TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Hannah Neugin, 20, of Hulbert, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2025-26 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Aug. 16. 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, Neugin 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.
“As Chief, it fills me with pride to see so many young Cherokees full of confidence to step up and do something special,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “It’s no secret that our Cherokee royalty are great ambassadors of the Cherokee Nation. There are many opportunities for these young folks to travel near and far to spread what it means to be Cherokee. This generation has the most opportunities and the future within their grasp; our people will be well cared for with excellent leaders in the future.”
Neugin is a junior at Northeastern State University majoring in Information Systems. Neugin enjoys stickball, marbles, fishing and learning Cherokee. She participates in community events and language preservation efforts. She enjoys volunteering on campus and area cultural activities, being a role model for Cherokee youth as a Tribal Youth Councilor. She was a 2024 Remember the Removal Rider.
“This means the world to me to be crowned Miss Cherokee,” said Neugin. “I hope all of the youth will look up to me and I have very big shoes to fill after Ella Mounce has done a wonderful job in the last year.”
The Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition and Junior Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition categories are judged on their use of the Cherokee language, as well as cultural and platform presentations, leadership and community involvement and interviewing and their responses to impromptu questions.
Neugin played a traditional Cherokee song, “Orphan Child,” on the flute and shared the translations in English and Cherokee.
Miss Cherokee runner-up Leah Gardner, 18, of Salina was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.
During the competition, Reese Henson, 16, of Tahlequah, was crowned Junior Miss Cherokee 2025-26. Henson’s platform focused on the importance of language revitalization due to her family’s experience.
“It’s an honor to be crowned Junior Miss Cherokee and serve as an ambassador of the Cherokee Nation,” said Reese Henson, a junior at Sequoyah High School. “I look forward to joining Miss Cherokee, sharing our language and sharing my platform which is language loss due to Indian boarding school policies which affected language learning in my own family.”
Henson, 16, is a junior at Sequoyah High School where she is a member of the HOPE Club, the volleyball team and cheer. She enjoys stickball, marbles, basketweaving and beading. Reese volunteers with the HOPE Club at school and in her community.
The 2025-26 Little Cherokee Ambassadors were also crowned during a ceremony on Friday, August 15 in Tahlequah. Fifteen 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 filled with pride when I see such young Cherokees share their culture and pride in their Nation,” said Deputy Chief Bryan Warner. “The children play a huge role in the future by reinforcing our Cherokee values. This year will serve them well and provide them the tools they need to be the future leaders of tomorrow. We are thankful to them for participating in the growth of our Nation.”
Kayni Duncan, 11, of Stilwell, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 10-12 age category. Kayni performed the “Hokey Pokey” in Cherokee for her cultural presentation. Ryan Altaffer, 11, of Tahlequah, sang “At the Cross” in Cherokee for his presentation. He won the boys 10-12 category.
Winning in the 7-9 age category was KennaFay Brison, 7, of Gore, who shared a presentation on how moccasins are created. Also winning in the 7-9 category was Guthrie Rogers, 8, of Locust Grove, who gave a presentation on blow darts and demonstrated their use.
In the Little Cherokee Ambassador 4-6 age category, Mylee Gideon, 5, of Stilwell, shared the Cherokee creation story of the strawberry. Harper Lowe, 5, of Tahlequah, demonstrated how to make a watercress salad and won in the boys 4-6 age category.