CRIT student crowned 56th Miss Indian Arizona in Chandler
November 3, 2017
Submitted by Miss Indian Arizona Association
Mariah Jordan Sharpe, representing the Colorado River Indian Tribes, (CRIT) was crowned Miss Indian Arizona, 2017-18 on October 14, 2017. She is the daughter of Chaweka Fisher and Isaac Sharpe, an enrolled member of CRIT and is of Mohave and Chemehuevi descent. Currently Mariah resides in Phoenix, Arizona where she attends Paradise Valley Community College, pursuing a degree in health and wellness. Her goal is to continue her education at the University of Hawaii to complete her bachelor’s degree.
Mariah also won the Best Evening Wear, Oral Presentation, Essay, and Community Service Awards.
Her platform as Miss Indian Arizona is to encourage and help connect youth with their elders to preserve cultural knowledge. Mariah states “Our elders are living treasures and I would love to bring attention to how much we can learn, grow, and treasure them.”
The new Miss Indian Arizona enjoys time with family and friends, paddle boarding on the Colorado River, golfing and learning traditional stories and songs from her elders.
Mariah will now face a rigorous year of travel to many Arizona Indian reservations and special appearances at various schools, pow-wows and other state events. She will also travel to several out of state events. In addition to this schedule she is expected to maintain her school attendance which will be very challenging. The Miss Indian Arizona Association’s philosophy is that education is a very high priority.
Kaelia Mae Nash from the San Carlos Apache Tribe was selected 1st Attendant to Miss Indian Arizona. She is the 18 year old daughter of Shalenia Chee and Waylon Nash. Kaelia is currently a student at Grand Canyon University and enjoys playing basketball, hiking and camping.
Kaelia also won the Best Talent Award and was selected as Miss Congeniality by the other participants.
2nd Attendant to Miss Indian Arizona is Lexie Michael James from the Hopi Tribe. She is the 21-year- old daughter of Jacqueline James.
The People’s Choice award went to Daryan Villegas from the Tohono O’odham Nation.
The theme for this year’s program was “Elders – Our Spirit, Our Foundation” with the following Elders being honored by the participants: Rose Chewing, 96 years old, Navajo: Tonita Hamilton, 81 years old, Hopi: Agatha Thompson, deceased, San Carlos Apache: Johnny Hill, 65 years old, Chemehuevi and Stanley Liston, 79 years old, Tohono O’Odham.
