Angelina Buck, 17, of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, was named the first-place winner of the American Indian Beauty Pageant on Sept. 18, 2026, in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
Photos by Yasser Marte and Beau Glynn
PENDLETON — Traditional regalia and beautiful designs took center stage as contestants celebrated their heritage during the native american beauty contests.
The two events, the Jr. American Indian Beauty Contest held Sept. 17 at Roy Raley Park and the American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 18 in downtown Pendleton, brought together contestants representing different tribes and generations of cultural traditions.
Each piece reflected a connection to family, community and history. Beautiful woven colors, patterns and beadwork carried cultural meaning, with designs rooted in traditions passed down through generations. The contests offered a vivid display of pride and tradition, with contestants carrying the artistry sewn into the fabric of their communities.
Winners of the Senior American Indian Beauty Contest were Angelina Buck, a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, who took first place; Happy Canyon Princess MyaLyn Mills, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, who took second; and CTUIR member Dazha Joseph, who placed third.
Winners of the Jr. American Indian Beauty Contest are CTUIR members Blake Berit Ashley, first-place; Ezmae Louis Hoisington, second-place; Lillian Wickert, third-place; and Gwen Johnson, best dressed.
Check out the latest photos of both contests.
Happy Canyon Princess MyaLyn Mills, 18, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was named second-place winner of the American Indian Beauty Pageant on Sept. 18, 2026, in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)Dazha Joseph, 14, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, is named third-place winner on Sept. 18, 2026, at the American Indian Beauty Pageant. (Lee Gavin/The CUJ)
CTUIR member Blake Berit Ashley was announced as the winner of the 2026 Junior American Indian Beauty Contest at Roy Raley Park on Sept. 17, the day of her 13th birthday. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)
CTUIR member Ezmae Louis Hoisington waves from the stage at Roy Raley Park after being announced as the second-place winner of the Junior American Indian Contest on Sept. 17. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)Dreama Wyena, 22, of Wanapum and Muckleshoot heritage, wears her regalia as she carries on her family legacy as a fourth-generation participant in the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon on Sept. 18, 2025, during the Native American Beauty Contest in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)Tatyana Walsey, 15, of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, honors her heritage in traditional regalia during the Native American Beauty Contest on Sept. 18, 2026, in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
Tribal member Lillian Wickert waves from the Roy Raley Park stage in Pendleton on Sept. 17 after being announced as the third-place winner of the annual Junior American Indian Beauty Contest. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)
Tribal member Gwen Johnson was awarded for the most authentic dress at the Junior American Indian Beauty Contest on Sept. 17 at Roy Raley Park. Her dress, made by her mother and grandmother, is over 50 years old. (Beau Glynn/The CUJ)
Happy Canyon Princess Manaia Wolf, 17, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, wears a nearly 110-year-old dress made by renowned Columbia Plateau dressmaker Elsie Pistelhead and gifted to Wolf by her grandmother on Sept. 18, 2026, at the American Indian Beauty Pageant. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)Angelina Buck, 17, of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, was named the first-place winner of the American Indian Beauty Pageant on Sept. 18, 2026, in downtown Pendleton. (Yasser Marte/The CUJ)
