Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The City of Puerto Vallarta enthusiastically started the 2012 Independence Day celebration on September 9th with a beauty pageant in which Miss Natalia Diaz was crowned the Fiestas Patrias Queen by Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz.

Despite Sunday evening's downpour, at exactly 8:00 pm a jury comprised of media personalities, city council members and the city's 1984 and 1986 Fiestas Patrias Pageant Queens were seated and prepared to judge the competition, which took place on a stage set up in front of City Hall.

During the first phase of the competition, the ladies, wearing evening gowns, spoke about Mexico's Independence and what it means to them, with the judges rating each contestant's disposition and finesse. In the second stage of the competition, the ladies took to the walkway for an assessment of their beauty and elegance.

Throughout the competition, the contestants' friends and relatives cheered them on, waving balloons and banners in an enthusiastic show of support for their favorite.

Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz took the stage and presented a beautiful bouquet of roses to Stephanie Michelle Rubio, who was named 'Miss Congeniality,' before giving the title of 'Second Princess' to Universidad Arcos representative, Kenya Grain Naomi Iñiguez.

In addition to being appointed 'First Princess,' the representative from Colegio de Juana de Asbaje, Alma Mística Aguilar Rosas, was also named 'Miss Photogenic.'

Finally, it was time to crown the Queen. Monserrat Vázquez Rodríguez, the city's 2011 Fiestas Patrias Queen, joined Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz on stage for the honor of crowning Puerto Vallarta's Reina de las Fiestas Patrias 2012. And the winner is... Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA) representative, Natalia Diaz!

There are many more colorful and patriotic celebrations commemorating Mexico's Independence from Spain taking place in Puerto Vallarta this month. Click HERE for the complete Fiestas Patrias 2012 schedule of events.