The 69th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair will open with the Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant on at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, at the Main Stage.
Twelve Chahta Ohoyos (Choctaw women) will compete for the honor of becoming the 64th Choctaw Indian Princess and as the next ambassador of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
The pageant will begin after the Opening Ceremonies hosted by Tribal Chief Phyliss J. Anderson at 6:00 p.m.
Among the 12 contestants are:
• Tenecia Shamae Bell is the 20-year-old daughter of LeAndrea Morris and John Bell, Jr. She is from the Conehatta Community. She will be a junior at Mississippi University for Women this fall. She is sponsored by the Conehatta Development Club.
• Katelyn RayAnn Shoemake is the 18-year-old daughter of Gregory and Tracy Shoemake. She is a member of the Conehatta Community. She will be a freshman at East Central Community College. She is sponsored by the Department of Schools.
One of these twelve beautiful ladies will be crowned by the 2017-2018 Choctaw Indian Princess Kassie Lann Cox. Throughout her year-long reign, the newly crowned Choctaw Indian Princess will serve as a goodwill ambassador of the Tribe.
The contestants have been attending Pageant practices throughout June. The annual banquet sponsored by the Community Development Partnership is set for Monday, July 9. In addition to crowning our new princess during pageant night, other awards will be handed out including Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, Media Competition Award, as well as First and Second Alternate.
For more information, visit choctawindianfair.com or call the fair hotline at 601-650-7450.
