Charley named Miss Navajo Nation
2008-2009

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — After a week of competition, it all came down to Saturday night for the four young women running for the title of Miss Navajo Nation 2008-2009, and the new title holder is the one who wanted to wear the prestigious crown since she was 8 years old.

Yolanda Jane Charley, 20, of Chichiltah, was crowned Miss Navajo Nation by her predecessor Jonathea Tso before thousands of spectators during a coronation ceremony after the Night Performance at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.

“Oh my gosh, I’m excited!” she exclaimed when asked how it felt to be crowned Miss Navajo.

Charley, who served as Miss Eastern Navajo 2007-2008, said her platform will be “our youth, our language, our tradition, our culture, just everything”

After she was crowned, well-wishers surrounded her to congratulate her and shake hands with the new Miss Navajo Nation.

First runner-up for the crown was Danielle Goldtooth of Farmington. Latasha Tom of Blue Canyon, Ariz., was named second runner-up, and Rikki Jane Watchman of Yahtahey was selected as third runner-up.

Charley also won the prize for best butcher. Watchman won Miss Photogenic and Goldtooth won Miss Congeniality. Tom won a prize for best essay.

The coronation capped off the week-long pageant, which included the butchering contest on Monday, contemporary skills and talent on Tuesday, traditional skills and talent on Wednesday, a panel interview with former Miss Navajo title holders on Thursday and another panel interview on business on Friday.

Before the Night Performance started, Charley said, “I’m just excited, I’m ecstatic. I can’t wait to see who gets crowned tonight.”

Charley said the competition was tough.

“But then again it was really exciting because it’s just an experience and you get that rush and it’s really exciting,” she said.

The toughest part was going before the Miss Navajo panel, she and the other contestants said.

“These ladies are the ladies we look up to since we were kids,” she said.

Charley credits her grandmother for her seeking out the title.
“My grandma always encouraged me (to) try out for these things,” she said.

Former Miss Navajo Sunny Dooley 1982-1983, also from Chichiltah, also encouraged her to run, she said.

“She kind of just led the way and I followed in her footsteps,” Charley said.