Choctaw Nation crowns 2021-2022 royalty

Though the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival was canceled, the Annual Choctaw Royalty Pageant was held Friday, Sept. 3, at Tvshka Homma, crowning the new 2021 princesses. The Choctaw Nation Princess and Royalty Program has been molding and shaping strong Chahta ohoyo for decades.

Annually, the Choctaw Nation crowns local princesses in each of its 12 districts. Qualifying contestants are judged on talent, poise and traditional wear. During district pageants, one representative is chosen in each division. The district princesses advance to compete in the Choctaw Nation Royalty Pageant held during the annual Labor Day Festival at Tvshka Homma. Three young women are crowned Little Miss, Junior Miss, and Miss Choctaw Nation and serve as ambassadors for the following year.

This year, 25 princesses representing the Choctaw Nation districts competed in the Choctaw Nation Royalty Pageant, where participants were judged on talent, poise and traditional Choctaw dress. Newly crowned royalty for the Choctaw Nation are Miss Choctaw Nation Madison Jade Cossey from District 4, Junior Miss Adelyn Brown from District 10, and Little Miss Milena Amos from District 2.

Madison Jade Cossey is the 20-year-old daughter of Kelly McGee of Spiro. She is a junior at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and minoring in Music. She is the president of the Native American Student Organization at UAFS and is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity, a member of the Psychology Club, a member of the UAFS athletic band and the UAFS wind ensemble which performs at various events throughout Arkansas. Madison is employed at Cato where she enjoys using her artistic designing skills to create displays. Madison also volunteers her time helping with the elder dinners and handing out the kids’ meals during the summer at the Choctaw Community Center in Spiro.

Adelyn Brown of Caddo is the 14-year-old daughter of Sherri Lynn Brown and Kristin Lee Brown. She completed the eighth grade this spring at Caney Public School. Adelyn is Southeast District I FCCLA Vice President, a local FCCLA officer, has participated in STAR events at district and state level, a Principal’s Honor Roll member all during middle school and elementary, and awarded Spotlight on Projects second place at state. She volunteered during the pandemic handing out and delivering meals to students.

One of Adelyn’s favorite things to do is to be outside. She loves being in nature and playing with her dogs, Bandit, Boots, and Cowboy or her cat, Toothless. She also enjoys playing basketball during her free time. She loves spending time with her cousins from Texas and Kansas at her Nana and Papa’s house.
Milena Amos of Broken Bow is the 9-year-old daughter of Jeremiah and Dayla Tom and Joshua and Brittaney Riley. She is in the fourth grade at Lukfata Elementary School, where she has been on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll for three years. Milena has earned awards for Accelerated Reading points, reading, math, and spelling achievement. She is a Choctaw STAR student with all A’s and perfect attendance, a Native American Indian Club member, and was named to the 2021 Broken Bow 10U All-Star Softball team.

Milena has been a member of Broken Bow School of Dance for five years and studies ballet, tap, jazz, clogging, acrobatics, and baton twirling. She enjoys learning how to play the piano, singing, and playing softball and basketball. Each Spring, Milena plants a garden with her great-grandmother, and they share their vegetables with elders in the community. Milena attends White Sands United Methodist Church in Valliant. She enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her family and friends.

During their one-year reign, princesses will attend Choctaw classes, serve as goodwill ambassadors and represent the Choctaw people at events and functions. “The Choctaw Royalty pageant is about more than just winning a crown,” said Chief Gary Batton. “Each of these young women are preserving Choctaw tradition. I am very proud to call them ambassadors of the Choctaw Nation.” For more information on Choctaw Nation Royalty, visit choctawnation.com.