Wagner follows her mother’s path to Miss Eastern Navajo crown
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Janae Bailey Wagner, the 2026-27 Miss Eastern Navajo, poses with her crown, sash and Pendleton blanket in Crownpoint. Wagner, 19, is from Becenti, New Mexico.
CROWNPOINT
Draped in a blush satin dress accented with lace sleeves and turquoise jewelry, Janae Bailey Wagner wore a sterling silver crown and an easy smile as she began her year as the 2026-27 Miss Eastern Navajo.
The 19-year-old from Becenti, New Mexico, won the title after a competition that tested contestants in public speaking and contemporary and traditional presentations. She received a sash and a Pendleton blanket embroidered with her new title as she began representing Eastern Agency.
Wagner decided to compete one week before the application deadline. Her mother, Jerrileen Begay, who served as Miss Eastern Navajo from 1999 to 2000, was her strongest influence.
“I think what inspired me most to run was again my mom, because she’s my biggest supporter,” Wagner said. “She’s my best friend. She’s my everything. Anything and everything I do, she is there with me.”
Preparing for the competition required months of practice, including long evenings rehearsing speeches in Navajo. Begay encouraged her daughter to remain confident and continue practicing.
“My mom just told me to stay confident, be strong,” Wagner said. “She told me to keep practicing, keep pushing myself. The long nights of practicing my speeches, what I’m gonna say in Navajo, they all paid off in the end.”
To read the full article, please see the July 30, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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