Nickey named Choctaw Indian Princess

Cadence Raine Nickey was crowned the 2022-2023 Choctaw Indian Princess last Wednesday night during the 67th pageant.

Nickey, 18, is the daughter of Eric Nickey and Georgianna McMillan. She is a 2022 graduate of Choctaw Central and will be attending Mississippi State this fall where she plans to major in forensic science.

As princess, Nickey will become the official spokesperson and ambassador for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. She follows the 2021-2022 Choctaw Princess Shemah Crosby. Crosby announced to the crowd that she will be entering the Miss Indian World competition in 2023.

“It is an honor to represent my Tribe,” Nickey said. “This is something I have always wanted to do since I was a little girl. My late grandmother and late brother were big influences in my life and always encouraged me to do this pageant.

“No one before in my family has been the princess. My mom and my sister actually entered the pageant. As I got ready this year, we joked and said maybe the third time would be the charm.”

This year’s contestants were sponsored by different organizations, businesses and some cases, families. Their ages ranged between 16 and 21.

A panel of judges picked the new princess by awarding points, based communication skills, poise, traditional dress and cultural understanding.

Kayla Farmer was the first runner up and Catherine Jim was the second runner-up. Tayla Raelyn Willis was named Most Photogenic and the Miss Congeniality Award went to Jordan Shawnette Mack.