ROYALTY: 2017-18 Junior Miss Cherokee Danya Pigeon receives her crown from 2016-17 Junior Miss Cherokee Lauryn Skye McCoy during the 26th annual leadership competition on Saturday, Aug. 19 in Tahlequah, Okla.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Sequoyah High School senior Danya Pigeon, of Hulbert, was crowned the 2017-18 Junior Miss Cherokee during the 26th annual leadership competition on Saturday, Aug. 19.
For the next year, Pigeon will act as a goodwill ambassador for the tribe, promoting the government, language, history and traditions of the Cherokee people.
Three teens competed for the honor at the Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center in three categories: a cultural presentation, an impromptu question-and-answer, and a speech on their respective platform. Pigeon, 18, earned her crown and sash after giving a special presentation on Sequoyah and the Cherokee syllabary, giving her opinion on connecting citizens inside and outside of tribal jurisdiction, and speaking on her platform, alcohol abuse.
“It has been a dream of mine to be Junior Miss Cherokee, and I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity to serve the Cherokee Nation,” Pigeon said.
Pigeon is the daughter of Tammy West and Walter Pigeon. She previously served in the Cherokee National Youth Choir and is currently a member of the Harvest Time Tabernacle youth group.
The Junior Miss Cherokee competition is held each year in conjunction with the Cherokee National Holiday. The 2017-18 Miss Cherokee competition is slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Tahlequah.
– Cherokee Nation Communications
