Comanche Nation Tribal Member, Past Princess Hosts Bingo Fundraiser

Comanche Nation tribal member Michelle Nevaquaya is running for Miss Indian World, and she held a bingo fundraising event on Sunday, April 7, at Watchetaker Hall.

Nevaquaya said she wanted to host a bingo because everyone enjoys playing, and it’s all ages.

She said her favorite part was doing raffles.

“It's been keeping me on my feet, keeping me busy,” Nevaquaya said. “I got to interact with a lot of people, and I'm so glad that we filled the whole bingo tables, and I'm very thankful for everybody who has donated towards my bingo, whether it's like a cake walk or a raffle item, just anything in general just to help donate towards this bingo, so I'm very grateful for that, and I'm having so much fun doing raffles and 50-50 it's just like left and right just handing tickets out so it's been great so far.”

Miss Indian World will be held on April 25 at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“The pageant is a five-day long pageant,” she said. “It is from April 23rd to the 27th, so it's a very exciting five days out in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I'm very excited to meet the other contestants.”

Nevaquaya said she’s been practicing every day on what she wants to present and showcase at the pageant.

“That's pretty much my goal from between now and then,” Nevaquaya said. “It's just, you know, kind of perfect everything, make sure I'm very prepared, you know, that's the goal, just very well preparation for the pageant.

She said she looks past the nerves, especially with the support she’s received.

“I tend to just, you know, look past it because, you know, I want to go in there confident and strong, and I don't want to, you know, feel nervous, but this whole time with everybody's support and encouragement it has been making me, you know, very confident and feeling strong about this pageant so it is very exciting,” Nevaquaya said.

She said if she were to receive the title, she would use the platform to be a positive role model.

“It would be an honor to have the title of Miss Indian World. My goal is to you know I want to be a positive role model and leader for all nations across the Americas,” Nevaquaya said. “That's one of my biggest goals because during my Comanche Nation Princess reign, I felt like I did an excellent job serving and representing my nation, so I want to do that on a bigger scale for all nations across the United States.”

She wanted to thank the community, the Comanche nation and the KCA reservations, as well as anyone who has supported her or made donations.

“It means so much to me, and I'm so very thankful and blessed, but the ticket sales they have been very great,” Nevaquaya said. “People have been very quick on purchasing tickets. I've sold out less than 24 hours both times I've received my 500 tickets so I'm very grateful for those who have purchased for me. It means a lot, and I'm very excited, and I hope to make everybody proud.”

There were several prizes to win, and a light meal was served.