
New crown honors culture, craft at inaugural Miss Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise pageant

Courtesy | Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise
Miss Navajo Nation Ranisha C. Begay crowns Acacia Williams of Kaibeto, Ariz., as the inaugural Miss Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise on July 19 in Window Rock.
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A new crown entered Diné pageantry on July 19, marking the debut of the Miss Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise pageant.
Three young women competed for the inaugural title, a role that honors creativity, cultural fluency, and the enduring power of Navajo artisanship.
Acacia Williams of Kaibeto, Arizona, was crowned the first Miss Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise. The 2023-24 Miss Western Navajo, Williams now steps into a role that positions her as a cultural ambassador and a voice for artisans across the Navajo Nation, representing both tradition and contemporary craftsmanship.
Williams is K’aalógii-Áshįįhí and born for Tł’ízíłání. Her maternal grandfather is Kinłichíi’nii, and her paternal grandfather is Táchii’nii. She is the daughter of Lariat and Kimberlee Williams of Kaibeto.
Williams was joined in the competition by fellow contestants Dosha Wortham and Harmony Manuelito, all of whom demonstrated traditional skills and shared their commitment to cultural preservation through the arts. Wortham earned four awards: People’s Choice, Miss Congeniality, Viewers’ Choice, and First Runner-Up. Manuelito was named Second Runner-Up.
Hosted in Tségháhoodzání, the pageant was created by the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise to recognize young Diné women who carry forward artistic traditions, whether as practicing artists or as descendants of artisan families. Contestants were required to be between the ages of 18 and 24, fluent in the Navajo language, and knowledgeable in Navajo culture, traditions, and NACE’s history. Each participant was also required to be enrolled in high school or college, or to have earned a diploma or degree.
Saturday’s event featured food vendors and an “Appreciation Song and Dance,” blending celebration with ceremony.
The Miss Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise crown, unveiled during the ceremony, was handcrafted by NACE’s own talented team, a symbolic merging of legacy and innovation.
The Navajo Times reached out to NACE spokesperson Marcus Nelson and CEO JT Willie on Thursday, July 17, with a list of questions regarding the inaugural pageant. Follow-up calls and text messages were made to both Nelson and Willie, who said they would begin responding on Friday. As of the Tuesday, July 22 deadline, no responses had been received.
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