ADA, Okla. – Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby crowned the 2025-2026 Chickasaw royalty during the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival.
Kaley Reed, 21, of Davis, Oklahoma, was crowned Chickasaw Princess. Taylor Komalty, 12, of Ada, Oklahoma, was crowned Chickasaw Junior Princess. Paeson Baken, 8, of Ada, Oklahoma, was crowned Little Miss Chickasaw.
The Chickasaw Princess Pageant was hosted in the Ataloa Theatre inside the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center on the East Central University Campus, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. The princesses will serve the remainder of 2025 and into 2026 as ambassadors of goodwill on behalf of the Chickasaw Nation.
Candidates were judged on talent, poise, traditional Chickasaw dress, traditional greetings and their responses to selected questions, as well as an interview portion that took place earlier in the day. In addition, all participants are required to reside within the Chickasaw Nation, have a minimum one-quarter Chickasaw blood quantum and meet other requirements.
As ambassadors of goodwill, the three young women will travel together to more than 40 events across the U.S. during their one-year reign to represent and bring honor to the Chickasaw Nation. They will also take courses on language, culture and the history of the Chickasaw people to help them better represent the Chickasaw people and serve as role models for Chickasaw youth. The winners receive a crown, sash, trophy and gifts to prepare them for the upcoming year.
First runner-up for Chickasaw Princess was Jacy Harjo. First and second runners-up for Chickasaw Junior Princess were, respectively, Kinzley Frazier and Isabella Key. First runner-up for Little Miss Chickasaw was Emersyn Hamilton.
For the first time, the pageant also awarded the Hattak Moma' Inkana' (Miss Congeniality Award) that was chosen by the other contestants for kindness, friendliness and support to her fellow contestants throughout the pageant process. It was awarded to Chickasaw Junior Princess candidate Kinzley Frazier, 13, of Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
Chickasaw Princess Kaley Reed is the daughter of Alanah Langford and Jimmy Reed. In addition to being a full-time criminal justice major at Murray State College, she also works as a cultural specialist at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma. She sees this as a growth opportunity to learn more about her culture and proudly represent the Chickasaw Nation.
For her talent, Reed created a work of art at an easel onstage, while her prerecorded story, “Tug of War with Rabbit,” played over the speakers. As the story unfolded, Reed drew a picture on canvas illustrating the events of the story. At the end of her talent, she flipped the canvas over, revealing that she had drawn the image upside down.
Chickasaw Junior Princess Taylor Komalty is the daughter of Laura Hamilton and Matthew Komalty Jr. She is in the sixth grade at Willard Elementary School, where she plays basketball and runs track. She also participates in the Chickasaw Language Club and enjoys stomp dances. She wants to be a positive example to other Chickasaw youth and citizens, and help them learn about their culture.
For her talent, Komalty showed her skill in storytelling, telling the story of two best friends: Issi' (deer) and Chakwihiliꞌ (possum). As Komalty used vocal inflection and movement to help tell her story, the audience learned why Chakwihiliꞌ always has such a big smile.
Little Miss Chickasaw Paeson Baken is the daughter of Hagen and Paul Baken. She is in the third grade at Homer Elementary School, where she was on the honor roll, receiving all A’s in first and second grade. She is a member of the Loksi softball team, is on the bronze competition team for Ada Gymnastics Academy and participates in the Chickasaw Arts Academy. She is looking forward to meeting new people and teaching others about being Chickasaw.
For her talent, Baken combined storytelling and illustration. She told the story “Loksi Wanted to Go,” about a loksi (turtle) who wanted to fly, while her original illustrations were projected onto the big screen. She also had a stuffed loksi to help her tell the story.
A farewell gift and bouquet were given to each of the former princesses by Governor Anoatubby and Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby during the Chickasaw Princess Pageant. The outgoing princesses are Chickasaw Princess Cheyanne Arkansas, Chickasaw Junior Princess Channa Greenwood and Little Miss Chickasaw Eliorah Wright.
The farewell videos of Arkansas, Greenwood and Wright highlighted the honor all three felt in being princesses, but also the sisterhood and camaraderie they experienced as they grew in their Chickasaw culture together. They had a chance to represent the Chickasaw Nation, but also to learn more about their own heritage.
“I got to learn more about my cultural identity and why I am so proud to be Chickasaw,” Arkansas said. “I can’t express how honored I was to be able to represent as this year’s Chickasaw Princess. I am super grateful for this program. It has helped me grow, not just as a princess, but also as a person.”
The reign of a Chickasaw Princess has been a Chickasaw Nation tradition since 1963, when Ranell (James) Harry was appointed the first Chickasaw Princess.
You can find the full video of the princess pageant at AnnualMeeting.Chickasaw.net/Videos. For more information about the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival, visit AnnualMeeting.Chickasaw.net.