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Miss Indian Alabama
Published November 25, 2009
When Paige Dobson was a freshman at Geraldine High School, she watched two of her schoolmates prepare for the inaugural Miss Indian Alabama pageant, which was organized by the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission.
She told Kasey Chamblee, the DeKalb County Indian education teacher, that when she was a senior, she wanted to compete in the pageant.
"While we were preparing their regalia, Paige would come in and look at it," Chamblee said. "As soon as they finished their pageant, we started working on Paige's jewelry and outfits."
Now, as a senior, she not only competed, she won the crown.
"When they called my name, I didn't even hear it," Dobson said. "Then I saw my parents jumping up and everybody looking at me. It took till then to realize it."
The emcee called out the two runners-up without calling Paige's name, so she was prepared for the worst.
"I was zoned out, getting ready to congratulate the winner," she said.
Paige had already mentally named a winner, so the fact that her "winner" didn't even place put her in more shock.
For her victory, Dobson won a $5,000 scholarship to the school of her choice. She plans to attend Northeast Alabama Community College for two years then transfer to Emerson College, to get a degree in theatre.
The Boston-based college is the only comprehensive American college dedicated solely to the arts and communications.
If she so desires, Paige has the opportunity to compete in the Miss Indian World competition, which will be held this April at the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, N.M., but would have to vacate her state title to do so.
"I would like to but I haven't decided," she said. "Right now, I'm thrilled to represent the state."
Event planners around the state can invite her to attend their functions but it has to be approved by the IAC.
Paige is a member of the United Cherokee Ani-Yen-Wiya Nation, which has a lodge in Guntersville.
Her maternal great-grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee.
Any girl between the ages of 17-23 that is a member of any state or federally recognized tribe can compete for the state crown. She must also be single (not widowed or divorced), have no children, and have a grade point average of at least 3.0.
The competition began with each contestant (in evening gown) being escorted onto the stage and giving a brief introduction of herself and her escort. Paige's escort was her father, Sherman.
The second part saw each contestant in their native regalia, which they had to describe and give a history of.
The talent portion was the third part. Paige gave a demonstration of Cherokee language and culture.
They then had to pick a question out of a bowl and answer it.
The final score was from an essay. It also served as a tie-breaker if needed.
As a member of the UCAN, Dobson and others go to schools and public libraries to teach about Indian heritage.
She started her own Indian education in kindergarten and said that Chamblee has been a huge influence on her life.
Paige is also the DeKalb student representative of Indian education and has been for four years.
"She attends meetings and actually signs the grants that we use to keep the program going," Chamblee said. "When I have announcements, I email them to Paige and she sends them out."
To attend Indian education classes, a student must fill out a questionnaire and prove that he/she is of Native American descent.
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