This year’s Miss Salt River 2024-2025 pageant featured three Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members vying for the crown: Sialik King, Zoe Hernandez and Evevannah Garza.

Held inside the Talking Stick Resort Ballroom on June 22, the glamorous event featured a who’s who of Indigenous royalty from across Indian Country, in addition to members of the SRPMIC Tribal Council, board members and staff. The pageant is entering its 36th year.

Miss Salt River 2021-2022 Sistine Lewis and Arizona State University Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations Jacob Moore served as the emcees. “We are so happy to be your emcees today,” said Lewis in the welcoming speech. Former Miss Salt River 2020-2021 Isabella Dockerty was also in attendance and sang the national anthem in O’odham.

The 2024-2025 Miss Salt River pageant was the first appearance for the new Jr. Miss Salt River 2024-2025, Diondria Pilger. Providing the invocation, Pilger also recited a blessing asking for good health and safe travels home for all.

Following the blessing, Miss Salt River 2023-2024 Kennise McGertt shared a few words about how proud she felt after meeting this year’s three contestants.

“During Pageant Week, I had the opportunity to meet these three individuals, and I can confidently say that our Community will be well represented this year,” she said with a smile. As she concluded her prepared speech, McGertt spoke from the heart: “It has been an honor to represent the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Thank you. Sapo.”

The pageant began with the modern dress competition. Zoe Hernandez was the first contestant to appear onstage. Dressed in black dress pants with a peach-colored suit jacket, Hernandez introduced herself and thanked her Community for the opportunity to compete. A graduate of Westwood High School in May, Hernandez revealed that she will be attending Arizona State University this fall to study architectural design.

Wearing black dress pants with a metallic-silver top, Evevannah Garza appeared second on the stage. Representing Lehi, Garza currently works for the Talking Stick Resort and Casino and shared with the audience that she will begin working toward a career in social work by attending Scottsdale Community College this fall.

Following Garza was Sialik King. As she introduced herself in O’odham and English, King stood onstage wearing beige dress pants, a black top and suit jacket, a shell necklace, and Man in the Maze earrings. Currently attending Arizona State University, King provided insight as to why she decided to run for the 2024-2025 title. “I have been blessed to hold various tribal titles and to be an ambassador to our Community, which is the reason [I am] participating in this year’s pageant,” she said.

Serving as judges for this year’s Miss Salt River competition were Miss Indian Arizona 2010-2011 Sweetie Cody (Navajo); David Buhl, historian with the SRPMIC Cultural Resources Department; SRPMIC Justice Center prosecutor Alane Breland; Alyse Marrietta, 2021-2022 Miss Gila River; and Erica Myron, Miss Wheelchair USA 2021. Hailing from the state of Washington, Myron is the first Indigenous winner of the Miss Wheelchair USA crown.

In the modern talent portion, the three contestants showcased their many talents to the audience. Hernandez displayed her musical talent by playing the violin. Garza showed three of her hand-painted portraits of O’odham women sitting together with Red Mountain in the background. When it came time for King to present her talent, she decided on a slideshow presentation detailing her love of math and how useful it can be.

As the pageant neared its end, the three contestants appeared in their traditional dress and answered questions from the judges. When the question-and-answer segment concluded, emcee Moore said, “Our judges have the challenging task of picking the new Miss Salt River.”

Finally, the judges came to a decision: Sialik King was named Miss Salt River 2024-2025. Zoe Hernandez will serve as 1st Attendant and Evevannah Garza as 2nd Attendant.

McGertt congratulated the new royalty onstage and then transferred the Miss Salt River crown from her head onto King’s. An emotional King thanked Lewis, crying joyful tears, as the entire Talking Stick Resort Ballroom erupted in applause and cheers.

At the conclusion of the pageant, families and loved ones took photos and congratulated the new Salt River Royalty. These young ladies will be representing the SRPMIC at various gatherings, events and ceremonies for a one-year term.