Description:
Karen Lilly, the 1979-1980 Choctaw Princess, speaks about her experience with the pageant. She explains that contestants must be sponsored by someone who provides them with materials such as dresses, shoes, and accessories to wear during the pageant. Contestants go through several stages of judgement and must write an essay on one of three major topics and present it orally—Lilly’s essay was about preserving Choctaw culture. She also describes her and her family’s reactions to finding out about her win. Lilly has studied in public schools and in Choctaw Central on the reservation and she uses her experiences to discuss the differences between these educational institutions.