PEMBROKE — Four young ladies will represent the Lumbee Tribe after winning the coveted titles of Miss Lumbee, Teen Miss Lumbee, Junior Miss Lumbee and Little Miss Lumbee.
During the 50th annual Lumbee Homecoming, Erica Lyndsey Locklear was crowned Miss Lumbee, Kerigahn Rilee Jacobs was crowned Teen Miss Lumbee, Ashtyn Skye Thomas was crowned Junior Miss Lumbee, and Keely Noelle Deal was crowned Little Miss Lumbee. The court will serve as the 2018-19 Lumbee Ambassadors.
The pageants, held at the Givens Performing Arts Center at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, were sold out within two hours.
During the Junior and Little Miss Pageant, which took place July 3, contestants were judged on their on-stage questions, traditional Lumbee regalia, talent and best age appropriate dress. During the application process contestants also had to complete an essay stating why they wanted to be Junior or Little Miss Lumbee.
Deal, 8, is a third-grade student at Pembroke Elementary School. Her talent during the competition was singing. Thomas, 12, also sang. She is an eighth-grade student at Prospect Elementary School.
The Teen and Miss Lumbee Scholarship Pageant took place on July 6. The contestants were judged on a private interview, evening gown, talent, and their regalia and cultural platform.
Locklear, 21, is a senior at UNCP and will be graduating in December. Her talent during the competition was dance. Her cultural platform was “The Positivity Project.” The project encourages overall well-being through fitness and positive engagements.
Jacobs, 17, whose talent was singing, is a senior at Purnell Swett High School. She competed on the platform “Faith Behind the Ribbon,” which raises awareness about breast cancer through hope and peace in the community.
The Ambassadors officially were crowned by there predecessors on July 7 during the Lumbee powwow.
