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Miss Native American UA admired for her diligence

Though tears ran strong down the face of Sherrie Dawn Stanley, there beamed a proud smile of happiness and victory after she was crowned the 1999-2000 Miss Native American University of Arizona.

During the impromptu question category, Stanley, a civil engineering senior, was asked to describe the significance of her attire and instead of focusing on its aesthetic qualities, she mentioned the ancestral influence.

"The attire goes back to my ancestors, and it represents harmony and balance - it's the outfit they wore when they worked hard," she said to an auditorium of 200 students, administrators and family members.

"Wearing this traditional attire represents our ancestry and all the hopes and dreams that go into it," Stanley said.

The Native American Student Affairs Center's 16th annual Miss Native American University of Arizona Pageant approached the age old tradition of beauty, intelligence and talent recognition yesterday but without over emphasizing outer beauty.

"I think it's neat not to emphasize on outer beauty because we get away from the stereotypes of more pageants and lean more toward how the contestant defines herself," said Trudy Reed, an elementary education junior.

"For example, they focus on what the contestant knows about their culture - that has a lot to do with who the person is," she said.

The pageant's contemporary competition featured a poetry reading, a speech on Apache White Mountain women, a ballet routine, karaoke with Shania Twain and a comical display of fictional characters, allowing the women to step outside of tradition and be themselves.

The pageant is divided into three sections: contemporary competition, traditional competition and an impromptu question category.

"They omit the beauty - swimsuit - and rely on mental capability and creativity," said Ann-Denise Taylor, an Arizona State University graduate student.

Taylor, who is also Miss Indian Arizona 1999-2000, said the pageant "brings out the mind and shows their respect and uniqueness - they are really talented."

"Young Native American ladies are taught to be modest so it's not quite so appropriate to wear scanty clothes," said Bruce Meyers, director of Native American Student Affairs. "It's respect for their bodies, so it's not a competition like Miss America."

Meyers added that because there are often many family members in the crowd, it is best for the young women to be modest and respectful of themselves as well as those in the audience.

"I don't want people to look at me and say I am just another woman," said Jovanna Aday, one of five contestants, as she addressed the audience. "I want to (promote) my heritage, tradition and culture," she said.

Aday, an education freshman, emphasized the importance of Native American women, the hands that bind the family and the importance of attending college because the percentage of Native Americans in college is fairly low.

Among many other acknowledgments, many agree that the Miss Native American University of Arizona is admired for her diligence and participation in the community.

"Being Miss (Native American) UA, you are admired because young girls look up to you, and you encourage education beyond high school," said Kimberly Arthur, an English literature senior who held the title from 1997 to 1998.

"You show them that it is possible because having someone up there gives them hope," she said.

Arthur also said the women are judged on their grades and talent, not their beauty, and their involvement on campus and in the community.

Randall Joe, master of ceremonies and a cultural anthropology and Indian studies senior, told the contestants, prior to the announcement, to "serve as a role model of American youth, upholding the crown in active leadership roles is a consistent challenge."