Miss Indian Arizona 2013-2014 Participants

Jennifer Lynn Carter Jewell Diamond Honga Sabrina Marie Avila Wynona Marie Peters Marissa Deana Johnson Reyes Marie Tom Alyssa Rene Garcia Amber Brown Ann Marie Salt Elisa Briones Mykhal Mendoza


Jennifer Lynn Carter

Jennifer Lynn Carter, Colorado River Indian Tribes

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



Sabrina Marie Avila

Sabrina Marie Avila, San Carlos Apache

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

Wynona Marie Peters, Tohono O’odham Nation

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

Ann Marie Salt

Ann Marie Salt, Navajo

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

Elisa C. Briones, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

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

Mykhal Mendoza, White Mountain Apache Tribe

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


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