BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — A woman from Western Alaska will be competing later this month for the title of Miss Indian World.
Megan Leary, a graduate of Bethel Regional High School, will compete in the Miss Indian World Cultural Pageant April 22-26 at the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque
“There will be girls from all across the nation and Canada and Mexico, different indigenous girls, young ladies my age,” she told KYUK. “They’ll be going and competing and showcasing their culture, their traditions and their background, where they’re from and their talent and just their knowledge of who we are as indigenous people.”
Each contestant will compete in five areas: public speaking, personal interview, traditional presentation, dance and essay.
Her talent is skin sewing, and she will have three minutes to tell judges about its cultural importance.
Leary, a former Miss Cama-i and Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics, said she is excited to represent Alaska in the pageant. She is putting on the finishing touches by beading and sewing some Athabascan regalia like a dress and mukluks to go with her Yu’pik clothing.
As of Thursday, she has raised about half of the $3,000 she needs for trip to New Mexico.
