Mvskoke citizen is crowned 2024 Miss American Indian OSU

STILLWATER, Oklv. – This year’s 2024 Miss American Indian Oklahoma State University has a new winner, one from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Student Lauren Branham (Mvskoke/Euchee) was recently crowned the winner of this year’s Miss American Indian OSU pageant on April 6 at the Stillwater Community Center. This year is particularly a notable one for Branham because not only is it her first time being an OSU student, it is also her first time competing as a pageant contestant.

Branham started at OSU this past fall where she discovered the Native American Sovereign Center. That is where Branham befriended last year’s Miss American Indian OSU winner, who encouraged her to run in this year’s pageant. The winner of the pageant not only gets to represent their tribal nations, they also receive a scholarship. According to Branham, her victory was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

“It was really surprising to me, I had never been on a stage like that ,“ Branham said. “I have never done a pageant, I have not even spoken into a microphone for any extended period of time. When they called me for the miss award, I was very surprised and very honored.”

The process to compete in the pageant included private pre interviews, introductions, talent and cultural expressions, as well as extemporaneous questions. According to Branham, the interviews allowed the competitors to get familiar with the judges, thus making the competition less intimidating. For the talent and cultural expression portion, Branham shared how and why her tribe shakes shells. Other competitors shared creation stories from their tribes. The category also saw competitors explain the meaning behind the regalia they choose to wear.

Branham is currently a junior studying natural resources ecology and management with a focus in fisheries and aquatic ecology. She is a transfer student from the College of the Muscogee Nation. Branham’s studies contributed to her platform on food and land sovereignty. 

An active member of the Native American community at OSU, Branham is part of the Native American Student Association (NASA). The organization meets bimonthly on Thursdays. It offers activities ranging from making Valentine’s Day cards for veterans, to movie nights. The organization provides a place for Native students to hangout, fellowship and belong. According to Branham, she has only met one other Euchee student on campus, however she has met plenty of other fellow Mvskoke students.

Branham’s advice for future contestants in the Miss American Indian OSU pageant is to fully commit to competing, in spite of self doubts that may arise.

“They should definitely go into it full-heartedly,” Branham said. “I would like to see a lot more people proud about representing their communities and getting their foot out there. I felt like I had no business doing it, which is why I doubted myself. Young adults really need to get out of that comfort zone to do it wholly. To do it proudly is better than to do it hesitantly.”