TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Ella Mounce, 20, of Stilwell, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2024-2025 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Saturday. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassadors, all of whom will serve in their roles for the next year.
As Miss Cherokee, Mounce will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the government, history, language and culture of the tribe. She also received a $6,000 scholarship.
“I have a sense of pride when I think about how this group of young people decided to step up with great confidence to do something special. As ambassadors of the Cherokee Nation they will carry on their shoulders all of their fellow Cherokees as they travel near and far. For that, all of them have my admiration,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “They are among a generation of Cherokees that is the most educated, well trained, and have the most opportunities, and as they grow, we will bear witness to them leading in our government, businesses, and communities. I’m particularly proud to see how passionate they are about sharing their culture and traditions, and I am excited to see all that they will accomplish in the year to come.”
Mounce is the daughter of Michael and Tonia Mounce, from Stilwell. She is a sophomore at Northeastern State University and majoring in art. She serves her community by volunteering for the Johnson-O’Malley program and cultural resources at Cherokee Nation to assist with cultural days and with the Cherokee Youth Choir. She enjoys basket making, pottery, cornhusk doll, clay bead making, and blowgun making, among other cultural activities.
“I wouldn’t be here without my friends and family. They have pushed me forward to take on so many opportunities and have encouraged and supported me through everything,” Mounce said. “I’m so excited to begin this journey of serving my tribe.”
The Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition judges contestants on their use of the Cherokee language, as well as cultural and platform presentations and responses to impromptu questions.
Additional judges’ categories include an interview, leadership and community involvement, and social skills. For her cultural presentation, Mounce shared the art of atlatl and dart making. Her platform speech focused on the importance of encouraging culture early in the lives of children.
Miss Cherokee runner-up was Kaitlyn Pinkerton, 21, of Pryor. Pinkerton was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.
During the competition, Dayci Starr, 15, of Stilwell, was crowned Junior Miss Cherokee 2024-2025.
“I’m so happy for this opportunity to serve the Cherokee people and I’m so proud of the other contestants,” Starr said. “I’m most looking forward to helping in our communities this year.”
Starr is the daughter of Denise Starr from Stilwell. She attends Sequoyah High School where she is a sophomore. Dayci enjoys round reed and flat reed basket making, cornhusk doll making, twining, and beading. She has served five years on the Adair County 4-H officer team and has assisted the Kiwanis during the Stilwell Strawberry Festival as a volunteer.
The 2024-25 Little Cherokee Ambassadors were also crowned during a ceremony on Aug. 16 in Tahlequah. Sixteen Cherokee children competed in four age divisions for the titles. Little Cherokee Ambassadors act as role models and ambassadors for the tribe by attending events and parades for the next year.
“I’m delighted when I see our young Cherokees find so much interest in serving our tribe as ambassadors,” Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. “They will play such an important role in our future by strengthening our Cherokee community values this year, and this experience will be a great opportunity for them to participate in the growth of our Nation.”
Maggie Rhodes, 12, of Tahlequah, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 10-12 age category. Maggie sang a song in Cherokee for her cultural presentation.
Winning in the 7-9 age category was Ella Raper, 9, of Pryor, who sang a Cherokee hymn for her cultural presentation. Kaden Evans, 8, of Pryor, spoke about stickball for his cultural presentation and won in the boys 7-9 age category.
In the Little Cherokee Ambassador 4-6 age category, Ellci Vann, 5, of Tahlequah, won the title. Ellci told a Cherokee story for her cultural presentation. Cooper Evans, 5, of Pryor, told a Cherokee story for his cultural presentation and won in the boys 7-9 age category.