Camille Uentillie crowned 2025-26 Miss Navajo Nation

WINDOW ROCK

Camille Uentillie of Kinlichee, Arizona, was crowned the 2025-26 Miss Navajo Nation on Saturday evening at the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds, where she addressed the crowd about her plans for the year ahead.

Uentillie is Tsi’naajinii, born for Tłʼááshchíʼí. Her maternal grandfather is Tó’áhání, and her paternal grandfather is Tó Dík’ǫ́zhí. She is the daughter of Charlene and Larson Uentillie.

“This win means a lot. It means a lot of my family’s teachings are going to be told,” Uentillie said after receiving the silver crown at the 73rd Annual Miss Navajo Nation Pageant coronation. “(The title) entitles the Navajo language and the culture behind it. I’m very excited to meet everyone and continue the work that recent Miss Navajos have been putting out there.”

Uentillie, 25, said she was inspired to run out of concern for the future of young people in her community.

“What inspired me to run was my community, the youth. I really looked into the future, where our youth was heading. I was worried a lot about where our youth was heading,” she said. “I look at my family, my nephews, everyone younger than me, and I want them to learn everything that I’ve been pursuing, and it’s only going to continue growing. I’m very excited, and I’m excited to pass that on.”

She noted she is only the second woman from Kinlichee to earn the title.

“The first one was Karen Leuppe. She was able to talk to me at one of the chapter meetings,” Uentillie said.

Leuppe, the 1994-95 Miss Navajo Nation, advised her to prepare for the challenges ahead.

“She said, ‘Tough skin. Have a thick layer of skin and you’ll learn a lot. And be open to listening and being there for your community and always know that your family will have your back,’” Uentillie recalled.

Uentillie said she plans to dedicate her reign to engaging youth in community projects and language learning.

“So for the next year, we will immediately start working with the community projects. I really want to focus on our youth and how to engage with them, whether through sports or even chapter meetings,” she said.

She added that she hopes to help bring educational programs to chapters.

“That’s really where I want to focus, and from there on, let’s encourage the language,” she said. “Let’s get them started and say, ‘Hey, I’m excited, I learned a new word.’”

Reflecting on the pageant experience, Uentillie said she built strong bonds with fellow contestants Tanesha Francis, Eriona Tapahe and Cora Hubbard, who is also from Kinlichee.

“My sisters, oh my god, I’m so proud of them. They taught me a lot this past week. We had some important conversations, a lot of vulnerability here through pageant week. I’m happy for them. They taught me a lot, and I’m going to do my best to represent them as well, and everybody who’s looking up to me,” she said. “I am on the clock as of right now, and I’m very excited.”

Contestant awards

Best Butcher – Taneesha Francis
Best Traditional Food – Eriona Tapahe
Best Essay – Eriona Tapahe
Miss Congeniality – Taneesha Francis
Best Skill and Talent (Contemporary) – Eriona Tapahe
Best Skill and Talent (Traditional) – Taneesha Francis
Third Runner-Up – Cora Hubbard
Second Runner-Up – Taneesha Francis
First Runner-Up – Eriona Tapahe
Miss Navajo Nation – Camille Uentillie

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