WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Last September, Amy Nazbah Reeves-Begaye was crowned the 2023-2024 Miss Navajo Nation, an unexpected win for herself.
“No one really tells you how to be Miss Navajo, there’s no rule book,” said Begaye.
After winning the title, Begaye quickly learned that being Miss Navajo is up to the title holder and what they want to bring to the table.
Begaye knew she wanted to stay true to who she is: Amy. She describes herself as an introvert and throughout her reign, she learned about her need to be confident. Because not everyone knows what she had to deal with behind the scenes.
Beyond the glamorous crown and sash, Begaye often started her mornings around 3 a.m., to get to different events. Sometimes her nights would extend the next day until 3 a.m. Nobody saw Begaye or any former Miss Navajo Nation on the road for hours at a time with a lineup of back-to-back events.
“You’re hungry (and) you’re tired getting on the plane going to wherever you have to be,” said Begaye. “You have to really adjust to your schedule because I noticed nothing is really set in stone, you may think it is, but it’s not.”
Carletta Benally, program supervisor for the Office of Miss Navajo Nation, sat down with Begaye when she was crowned to go over a 30, 60 and 90-day plan of what she wanted to accomplish.
“For myself, I saw my job as Miss Navajo Nation as a service so even though I wasn’t giving out COVID care packages, I realized I wanted to give something to our youth and what would be something they can take away from it and what can I teach them,” said Begaye.
Begaye graduated from Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, with a background in health. She used her educational background during her Miss Navajo Competition to raise awareness on gestational diabetes for pregnant women.
Part of staying true to who she is, Begaye remained rooted in her STEM background, similar to former 2022-2023 Miss Navajo Nation, Valentina Clitso.
Begaye said a highlight of the events she was a part of were STEM-related events. She partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to show students in elementary and middle school, they have a wide array of choices and ways to help their communities.
“As Miss Navajo Nation, you do way more than just smiling and waving,” said Begaye. “That’s one part of it, the other part of it is you actually have a job with the Navajo Nation. Having to fulfill that role sometimes isn’t easy, but you just have to keep going.”
After events were done for the day and the crown came off, Begaye became Amy. Someone who loves binge-watching Gilmore Girls, crafting and running.
“I’m out here by myself so after all the events, those were things I did or cleaned around my apartment and journal,” said Begaye. “That’s one thing I did was journal every experience so one day I can look back at it and say what I went through doesn’t compare to this day and reflect on it.”
A year ago, the Saturday before the 2024-2025 Miss Navajo Nation competition, Begaye butchered one last time as practice. Now Begaye thinks about everything she went through at that time.
“I gave up a Taylor Swift concert,” said Begaye, remembering competition week a year ago. “I was thinking if I’m giving up Taylor Swift, this better be worth it. ”
And it was.
During this year’s competition week, Begaye saw the six contestants get nervous and were asking her questions that she wasn’t able to answer but was able to encourage them to keep pushing forward.
“I was just thinking, that was me last year,” said Begaye.
It wasn’t just Begaye who was nervous like the girls this year. Begayes parents, Odessa Reeves and Leroy Begaye, along with her sisters, Ason Begaye and Ellyce Begaye were also nervous.
“I’ve done pageants my whole life but I was always runner-up,” said Begaye. “When I thought to finally give this (running for Miss Navajo) a try, I was shocked I became Miss Navajo.”
Begaye is familiar with pageants, having competed in elementary and middle school but was always runner-up. It wasn’t until her second time running for Miss Native Dixie State, now Miss Native Utah Tech, that she won a royalty title.
On her coronation night, Begaye said it was an unexpected win while her family cried tears of joy and were also surprised in a good way.
Begaye now carries forward confidence in who she is as Amy and also as a former Miss Navajo Nation. Begaye will be working with the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, while attending school at Arizona State University.
For newly crowned 2024-2025 Miss Navajo Nation, Ranisha Begay, Begaye reminded her to stay true to who she is and that means being Ranisha.
“My dad always reminded me just to be me, be Amy,” said Begaye.
