Choctaw Princess

Current Princess

2024 – 2025 Choctaw Indian Princess

Leilani Elyse Allen

Leilani Elyse Allen is the 21-year-old daughter of Marsha Allen and is from the Tucker Community. Her grandparents are Leslie & James Willis. Leilani has two siblings, Malakai and Almera. She has a dachshund named Gus and a turtle named Oogway, after the tortoise in Kung Fu Panda.

She will graduate from Meridian Community College in August 2024 with an associate’s in business information systems. Leilani has plans to attend Mississippi State University to get her bachelor’s degree in business information systems. She hopes to become a web developer one day. Leilani graduated from Choctaw Central High School in May 2021.

A strong supporter of Choctaw Tribal Schools’ Exceptional Education Program, Leilani continues to volunteer for the Special Olympics programs held at Choctaw Central High School. She also participates, alongside her family, in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in December in honor of her cousin Lucas who passed away from brain cancer in 2021. Leilani wore a gray and white Choctaw dress in the Pageant to honor her cousin, as gray is the designated color for brain cancer awareness.

Leilani enjoys playing tennis; reading thrillers, her favorite being The Silent Patient; and taking walks with her dog Gus. Leilani’s favorite Fair activity is watching the thrilling action of Chahta Kabotcha (Choctaw Stickball)! She invites everyone to experience a game of Chahta Kabotcha.

Past Princesses

A tradition that started in 1955, the Choctaw Indian Princess is crowned each year on the first night of the Choctaw Indian Fair. The first official princess, Patsy Sam Buffington, was selected at the tender age of 12, thus beginning a distinguished legacy. The Choctaw Princess serves as the Tribe’s Ambassador.

Patsy (Sam) Buffington

Patsy (Sam) Buffington

1955 - 1956

Sponsor: Tucker Development Club

Abbie (Gibson) Phillips

Abbie (Gibson) Phillips

1956 - 1957

Sponsor: Conehatta Development Club

Shirley (Chapman) Briscoe

Shirley (Chapman) Briscoe

1957 - 1958

Sponsor: Bogue Homa Development Club

Shirley (York) Kyle

Shirley (York) Kyle

1958 - 1959

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Donna (Farmer) Denson

Donna (Farmer) Denson

1959 - 1960

Sponsor: Conehatta Development Club

Earline Hickman

Earline Hickman

1960 - 1961

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Annie Ryan (Bell) Billie

Annie Ryan (Bell) Billie

1961 - 1962

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Loretta (Steve) Wilson

Loretta (Steve) Wilson

1962 - 1963

Sponsor: Tucker Development Club

Sally Ann (Bell) Bread

Sally Ann (Bell) Bread

1963 - 1964

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Mary Ann (Henry) Mason

Mary Ann (Henry) Mason

1964 - 1965

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Ruth Ann (Farmer) Ferris

Ruth Ann (Farmer) Ferris

1965 - 1966

Sponsor: Conehatta Development Club

Doris Ann Thompson

Doris Ann Thompson

1966 - 1967

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Lois (Willis) Keats

Lois (Willis) Keats

1967 - 1968

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Susie Mae Henry

Susie Mae Henry

1968 - 1969

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Joanne (McMillan) Cleveland

Joanne (McMillan) Cleveland

1969 - 1970

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Rena Jane Morris

Rena Jane Morris

1970 - 1971

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Lari York

Lari York

1971 - 1972

Sponsor: CCHS Honor Society

Ellen Gail (Farmer) Wilson

Ellen Gail (Farmer) Wilson

1972 - 1973

Sponsor: Conehatta Development Club

Linda (Willis) Alex

Linda (Willis) Alex

1973 - 1974

Sponsor: Employment & Training Program

Patricia (Martin) Gibson

Patricia (Martin) Gibson

1974 - 1975

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Alma (Willis) Brennen

Alma (Willis) Brennen

1975 - 1976

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Velma (Sam) Henry

Velma (Sam) Henry

1976 - 1977

Sponsor: Tucker Development Club

Phyliss (John) Anderson

Phyliss (John) Anderson

1977 - 1978

Sponsor: Red Water Development Club

Brenda (Billie) Bernard

Brenda (Billie) Bernard

1978 - 1979

Sponsor: Tucker Development Club

Karen Lilly

Karen Lilly

1979 - 1980

Sponsor: Upward Bound Program

Dee Ann (Gibson) McCoy

Dee Ann (Gibson) McCoy

1980 - 1981

Sponsor: Family & Community Services

Bernadine (Hickman) Dixon

Bernadine (Hickman) Dixon

1981 - 1982

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Anita Jim

Anita Jim

1982 - 1983

Sponsor: Department of Education

Loriann (Denson) Ahshapanek

Loriann (Denson) Ahshapanek

1983 - 1984

Sponsor: Department of Education

Marion (Ben) Sockey

Marion (Ben) Sockey

1984 - 1985

Sponsor: Department of Education

Amanda Bell

Amanda Bell

1985 - 1986

Sponsor: Chahta Enterprise

Iris (Wesley) Navarro

Iris (Wesley) Navarro

1986 - 1987

Sponsor: Family & Community Services

Angela Sue Hundley

Angela Sue Hundley

1987 - 1988

Sponsor: Chahta Enterprise

Melanie Dianne Ben

Melanie Dianne Ben

1988 - 1989

Sponsor: Family & Community Services

Shannon Jeanette Keats

Shannon Jeanette Keats

1989 - 1990

Sponsor: Choctaw Residential Center

Natasha Louann Willis

Natasha Louann Willis

1990 - 1991

Sponsor: Choctaw Pallet Company

Chassidy Georgina (Bell) Wilson

Chassidy Georgina (Bell) Wilson

1991 - 1992

Sponsor: Chahta Enterprise

Ashley Allison (Hickman) Billy

Ashley Allison (Hickman) Billy

1992 - 1993

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Misty Dawn Brescia

Misty Dawn Brescia

1993 - 1994

Sponsor: Choctaw Electronic Enterprise

Chantell Blanche (Shumake) Bacon

Chantell Blanche (Shumake) Bacon

1994 - 1995

Sponsor: Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise

Karla Monique Keats

Karla Monique Keats

1995 - 1996

Sponsor: Silver Star Hotel & Casino

Summer Raven (Saunders) Cole

Summer Raven (Saunders) Cole

1996 - 1997

Sponsor: Choctaw Housing Authority

Lynn Dena (Allen) Parkerson

Lynn Dena (Allen) Parkerson

1997 - 1998

Sponsor: Silver Star Hotel & Casino

Lindsey Timple Gibson

Lindsey Timple Gibson

1998 - 1999

Sponsor: Silver Star Hotel & Casino

Erica Lenore (Dan) Farve

Erica Lenore (Dan) Farve

1999 - 2000

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Latisha Denell Stephens

Latisha Denell Stephens

2000 - 2001

Sponsor: Choctaw Electronics Enterprise

Shawntye Nicole (Vaughn) Johnson

Shawntye Nicole (Vaughn) Johnson

2001 - 2002

Sponsor: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Cheriena Brooke Ben

Cheriena Brooke Ben

2002 - 2003

Sponsor: Golden Moon Hotel & Casino

Lena Latoya Tucker

Lena Latoya Tucker

2003 - 2004

Sponsor: Golden Moon Hotel & Casino

Delana Nastassia Willis

Delana Nastassia Willis

2004 - 2005

Sponsor: Youth Opportunity Program

Jessica Nichole (Greer) Black

Jessica Nichole (Greer) Black

2005 - 2006

Sponsor: Golden Moon Hotel & Casino

Ahinah Bree Alex

Ahinah Bree Alex

2006 - 2007

Sponsor: Gaming Properties of Pearl River Resort

Kristen Dawn Tubby

Kristen Dawn Tubby

2007 - 2008

Sponsor: Applied Geo Technologies

Tia Faye (Anderson) Grisham

Tia Faye (Anderson) Grisham

2008 - 2009

Sponsor: Applied Geo Technologies & Chahta Enterprise

Famie Cheyenne Willis

Famie Cheyenne Willis

2009 - 2010

Sponsor: Red Water Development Club

Mahlih Rene (Vaughn) Bowden

Mahlih Rene (Vaughn) Bowden

2010 - 2011

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Kursten Nicole Watkins

Kursten Nicole Watkins

2011 - 2012

Sponsor: Choctaw Tribal Schools

Shaye MacKinzie Scott

Shaye MacKinzie Scott

2012 - 2013

Sponsor: Choctaw Health Center Employees Association

Lanena Grace John

Lanena Grace John

2013 - 2014

Sponsor: MBCI Boys and Girls Club

MeShay LeAnn Jimmie

MeShay LeAnn Jimmie

2014 - 2015

Sponsor: Bogue Chitto Development Club

Emily LeAnn (Shoemake) Wilson

Emily LeAnn (Shoemake) Wilson

2015 - 2016

Sponsor: Trustmark Bank

Autumn Diane McMillan

Autumn Diane McMillan

2016 - 2017

Sponsor: Youth Opportunity Program

Kassie Lann Cox

Kassie Lann Cox

2017 - 2018

Sponsor: Red Water Development Club

Sydni Jade Tangle

Sydni Jade Tangle

2018 - 2019

Sponsor: Standing Pine Development Club

Alice Monique Keats

Alice Monique Keats

2019 - 2021

Sponsor: Pearl River Development Club

Shemah Ladania Crosby

Shemah Ladania Crosby

2021 - 2022

Sponsor: Pearl River RV Park

Cadence Raine Nickey

Cadence Raine Nickey

2022 - 2023

Sponsor: Tucker Development Club

Nalani LuzMaria Thompson

Nalani LuzMaria Thompson

2023 - 2024

Sponsor: Morton Construction

Leilani Elyse Allen

Leilani Elyse Allen

2024 - 2025

Sponsor: Choctaw Loan Program

©2024 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians