CHOCTAW — Eleven young Chahta Ohoyos (Choctaw women) will vie for the honor of becoming the 65th Choctaw Indian Princess at the 70th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair.

The Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant is the opening event for the Choctaw Indian Fair, which opens Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m. at the Main Stage. Choctaw culture will be on full display, as the young Choctaw ladies showcase traditional Choctaw clothing and unique works of art and compete to become the next Choctaw Indian Princess.

The pageant is scheduled to begin after the Opening Ceremonies hosted by the Tribal Chief at 6 p.m.

The contestants have been attending pageant practices throughout the month. The annual banquet sponsored by the Community Development Partnership is set for Monday, July 8.

In addition to crowning the new princess during pageant night, other awards will be presented including Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, Media Competition Award, as well as first and second alternates.

The 2019 contestants are:

• Hallie Dlynn Billie, 18, is the daughter of Glen and Jo Billie of the Pearl River community. She plans to attend East Central Community College this fall.

Hallie is sponsored by the Choctaw Health Center Employees Association.

• Leona Monique Billy, 16, is the daughter of Eric and Victoria Billy. She is from the Conehatta community and will be a senior at Newton County High School this fall.

Leona is sponsored by the Conehatta Development Club.

• Memorie RayAnn Henry, 17, is the daughter of Meritza Henry. She is from the Pearl River community and will be a senior at Neshoba Central High School this fall.

Memorie is sponsored by the Non-Gaming Properties of Pearl River Resort.

• Candace Sharece Jefferson, 19, is the daughter of Amon Lewis and Deborah Bell. She is a member of the Standing Pine community and currently attends East Mississippi Community College, where she will be a sophomore this fall.

Candace is sponsored by the Gaming Properties of Pearl River Resort.

• Elisah Monique Jimmie, 19, is the daughter of Karla Keats and Elijah Jimmie. A member of the Pearl River community, she will be a sophomore this fall at East Central Community College.

Elisah is sponsored by the Pearl River Community Development Club.

• Kaylee Jordan Routh, 20, is the daughter of Edward & Tina Routh of the Pearl River community. This fall, she will be a junior at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Kaylee is sponsored by IKBI, Inc.

• India Sky-Lyn Samuel, 18, is the daughter of Shaundareka Thomas and Mark Samuel. She is from the Bogue Chitto community and will be a sophomore at East Central Community College this fall.

India is sponsored by the Bogue Chitto Development Club.

• Kristina Michelle Taylor, 17, is the daughter of Sharon and Joe Taylor. She is from the Tucker community and will be a senior at Choctaw Central High School this fall.

Kristina is sponsored by the Tucker Development Club.

• Kristeena Jay Thomas, 19, is the daughter of Shane and Vita Johnson of the Bogue Homa community. She plans to attend Jones County Junior College, where she will be a sophomore this fall.

Kristeena is sponsored by Veterans Affairs.

• Taezialin Tanese Tubby, 17, is the daughter of April Willis and Tatum Tubby. She is from the Red Water community and will be a senior at Leake Central High School this fall.

Taezialin is sponsored by the Red Water Development Club.

• Tara Dawn Willis, 18, is the daughter of Vannessa Cotton and Lester Willis. She is from the Bogue Chitto community and plans to attend Belhaven University this fall.

Tara is sponsored by the Department of Schools.

One of these 11 ladies will be crowned by 2018-19 Choctaw Indian Princess Sydni Jade Tangle. Throughout her year-long reign, the newly crowned Choctaw Indian Princess will serve as a goodwill ambassador of the Tribe.

Fair week events

Country music sibling duo Brothers Osborne will take the stage Thursday night, July 11, at 8:30 p.m. to perform hits such as “Stay A Little Longer,” “It Ain’t My Fault” and the newly released “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You).”

Friday night, July 12, award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Janson brings his high-octane, multi-instrument show to the stage at 8:30 p.m. to perform his No. 1 hits “Buy Me A Boat” and “Fix A Drink” and the debut single off his forthcoming third studio album Good Vibes.

Then on Saturday night, July 13, after the 6 p.m. closing ceremonies, Louisiana native singer/songwriter Frank Foster will bring his one-of-a-kind country music to the stage with songs like “Rhythm and Whiskey,” “Southern Soul” and “‘Til I’m Gone.”

Choctaw social dancing and cultural displays will also be showcased at the stage nightly before the musical performances. Immediately following the show, World Series of Stickball games will be played at Warrior Stadium with the World Series Stickball Championship Game capping off the last night of the fair Saturday, July 13, at 10:15 p.m.

Culturally known to the Mississippi Choctaws as the “Green Corn Festival”, the Choctaw Indian Fair promises to be filled with Choctaw history, pageantry, World Series Stickball, Choctaw food, Choctaw song and dance, cultural activities, Indian arts and crafts, chart-topping country music, and a whole lot more!

As always, the beautiful Choctaw culture will be on display in celebration of 70 years of the Choctaw Indian Fair.

To learn more about the 70th Choctaw Indian Fair, visit www.choctawindianfair.com, like us on Facebook at Choctaw Indian Fair, follow us on Twitter @ChoctawIndianFair or call the fair hotline at 601-650-7450.