Learning from contestants: Judges gain education from pageant participants

 

SHERIDAN — Maybe a little nervous, but diving in head first not knowing what exactly to expect, Vivian Arviso stepped in front of a panel of judges. 

It was 1960, and Arviso, a Navajo, traveled from the Southwest to Sheridan to compete in All-American Indian Days’ Miss Indian America Pageant. Upon arrival, Arviso had no inclination she’d be crowned Miss Indian America 1960 with such a “beautiful” panel of contestants that year. 

“The realization when I won it — I didn’t think I had a chance,” Arviso said. “The girls were so beautiful and wearing buckskins so beautifully. It was really new. New information, a newness to it that I really enjoyed and appreciated that I had gone there.”

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