competitors. They love traveling the world and going on cruises but are most at peace on the beach in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora where they spend their winters and Angel Fire, NM where they spent their first summer in 2022.