ADA, Okla. – Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby crowned three young ladies Chickasaw Royalty during the 2018-2019 Chickasaw Nation Princess Pageant in conjunction with the 2018 Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival.
“Our Chickasaw Princess Pageant is always a joyful occasion,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “We believe these extraordinary young ladies will do a wonderful job as goodwill ambassadors for the Chickasaw Nation because they take great pride in our culture. It is our hope that they will gain valuable life experience as they represent the Chickasaw people at events across the nation.”
Mikayla Hook, daughter of Michael Hook and Deborah Hook, was crowned Chickasaw Princess. Ms. Hook is a student at East Central University (ECU) in Ada. In 2018, she graduated cum laude from Murray State College, serving as vice president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. After completing studies at ECU, she will attend Rose State College to study dental hygiene.
LaKala Orphan, daughter of Ruebin Orphan and Latonia Orphan, was crowned Chickasaw Junior Princess. LaKala is an eighth-grade student at Byng Junior High School. LaKala is a member of the Chickasaw Honor Club, Chickasaw Choir and studies piano at Blackburn Studio. Music is quite important to LaKala as she also is a member of the National Federation Music Club and National Piano Playing Club.
Jadyce Burns, a third-grader at Washington Elementary School in Ada, was selected Little Miss Chickasaw. She is the daughter of Jalena Walker, granddaughter of Gina Brown and Thurman Walker and the great granddaughter of Pauline Brown, a fluent speaker of the Chickasaw language. She is on Chickasaw Nation Governor Anoatubby’s Honor Roll and was named the Johnson – O’Malley Student of the Year as a first-grader. Each winner was congratulated by Governor Anoatubby and Lt. Gov. Jefferson Keel.
“I am so thrilled and blessed to be named Chickasaw Princess,” said Ms. Hook while receiving dozens of well-wishers as she knelt on the edge of the stage at the Cougar Activity Center on the Ada High School campus. “It really is a dream come true; a blessing from God. It gives me the opportunity to share my tribe’s history, culture and traditions with other tribes and with so many others.”
Participants of the pageant were judged on talent, poise, traditional Chickasaw dress and traditional greetings and responses to random questions.
During their one-year reign, these dynamic young ladies will take courses on language, culture and the history of the Chickasaw people. In addition to serving as young ambassadors of the Chickasaw Nation, the 2018-2019 princesses will see many places, serve as role models and represent the Chickasaw people in many formal functions nationally.
The winners received a crown, sash, trophy and gifts to prepare them for the upcoming year.
The reign of a Chickasaw Princess has been a Chickasaw Nation tradition since 1963 when Ranell (James) Harry was appointed the first Chickasaw Princess.
2017-2018 Chickasaw Nation Princesses, Little Miss Chickasaw Olivia Worcester, Chickasaw Junior Princess Cydnee Miller and Chickasaw Princess Tiffany Postoak, all of Ada, ended their reigns with fond memories each shared with pageant attendees. All were honored for their year of service to the Chickasaw Nation.
To watch a replay of the pageant, visit Annualmeeting.chickasaw.net.
