‘I worked very hard for this’
Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero As rain blesses the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds, Crystal Littleben reacts to the announcement that she is the new Miss Navajo.
Crystal Littleben is new Miss Navajo Nation
WINDOW ROCK
Crystal Littleben, 25, went from second runner-up in 2015 to being crowned this year as the 71st Naabeehó Bich’eeke’ in a last-chance effort to win the coveted title.
Littleben is originally from Tsénikání Bis Dootl’izh, Arizona, but resides in Tónaneesdizí. She is Kinlichíi’nii and born for Ma’ii Deeshgiizhinii. Her maternal grandfather is Biih Bitoodnii and her paternal grandfather is Bit’ahnii.
“I feel very relieved – happy. I worked very hard for this,” Littleben told the Navajo Times moments after being crowned by exiting Miss Navajo Ronda Joe.
The week started off with a bit of a struggle after Littleben came in third, with her partner and fellow contestant Kayla Martinez, in the infamous sheep-butchering portion of the competition. “It was very exhausting,” Littleben said about her week of competition. “All the girls will say it was very exhausting.”
Dorothy and Thomas Littleben, along with other family members, stood close by and looked on as their daughter hugged the other seven contestants who braved the strenuous Miss Navajo pageant. Thomas Littleben was speechless but it was Dorothy who said she had no doubt that her daughter would be named the next Miss Navajo. “We were already expecting this, due to her skills and talent,” Dorothy said. “We are happy.”
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