Jennifer Lynn Carter is the eighteen year old daughter of Tommie Miller and Jeremy Carter.
She is Mohave and Chemehuevi from the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Jennifer recently graduated from Parker High School and is currently seeking her Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Tohono O’odham Community College.
After graduation, she plans to attend Haskell Indian University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Her ultimate goal is to become a Tribal police officer on her reservation.
Jennifer is active in sports, and was a member of Parker High School’s volleyball, basketball, and softball teams.
She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering for community events, traveling, reading, and dancing.
She recently served as the receptionist for the Department of Health and Social Services in Parker.
If selected as Miss Indian Arizona, Jennifer will address the issue of bullying.
She states that “bullying stops people from being who they want to be, and prevents them from expressing themselves.”
This includes in-person bullying, cyber bullying and bullying that occur through text messaging.
Learn more about the Colorado River Indian Tribes
Jewel Diamond Honga is the twenty-three year old daughter of Charlotte and Waylon Honga.
She is a member of the Hualapai Tribe and serves on the Hualapai Tribal Youth Council.
Jewel is an honor student, and she received her Associates Degree in Business from Coconino Community College.
She is currently seeking her Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management at Northern Arizona University.
After college, she plans to continue her studies and obtain her Masters in Business Administration.
Her goal is to become the second Hualapai to earn an MBA.
Jewel enjoys playing sports and beading. She recently served as an intern for a marketing and public relations firm in Flagstaff.
If chosen as Miss Indian Arizona, Jewel will promote cultural preservation and economic development through higher education.
Learn more about the Hualapai Tribe
Sabrina Marie Avila is the twenty year old daughter of Maria and Jose Avila. She is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
Sabrina is a student at Arizona State University where she is pursuing a degree in Family and Human Development. Her goal is to become a family doctor and return to her reservation to improve the health of her people. In addition to her studies, she volunteers at Native Health and has volunteered for the Native American Recognition Days Parade through Native Connections.
Sabrina likes to travel, meet new people, and watch movies. She loves spending time with her family and making traditional foods with her grandmother.
If selected as Miss Indian Arizona, Sabrina’s platform would be to encourage Native youth to embrace their culture and bring back traditions.
Learn more about the San Carlos Apache Tribe
Wynona Marie Peters is the twenty-four year old daughter of Vivian Miguel. She is from the San Xavier Community of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Wynona was selected as the 50th Miss Tohono O’odham Nation.
Wynona earned a degree in Ethnic Studies and Sociology from the University of San Diego in 2011.
As an undergraduate student, she co-authored an article entitled, “The Proper Way to Advance the Indian: Race and Gender Hierarchies in the Early Yakima Newspapers.”
She plans to continue her education in a graduate program that focuses on revitalizing culture, either American Indian studies or ethnic studies.
Wynona enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing basketball, traditional dancing, and traveling.
If chosen as Miss Indian Arizona, Wynona’s platform would be self-confidence and self-esteem awareness among our youth.
She believes that with encouragement and support, we can make an impact on our Native youth.
Learn more about the Tohono O'odham Nation
Marissa Deana Johnson is the twenty-one year old daughter of Diana and Leland Johnson.
Marissa is a member of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community.
She served as Junior Miss Salt River, was the First Attendant to Miss Salt River in 2009-2010, and was a Sergeant in the Salt River Police Explorers Post 909.
Marissa recently graduated from Aveda Institute in Phoenix as a licensed aesthetician, and she is currently enrolled in Scottsdale Community College where she is seeking an Associate’s Degree in Cinematic Arts.
After SCC, she plans to attend the University of Southern California to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Production and to obtain a minor in Animation and Digital Arts. Her goal is to work for Walt Disney Studios.
Marissa’s hobbies include boxing, skateboarding, creating music, and video games.
She embraces learning the O’odham himdag (way of life) through stories and dance.
If selected as Miss Indian Arizona, Marissa will focus on empowerment through inspiration.
She believes that every person has the opportunity to be successful and that passion is derived through ambition.
Learn more about the Salt River Indian Community
Reyes Marie Tom is the eighteen year old daughter of Andrea James. She is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. She is the reigning Miss San Carlos, and she held several additional titles from her Tribe.
Reyes graduated valedictorian from San Carlos High School in 2012. She also served as Student Body President and was a member of the National Honors Society. She received many academic awards and was inducted into the National Society of High School Scholars. She is currently seeking a degree in Business Administration from Eastern Arizona College. She hopes to become the first person in her family to obtain a PhD.
Her professional goal is to become the Chairwoman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe as Dr. Reyes Tom.
Reyes enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and learning about the history of cultures.
If chosen as Miss Indian Arizona, her platform will be to promote higher education for youth.
Learn more about the San Carlos Apache Tribe
Alyssa Rene Garcia is the daughter of Lisa and Manuel Garcia. Alyssa is a member of the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
Alyssa served as Miss Ak-Chin 2011-2012. She is currently the President of the Ak-Chin Youth Council and is a female member-at-large on the
National Congress of American Indians Youth Commission.
Alyssa recently graduated from Seton Catholic Prep with a 3.7 GPA. She is in her first year at the University of
Arizona where she is seeking a Health Science Degree focusing in Physiology.
In addition to staying on the honor roll, Alyssa is committed to service.
She plans to donate four hours of service per week. Her long term goal is to attend medical school and to become a physical therapist for her
Community.
Alyssa enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, listening to music, and playing sports, including the O’odham
traditional game of To:ka. For the past ten years, she has participated in the Ak-Chin Ba:ban Keihina Dance Group.
If selected as Miss Indian Arizona, Alyssa’s platform will be to encourage community involvement through community service.
Learn more about the Ak-Chin Indian Community
Amber Brown is the twenty-three year old daughter of Henrietta Footracer and Princeton Brown. Amber is a member of the Navajo Nation.
Amber will graduate from Scottsdale Community College in 2014 with her Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education.
She plans to continue her education and earn her BA in Elementary and Special Education.
Her goals include becoming fluent in Navajo, teaching in another country, and becoming a teacher.
She is currently a Youth Developmental Specialist on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Reservation.
She also serves as a Youth Advisor for a nonprofit tribal youth council.
Amber enjoys singing, learning new songs, beading, conducting research on education, and attending youth conferences.
Her hobbies include working with the youth on developing leadership skills, attending cultural events and performance art events.
If chosen as Miss Indian Arizona, Amber would focus on encouraging Indian youth to develop leadership skills early in their lives.
Learn more about the Navajo Nation
Ann Marie Salt is the twenty-three year old daughter of Charlotte J. Salt and Larry Y. Holiday. She is a member of the Navajo Nation.
She served as Miss Western Navajo 2011-2012 and was the Second Runner Up to Miss Navajo Nation in 2011.
Ann Marie graduated co-valedictorian from Monument Valley High School and earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from Northern Arizona University.
She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Grand Canyon University, where she maintains a 3.25 GPA.
Her educational goals include obtaining a Doctorate in Public Health in order to become a Community Health Educator and better the lives of Native people.
Her personal goals include becoming fluent in the Navajo language.
Ann Marie enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in culture and community activities, traveling, and playing volleyball.
She worked for the Navajo Health Education Program in Kayenta as a Health Education Technician.
If selected as Miss Indian Arizona, Ann Marie will promote the concept of Hozho, or harmony, in all aspects of life—mental, physical, emotional, social, and
spiritual. Through the teachings of Hozho, she will encourage cultural and language preservation, higher education, and healthy lifestyles.
Learn more about the Navajo Nation
Elisa C. Briones is the twenty-one year old daughter of Carmelita and Riley Briones Jr.
She is a member of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. Elisa was Miss Salt River 2012-2013 and has served in leadership roles in the
Young River Peoples’ Council.
Elisa graduated from Westwood High School in 2010. For five summers, she was a youth worker at the Huhugam Ki Museum at Salt River.
Based on this experience, her educational goals are to go to college and earn a major in museum studies and then return to work for her Community.
She is currently a slot technician at Casino Arizona.
Elisa enjoys learning about her ancestor’s way of life, beading, weaving rope, singing, and dancing traditionally.
She also enjoys watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
If chosen as Miss Indian Arizona, Elisa’s platform will be cultural preservation. She says that without cultural preservation,
our past would be lost; “we would have nothing to show the future generation of what it was like for our ancestors and what we have come from.”
Learn more about the Salt River Indian Community
Mykhal Mendoza is the twenty-two year old daughter of Donminic and Melissa Bonney. She was Junior Miss White Mountain Apache 2008-2009,
First Attendant to Miss Indian Arizona 2009-2010, and Miss Indian ASU 2011-2012.
Mykhal graduated valedictorian from Alchesay High School, and is currently a senior at Arizona State University where she is pursuing joint degrees in
Political Science and American Indian Studies. After graduation, she plans to work for Teach for America on a reservation.
She then plans to pursue a graduate degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University.
Mykhal recently participated in the Tribal Nations Tour where she visited Indian Country talking to youth about higher education opportunities.
As a Gates Millennium Scholar, she participated in community service projects in the Albuquerque area.
She also enjoys watching movies, playing sand volleyball, and snowboarding at her Tribe’s ski resort.
If selected Miss Indian Arizona, Mykhal’s platform would be “Tradition is who I am, Education is my future”.
Mykhal hopes to inform Native youth about the importance of embracing our culture through our education.
Learn more about the White Mountain Apache Tribe
