Miss Cherokee Competition Applications Now Being Taken

Native News Network Staff in Entertainment. Discussion »

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – For more than 50 years Miss Cherokee has served as a cultural icon and a goodwill ambassador on behalf of the Cherokee Nation.

Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition Miss Cherokee Sidney Kimble

The Cherokee Nation is currently accepting Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition entries from young women interested in representing their tribe and earning money for their education. The competition is held in conjunction with the 60th Cherokee National Holiday to be held in Tahlequah over Labor Day weekend.

“We have a long history of selecting strong, capable women to represent our nation as Miss Cherokee,”

said Deputy Principal Chief S. Joe Crittenden.

“As a traditionally matrilinear tribe, it is fitting that we have a young woman as an ambassador and role model and it is my hope that every eligible Cherokee citizen will be up for the challenge to participate.”

Eligible contestants must be between the ages of 17 and 22 as of August 25, 2012. To be eligible, a candidate must be a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who resides within the tribe's jurisdictional area. Additionally candidates must be a high school graduate or have a GED.

The Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition is held in Tahlequah during the final week of August. Contestants are judged on their platform, their usage of the Cherokee language and their interviewing skills. Higher education scholarships will be awarded to the top three contestants. Miss Cherokee will be officially crowned during the State of the Nation ceremony held at Cherokee National Holiday on Sept. 5 and the new Miss Cherokee's duties will begin immediately with appearances throughout the remainder of the festival and continuing over the next 12 months.