The 2012 Nuu-chah-nulth Princess and Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Role Model have accepted an offer to represent the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for another year. The offer was made after the 2013 Princess and Youth Role Model Pageant was cancelled due to too few contestants signing up for the event.
Keanna Hamilton is the Youth Role Model. Her younger sister Jessica Hamilton is the NTC Princess. They won their titles during the summer of 2012 just prior to the start of the Tlu-piich Games.
When asked how it feels to be asked to hold onto her title for another year Jessica said, “It makes me happy. I will be able to attend more events.”
She said it seemed that duties for the 2012 pageant winners were lighter than in past years.
“It seems we’re not as busy as others were in years before,” she added.
Every year the pageant winners are expected to attend NTC-hosted events to help out and to represent Nuu-chah-nulth people.
In the past year the sisters have attended the Health Ability Fair, the NTC Grad and the 2012 and 2013 Tlu-piich Games, along with other events in the community.
The Hamilton sisters, from Hupacasath, say even with their titles they live their lives as they normally would, but every now and then they get a call from NTC staff to tell them about upcoming events.
When they’re on duty the sisters will show up to an event wearing their banners; sometimes they only need to make an appearance but there are times when they’re called upon to speak publicly or give advice to young people.
“At first I didn’t want to (be an NTC Princess) because of my anxiety over having to be in the public eye and having to speak publicly, but facing my fear has helped a lot,” said Jessica.
Jessica Hamilton has just graduated from high school and plans to Vancouver Community College. She dreams of becoming an artist or archeologist.
Keanna Hamilton plans to go to college and work toward her Early Childhood Education certification.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Princess Pageant first started in 1983 but stopped in 2003, due to a lack of contestants.
The pageant returned in 2012 with at six young ladies vying for two titles.
During the week leading up to the pageant the contestants took part in activities that helped to prepare them for being in the public eye. They bonded with each other, practiced with cosmetics and took training for public speaking.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Princess Pageant is for girls, ages 13 to 16 while the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Role Model title is open to males and females ages 17 to 24.
