Miss Navajo
{{Short description|Annual pageant held on the Navajo Nation}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2014}}
{{About|the pageant|the 2007 documentary film|Miss Navajo (film)}}
File:Crystalyne Curley.jpg speaking to a crowd after her coronation in 2012.]]Miss Navajo Nation is a pageant that has been held annually on the Navajo Nation, United States, since 1952.
The first Miss Navajo was Beulah Melvin Allen, in 1952.{{Cite web |last=John |first=Hannah |date=2022-10-03 |title=70 years of Miss Navajo Nation: History, part 1 of a series |url=https://navajotimes.com/ae/culture/70-years-of-miss-navajo-nation-history-part-1-of-a-series/ |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Navajo Times |language=en-US}} She was crowned at the Navajo Nation Fair, the largest fair held on the Navajo Nation, which had been established three years earlier.
Pageant contestants must be unmarried, over 18 years of age, be a high school graduate, and be able to speak the Navajo language.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2018/11/13/651887759/becoming-miss-navajo-nation|title=Becoming Miss Navajo Nation|website=NPR.org|date=13 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-08|last1=O'Hara |first1=Caitlin }} They compete in such activities as answering questions about traditional and modern Navajo customs both in Navajo and English, sheep butchering,{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/inside-years-miss-navajo-pageant-180956685/|title=Inside This Year's Miss Navajo Pageant|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en|access-date=2020-03-08}} and performing a contemporary and Navajo cultural talent.
The current Miss Navajo Nation (2024-2025) is Ranisha Begay.
Film
A documentary film called Miss Navajo, directed by Billy Luther (who is Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna), was filmed in 2005 and 2006, released in 2006, and shown on the Independent Lens documentary series on PBS in 2007. Miss Navajo is a tradition that still continues today. Miss Navajo's duties as a leader are to guide and be a role model of the Navajo Nation.
Mission statement
The mission statement of Miss Navajo Nation is:
"In keeping with Navajo culture and tradition, the role of Miss Navajo Nation is to exemplify the essence and characters of First Woman, White Shell Woman and Changing Woman and to display leadership as the Goodwill Ambassador. Miss Navajo Nation represents womanhood and fulfills the role of 'grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister' to the Navajo people; therefore she can speak as a leader, teacher, counselor, advisor and friend. In March 1999, the Branch Chiefs of the Navajo government agreed that tone of the fundamental principals of the Navajo government should be the preservation of the Navajo culture. It shall be the mission of the Office of Miss Navajo Nation to encourage every Navajo to assist in the preservation of Navajo culture and Miss Navajo Nation will represent the importance of Navajo women with respect and honor."{{Cite web|url=https://library.nau.edu/speccoll/exhibits/indigenous_voices/navajo/miss_navajo.html|title=Cline Library - Indigenous Voices of the Colorado Plateau - Miss Navajo|website=library.nau.edu|access-date=2020-03-08}}
Miss Navajo Nation Title Holders
Dates are the year the title was awarded, not the year it was conceded to the following contestant.
- {{date table sorting|1952||}} — Beulah Melvin Allen
- {{date table sorting|1953||}} — Ida Gail Organick
- {{date table sorting|1954||}} — Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone
- {{date table sorting|1955||}} — Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone
- {{date table sorting|1956||}} — Charlotte Lawrence Greenstone (after this a limit-one rule was instituted)
- {{date table sorting|1957||}} — Emma Louise Anderson and Geraldine Morgan Pete
- {{date table sorting|1958||}} — Dorothy Curtis Fixico and Vivian Linda Arviso
- {{date table sorting|1959||}} — Elsie Curley Raymond and Joy Jean Sells Hanley
- {{date table sorting|1960||}} — Bernice Skeet and Roseanne Kellywood Bahe
- {{date table sorting|1961||}} — Lois Haskie Kansaswood and Alyse Neundorf
- {{date table sorting|1962||}} — Rowena Yazzie McCabe and Emma Joe
- {{date table sorting|1963||}} — Anna Mae Begay Fowler
- {{date table sorting|1964||}} — Sally Ann Zah Joe
- {{date table sorting|1965||}} — Carol Ann Yazzie Showalter
- {{date table sorting|1966||}} — Sarah Ann Johnson Luther
- {{date table sorting|1967||}} — Thelma Pablo Francisco
- {{date table sorting|1968||}} — Rose McCabe Wauneka
- {{date table sorting|1969||}} — Rose Ann Bekis Kenneth
- {{date table sorting|1970||}} — Linda Hanove Schweigman
- {{date table sorting|1971||}} — Genevieve Lee Salt
- {{date table sorting|1972||}} — Janet Yazzie Caller
- {{date table sorting|1973||}} — Delphine Curley Ludlum
- {{date table sorting|1974||}} — Gilene Begay
- {{date table sorting|1975||}} — Angela Barney Nez
- {{date table sorting|1976||}} — Rosita Tsosie Holiday
- {{date table sorting|1977||}} — Marilyn Help-Hood
- {{date table sorting|1978||}} — Bobby Bia
- {{date table sorting|1979||}} — Freda Jeli Nells
- {{date table sorting|1980||}} — Sandra Eriacho
- {{date table sorting|1981||}} — Dolly Manson
- {{date table sorting|1982||}} — Sunny Dooley
- {{date table sorting|1983||}} — Shirley Paulson
- {{date table sorting|1984||}} — Lorene Lewis
- {{date table sorting|1985||}} — Audra Arviso
- {{date table sorting|1986||}} — Diane Taylor
- {{date table sorting|1987||}} — Wena Jesus
- {{date table sorting|1988||}} — Sophina Shorty
- {{date table sorting|1989||}} — Geraldine Gamble
- {{date table sorting|1990||}} — Jennifer Jackson-Wheeler
- {{date table sorting|1991||}} — Sharon Watson Murray
- {{date table sorting|1992||}} — Tina James-Tafoya
- {{date table sorting|1993||}} — Tara Tsosie
- {{date table sorting|1994||}} — Karen Leuppe
- {{date table sorting|1995||}} — Audra J. Etsitty Platero
- {{date table sorting|1996||}} — Josephine Ann Tracey
- {{date table sorting|1997||}} — Radmilla A. Cody
- {{date table sorting|1998||}} — Sevaleah Begay-Tsosie
- {{date table sorting|1999||}} — Victoria Yazzie
- {{date table sorting|2000||}} — Karletta Chief
- {{date table sorting|2001||}} — Jolyana Begay-Kroupa
- {{date table sorting|2002||}} — Shaunda Tsosie
- {{date table sorting|2003||}} — Marla Billey
- {{date table sorting|2004||}} — Jannalee Atcitty
- {{date table sorting|2005||}} — Rachelle James
- {{date table sorting|2006||}} — Jocelyn Billy
- {{date table sorting|2007||}} — Jonathea Tso
- {{date table sorting|2008||}} — Yolanda Charley
- {{date table sorting|2009||}} — Tashina Nelson
- {{date table sorting|2010||}} — Winifred Bessie Jumbo
- {{date table sorting|2011||}} — Crystalyne Curley
- {{date table sorting|2012||}} — Leandra Thomas
- {{date table sorting|2013||}} — Natasha Hardy
- {{date table sorting|2014||}} — McKeon Kova Dempsey
- {{date table sorting|2015||}} — Alyson Jeri Shirley
- {{date table sorting|2016||}} — Ronda Joe
- {{date table sorting|2017||}} — Crystal Littleben
- {{date table sorting|2018||}} — Autumn Montoya
- {{date table sorting|2019||}} — Shaandiin Parrish
- {{date table sorting|2020||}} — postponed
- {{date table sorting|2021||}} — Niagara A. C. Rockbridge
- {{date table sorting|2022||}} — Valentina P. N. Clitso
- {{date table sorting|2023||}} — Amy Naazbah Reeves-Begaye
- 2024 — Ranisha Chrislyn Begay
Radmilla Cody 6273158.JPG|Radmilla Cody (1997-8)
Crystalyne Curley.jpg|Crystalyne Curley (2011-2)
miss navajo pictures leandra thomas.jpg|Leandra Thomas (2012-3)
See also
External links
- [http://www.omnn.navajo-nsn.gov/ Office of Miss Navajo Nation]
- [http://www.missnavajocouncil.org/ Miss Navajo Council, Inc official site]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024113644/http://missnavajomovie.com/ Miss Navajo film]
- [https://itvs.org/films/miss-navajo/ MISS NAVAJO] site for Independent Lens on PBS