TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Jaycee Gideon, 20, of Stilwell, was crowned Miss Cherokee 2026-2027 during the annual leadership competition held in Tahlequah on Aug. 22. The tribe also crowned a new Junior Miss Cherokee, Maggie Rhodes, 14, of Tahlequah.
As Miss Cherokee, Gideon will represent the Cherokee Nation as a goodwill ambassador to promote the Cherokee government, history, and to preserve and promote the Cherokee language and culture. Gideon also received a $6,000 scholarship.
“The Little Cherokee Ambassador and Miss Cherokee and Junior Miss Cherokee competitions are the beginning of our holiday celebrations, and this is a great way to kick off the 74th Cherokee National Holiday,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “We should recognize the determination of our youth to put themselves out on the stage, no matter who wins the title our tribe wins because our greatest gift, the children, continue to share what it means to be Cherokee.”
Gideon is the daughter of Kristin Fourkiller and Randy Gideon. She is a junior at the University of Oklahoma and is majoring in Political Science. Gideon spends her time as a volunteer golf coach for Northeast Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Athletes and at Indian Falls Creek. She was also a member of the 2026 Remember the Removal Bike Ride as well as serving three terms on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Youth Council. Gideon enjoys storytelling, singing Cherokee hymns, playing stickball, and learning the Cherokee language and history.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent our tribe this year,” said Gideon. “I will serve as a role model for young Cherokees and educate people about who we are as Cherokee citizens and to honor where we came from. I’m so excited to see what this year has in store.”
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 their responses to impromptu questions.
Gideon provided a cultural presentation on the legend of the first strawberry.
Miss Cherokee runner-up Adriauna Garcia, 20, of Tahlequah, was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.
During the competition, Maggie Rhodes, 14, of Tahlequah, was crowned Junior Miss Cherokee 2026-2027. Rhodes' platform focused on promoting the Cherokee language to the next generation.
“I am so grateful to represent my tribe as Junior Miss Cherokee 2026-2027,” said Rhodes. “I’m looking forward to all this role has in store for me and I’m humbled to be a part of such an amazing legacy of young Cherokee women.”
Rhodes is a freshman at Sequoyah High School. Over the summer she has volunteered service to Grandview Public School’s Cherokee class. Rhodes enjoys learning the Cherokee language and singing in Cherokee.
The Little Cherokee Ambassadors 2026-27 were also crowned during a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 21 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. Five new Little Cherokee Ambassadors were crowned for this year.
“I’m very proud of our Cherokee ambassadors for reinforcing our Cherokee values and taking on the huge responsibility of being our future. This year will give them the tools they need to be the leaders of tomorrow. Wado to our Cherokee ambassadors for participating in the growth of our Nation,” said Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner.
Andy Rhodes, 6, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 4-6 girls’ division. Rhodes performed the Pledge of Allegiance in Cherokee for her cultural presentation. Also performing the Pledge of Allegiance in Cherokee, Sebastian Wesley, 6, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 4-6 boys’ division.
Gabby Green, 9, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 7-9 girls’ division, singing in Cherokee for her cultural presentation. Johnee Gideon, 7, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 7-9 boys’ division, performing storytelling for his cultural presentation. Also performing storytelling, Ella Raper, 11, was crowned Little Cherokee Ambassador in the 10-12 girls’ division. There were no applicants this year for the 10-12 boys’ division.