In the United States, “American Indian” is a legal term that refers to the tribes indigenous to the mainland United States, comprising of the contiguous 48 states. These various tribes are federally recognized by the United States government and govern their own territories called “Indian Reservation”. Each tribe has their own history, culture, language, practices, laws and rules for membership. Let us meet the diverse Native American beauties who competed in the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. They are enrolled members and descendants of American Indian tribes.
Connie Ambrose won the title of Miss Washington Universe 1972. Born to a Yakima father and a white mother, she recently graduated from high school before winning the state title. Hailing from the town of White Swan, Connie is also a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation. The tawny, raven-haired beauty soon represented the state of Washington in the Miss USA 1972 pageant. During the parade of states, she wore a traditional Yakima regalia.
Apryl Hettich won the title of Miss Arizona USA 1993. Before winning the state title, she was based in Scottsdale working as a model and commercial actress. She soon represented the state of Arizona in the Miss USA 1993 pageant. As a tribute to her Comanche roots, she wore a traditional jingle dress regalia and held an eagle feather fan during the parade of states and was awarded 1st runner-up in the Best State Costume. After the pageant, Apryl eventually got married and changed her name to Apryl Allen. She became a member of the Comanche Nation and started a music career combining pop music and Native American influences.
Tatuye Topa Najin Win Means won the title of Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1996. Her name means “woman who stand strong with the four winds” in Lakota language. Nicknamed “Tatewin”, she was raised in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at time of winning the state title, she was a high school student based in Rapid City. She is fluent in the Lakota language and descends from the Lakota and Dakota tribes; her father, Russell Means, an Oglala Lakota and Yankton Dakota, was an AIM (American Indian Movement) activist and actor while her mother is from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota tribe. Tatewin became South Dakota's representative in the Miss Teen USA 1996 pageant.
Vanessa Short Bull won the title of Miss South Dakota USA 2000. Vanessa is Oglala Lakota and was born in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, being a direct descendant of revered Lakota tribal chiefs: Red Cloud, Short Bull and Young Man Afraid of his Horses. At the time of winning the state title, she was a pre-law student based in Rapid City. Trained in classical ballet and fluent in the Lakota language, she soon represented South Dakota in the Miss USA 2000 pageant. Vanessa then won the title of Miss South Dakota 2002. She won the pageant on her third attempt (she first competed in 1999 and finished as 2nd runner-up during the 2001 pageant). She soon represented South Dakota in the Miss America 2003 pageant.
Onawa Lacy won the title of Miss New Mexico USA 2006. Hailing from Gallup, she comes from a mixed-race background; her father is of Irish descent while her mother is Navajo. Before winning the state title, she had completed her degree in English and was pursuing her second degree in Native American studies. She is also a member of the Navajo Nation, being fluent in the Navajo language, and has previously held titles in American Indian cultural pageants. She soon represented the state of New Mexico in the Miss USA 2006 pageant where she wore traditional Navajo turquoise jewelry as part of her evening gown attire.
Jara Courson won the title of Miss Florida Teen USA 2015. At the time she won the state title, she was based in Lake City and had just graduated from high school and has also completed an associate's degree. A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Jara aspires to become a corporate lawyer for her tribes. The statuesque, dusky beauty soon became Florida's delegate in the Miss Teen USA 2015 pageant.
Cherokee Pearce won the title of Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 2015. She won the title on her fifth attempt, finishing in the runner-up positions during the previous years. At the time of winning the title, she was college freshman pursuing a degree in molecular biology. A mixed-race beauty of Cherokee, Irish and German ancestry, she is also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The statuesque brunette soon represented Oklahoma in the Miss Teen USA 2015 pageant, where she was among the Top 15 semi-finalists.
Carolyn Carter won the title of Miss US Paradise 2010. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, she comes from a multiracial background; her mother is white while her father is Native American from the Chippewa, Paiute and Klamath tribes. She and her family members then moved to the US Virgin Islands and resided in St. Croix. She soon represented the US Virgin Islands in the Miss World 2010 pageant held in Sanya, China. Years later, Carolyn was appointed the title of Miss Universe US Virgin Islands 2016. Before competing in the international pageant, Carolyn visited the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation to connect with her Ojibwe heritage and relatives. She soon represented the US Virgin Islands in the Miss Universe 2016 pageant held in Manila, Philippines.
Triana Browne-Hearrell won the title of Miss Oklahoma 2017; her second attempt after previously competing a year earlier. Before winning the state title, she completed a degree in psychology while also being a youth track and field coach. Triana is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and comes from a multiracial background; her mother is black while her white father has Chickasaw roots. She soon competed in the Miss America 2018 pageant as "Triana Browne", representing the state of Oklahoma.
She then competed in the Miss Oklahoma USA 2019 pageant and won the state title. Triana became Oklahoma's delegate in the Miss USA 2019 pageant, eventually finishing as 2nd runner-up.
Mariah Jane Davis won the title of Miss Oklahoma USA 2020. She won the title on her second attempt, finishing as 1st runner-up during the previous year. A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Mariah is a graduate of film and media studies and has worked as a TV production assistant before winning the state title. The stunning, green-eyed beauty soon became Oklahoma's representative in the Miss USA 2020 pageant. A huge favorite during the pageant, she eventually finishing as 2nd runner-up.
SaNoah LaRocque won the title of Miss North Dakota USA 2022. She won the title on her third attempt, finishing as 1st runner-up during 2020 and as 3rd runner-up during 2021. At the time of winning the state title, she was working as a financial analyst and has completed an anthropology degree. Hailing from Belcourt, SaNoah is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota. The grey-eyed brunette soon represented North Dakota in the Miss USA 2022 pageant. Showcasing her Ojibwe heritage, her evening gown attire featured Ojibwe floral patterns and tribal earrings, while for the state costume event, SaNoah performed a short powwow dance while wearing a traditional jingle dress regalia and eagle feather plumes.
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