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PORT NECHES — The 2025 Miss Port Neches Mia Solis has built a foundation on helping youth whether they be ill, have special needs or are in situations out of their control.

The 15-year-old sophomore at Port Neches-Groves HIgh School became involved with what has become her platform, Happy Hearts, about five years ago when a cousin was diagnosed with cancer and was sent to Texas Children’s Hospital. That was a spark that lit a fire and created the drive to help children who were sick, her mother Leslie Solis said. 

Mia would hold toy drives and other drives to collect items for the children at the hospital. When COVID stuck she was unable to go inside the hospital so she modified her work to dropping off items. 

But she didn’t stop there, her mother said. She began working with Adaptive Sports for Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides sporting opportunities for children with special needs and/or disabled. Baseball is her favorite to assist with. She also became involved with Court Appointed Special Advocates Of Southeast Texas, another nonprofit organization. Her work with CASA led her to attend a holiday breakfast with children in foster care. 

“It is something I am so passionate about,” Mia said about the work with ASK and CASA, adding it has opened her eyes to the kids of tomorrow. 

“I’ve been so touched by these kids it has made me want to change my profession to maybe a family lawyer,” Mia said, adding that volunteering has created a special bond with the children.

The new queen has a busy schedule in addition to the community service she so loves. She is an Indianette, is on the All-A honor roll, is enrolled in two honors classes, and is sophomore class secretary. 

Outside of school she is an active member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church where she is an altar server and lector. She is also a student at Taylor Dance Studio having studied dance there for 12 years. 

Being a dance student has helped Mia express herself and grow her confidence, the queen said. She recalls her younger, shy self wanting to be in the back row. She soon realized that putting herself in the back row was not doing her any good. She credits her pageant experience with helping her gain confidence. After that she made sure to go to the front row.

“Winning Miss Port Neches has been her dream since the first time ever she was in a pageant at 7-years-old,” Leslie Solis said. “She told me she was very excited to represent her city and community. Having grown up here in Port Neches we live and breathe purple and love our Indians. She is very excited to represent the city. She is a good role model and very strong in her faith.”

Successful student, dancer, community servant and now queen, Mia has learned to juggle a lot. 

“I take it one day at a time,” Mia said, adding it definitely becomes a lot. “One thing I can say is I can fall back on my relationship with God and leave it in His hands. He knows the perfect time and place in His plan and I trust in Him. It’s true I have a very busy life but I’m glad I have my Lord and Savior to give all my burdens to.”

Mia Solis is the daughter of Leslie and Steve Solis of Port Neches.