OKMULGEE, Okla.- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will be hosting their annual scholarship pageant. Applicants compete to see who will be selected to be the ambassador for the next Miss and Junior Miss Muscogee Nation. Miss and Junior Miss experience a robust program as they serve as Ambassadors for Muscogee Nation. The title holders appear at different outreach events. There will be a scholarship award for both the Miss and Junior Miss. The application deadline is March 14, 2025.
MCN Royalty Coordinator LuAnn Bear (Mvskoke) has spoken about the application and the importance of holding this title and benefits that it will provide. Those who win the title of Miss and Junior Miss are expected to attend meet and greets, introduce themselves to the public, and travel. They will be representing the tribe throughout their time as ambassador.
Bear said that going to these different events shows who they are to the general public who is often interested in learning about Mvskoke culture.
“They love the fact that they’re young ladies that are going to be somebody someday. They’re working towards that and they’re working toward promoting the whole tribe,” Bear said. “I think one of the things is meeting people even when we go to the Gathering of the Nations. Even though we are not a Powwow tribe but just meeting the other princesses, meeting people and they’ve made so many connections.”
“They’ve gone outside of the Nation and received jobs and things.”
During the Gathering of Nations, Bear said that their former Junior Miss requested a college tour in the area and ended up attending that college. One of the former Junior Misses just returned from a trip to China.
She has seen the title holders enjoy being able to represent the Nation. Bear said that they have either become employees of the tribe or continued on to go to college. She believes holding the title often creates opportunities for those who hold the title.
“It just keeps going on and on with the people they meet, the places they go and the benefits they get from that,” Bear said.
According to Bear, holding this title can help build their character. “We teach them from the very beginning, once you’re a princess you will always be a princess and that you have to do the best you can at every event we go to,” Bear said. “So carry that on into your life.”
Even before they are a princess they give them information and speak about how to make good decisions, such as having their social media being clean. Bear thinks that after doing that for so long can help build that good character.
To be able to receive this title there are requirements and qualifications. They look at the GPA, age, what area they reside in, cannot be engaged, married, divorced or cohabitating with a significant other, cannot be pregnant or parenting.
The Jr. Miss must attend high school within the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma chartered or accredited virtual academy. Miss will have to be attending an Oklahoma college or technical school within the state of Oklahoma for the 2025-2026 year.
Then there will be judging involved throughout this pageant, such as an introduction letter, essay, interview, self-introduction and traditional dress, cultural talent or presentation, impromptu question and Mvskoke challenge bowl.
The title holders will also learn from Mvskoke language program, who will provide a language coach. The pageant program will also provide vendors who they can buy their dresses and jewelry from if in need. Along with that they will host a moccasin making class, they will supply everything so they could have moccasins of their own.
The Miss will receive $5,000 (paid quarterly) and Jr. Miss $2,500 (paid quarterly), and they will both receive a silver crown, beaded crown, sash, flowers, basket trophy, pendleton blanket along with other gifts.
Bear enjoys being able to help with the young ladies, she knows that even though the events that they attend can be fun, there is a lot of work that comes along with it. She has built connections with the former title holders and she is still friends with them till this day.
The application needs to be completed with the introduction letter. The application can be received in person, email or by mail. It needs to be returned by March 14, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
For any information about the application packet you can check out their Mvskoke Royalty Facebook page. For more information or questions contact 918-549-2557.
