Lumbee Ambassadors 2022
If you would like to invite the Lumbee Ambassadors to your event click this link to complete the Appearance Request Form. For more questions and inquiries, contact Natascha W. Tilson, Ambassador Coordinator at ntilson@lumbee.org or 910-522-2123.
Miss Lumbee
Mahlea Celeste Hunt
Mahlea is the 21 year old daughter of Brent and Celeste Hunt of Maxton, North Carolina. Mahlea is a senior at Wake Forest University majoring in Health and Exercise Science and a minor in Health Policy. Mahlea is a D1 Cheerleader, a member of the HOSA club, an EMS student volunteer, and an advocate for indigenous people on her campus. In March of 2022, Mahlea received the Woman of the Year award for her university along with many faculty and staff members, including Dr. Maya Angelou. Mahlea is a member of Prospect United Methodist Church where she is part of the worship team. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being a mom to her Goldendoodle Sandi, reading, and attending cultural events. After graduation, Mahlea plans to further her education and go on to receive her masters in Speech-Language Pathology. Mahlea is a former Little, Junior, and Teen Miss Lumbee, which makes her the third woman in history to receive all four titles Her platform is My Sister's Keeper; advocating justice and the end of violence for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIW movement). The MMIW movement first began in 2015 when native women came together to fight for justice after the percentage of missing and murdered indigenous women rose to 10x more than other races. Mahlea wants to teach native women and girls how to keep each other safe and continuously fight for justice and the end of violence against our native women. As Miss Lumbee, she plans to set up Rape Aggression Defense Classes and provide self-defense mechanisms and resources for my native women. She also plans to push for increased legislation to educate government officials about this issue and hopefully persuade them to take more action. Mahlea is very passionate about her Lumbee people and she is determined to make her people proud.
Teen Miss Lumbee
Anna Grace Hunt
Anna Grace Hunt is the 17 year old daughter of Scot and Kimberly Hunt. She is a rising senior at Purnell Swett High School where she is an active member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club. Her platform is "Healing our Native Communities with L.O.V.E. - Let Our Voices Encourage because a conversation can make a difference - even save a life."Anna has worked diligently throughout the Public Schools of Robeson County to promote her platform this year. She believes that if we as a people come together as one, and raise OUR voices, we can begin to end the Mental Health Stigma in Lumbee Nation. Anna is honored to serve as Teen Miss Lumbee 2022 and is excited to travel throughout the county, state, and the nation sharing her Lumbee culture and heritage with others!
Junior Miss Lumbee
Keely Noelle Deal
Keely Noelle Deal is the 12 year old daughter of Reverend Bobby & Kelly Deal. She is the knee baby of 5 children, her siblings are Dylan, Kaitlyn, Calista, and Christian. Keely also has 2 pet chorkies, Bella and Charla. Keely and her family reside in the Union Chapel community in Pembroke, NC, but she takes deep pride in having roots in the Fairmont communities. Keely is a member of the New Covenant Family Worship Center Church. She also sings in a gospel group with her family which has allowed her to travel all over the United States. Keely feels blessed to be able to sing about her love for JESUS. She also loves cheerleading, soccer, and iced coffee. Keely is a rising 7th grader a Prospect Elementary School where she is a member of the Junior Beta Club, cheerleading team, and soccer Team. In 2021 Keely adopted the anti-bullying platform BRAVE- Building Respect and Value for Everyone! She wants to promote an environment and world where bullying and hate cease to exist! Keely feels that she has been blessed by GOD to be Junior Miss Lumbee for such a time as this! She is eagerly excited to represent the Lumbee people and the LRDA organization, Keely says that becoming Junior Miss Lumbee started with a dream, prayer, and hard work, but knows without GOD and the sacrifices of her elder's none of this would be possible. As spoken so many times during Lumbee Homecoming this year, Keely knows if her ancestors could see her now they'd say, "You are my wildest dreams come true"!
Little Miss Lumbee
Jakayleigh Miracle Lambert
Jakayleigh Miracle Lambert is the 8-year-old daughter of Rose & Johnny Lambert. Jakayleigh is the baby of 5 children. She has two sisters Jazzman, and Jaonna, and two brothers Willjon, and Dakoda and they live in the Lumberton/Pembroke community. Jakayleigh attends Pembroke Elementary School and is currently in the 2nd grade. Jakayleigh and her family attend Faith of Calvary church where she does drama and sings with the children's choir. She enjoys going camping at the beach, riding her four-wheeler, shopping, and playing with her pet Yorkie Coco. Jakayleigh loves representing her Lumbee people and learning about her native tribe. She believes that without God her dreams of being Little Miss Lumbee wouldn’t have happened, always pray and chase your dreams.
