Photo of the Week

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Entertainment Discussion »

Christina Thomas is a young American Indian of Northern Paiute, Western Shoshone, and Hopi decent. She will represent the United States in the 2012 Miss Humanity International Pageant in Barbados on October 14-21.

Christina Thomas - Northern Paiute

She grew up in Wadsworth, Nevada on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation and is an enrolled tribal citizen of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Her Hopi name is Dawa, KutsMana, meaning Sweet Corn Young Girl.

The picture was part of several the Native News Network received as part of the press kit associated with the publicity of the pageant. We chose to use this photo that we have selected as the Photo of the Week because it depicts the vibrancy of a young American Indian woman who is clearly proud of her heritage as exemplified by her regalia as a dancer.

The picture was taken at a powwow on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. The weekend this picture was taken, Thomas won the traditional dance and buckskin contest.

Thomas told the Native News Network the powwow is called Sacred Visions, bringing the people home. She said her reservation boasts "the most beautiful desert lake in the world."

Part of her competition in the Miss Humanity International Pageant is the People's Choice Award which will be decided through online voting, allowing viewers and supporters to participate in the selection of their favorite candidate. Please vote daily and often for Christina Thomas at www.misshumanityinternational.com Slide your mouse over the stars in the upper left and rate her 10.

Please help this young energetic American Indian woman win the People's Choice Award.

posted August 25, 2012 8:40 am edt