Lumbee Ambassadors 2025
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 Caitlyn Chason at cchason@lumbee.org or Natascha Tilson at ntilson@lumbee.org.
Appearance Request Form
Little Miss Lumbee
Jadyn Herndon
As your 2025-2026 Little Miss Lumbee, Jadyn Grace Herndon, I am so excited for this amazing upcoming year! I am the 9 year old daughter of Chad and Sheri Herndon and have 3 sisters and one brother that I love so much. They have watched me grow up and are so proud of what I have accomplished. As a student at Pembroke Elementary, my favorite subjects are math and science. I am an Honor Roll Student, Golden Bee Award recipient, and North Carolina State Beta Club Small Group Premier Dancer. My hobbies and interests include gymnastics, arts and crafts, jewelry making, volunteering, going to church at Pembroke First United Methodist, and playing with my sisters. As a gymnast, I was a 1st Place All Around State Champion and placed in the top 10 in the national competition.
With dedication, I have worked so hard this year on my journey to becoming Little Miss Lumbee. As a proud little Lumbee girl, I wanted to become Little Miss Lumbee to make a difference and serve as a positive role model to everyone. My journey this year started with dedicated practices in gymnastics and dance to create and perfect my talent routine. I spent time talking to others about the Lumbee culture to expand my knowledge. The last part of my journey before stepping on stage was contributing to the completion of my regalia. Stitched upon my wampum and dark water colored regalia is a blossoming tobacco flower, a ceremonial plant that is sacred in my culture. Also depicted are dried tobacco leaves that my ancestors have cultivated and utilized for centuries. Showcased on my pocket is a replica of a tobacco barn that stood as a symbol of livelihood on my great-grandparents’ farm, and still standing today behind Lumbee Drive-In, is a testament of the resilience of our Lumbee People.
As your Little Miss Lumbee, I will use my title to honor our Lumbee seal. I will honor the air by giving thanks to our Creator above. I will honor fire by using my natural-born energy to shine and make a difference upon others. Next, I will honor our dark waters with pride as the river reflects my brown skin. Last, I will commit to humbly walk across Mother Earth with GRACE, just as my middle name proclaims.
While holding this title, I promise to lead as a positive role model to all little girls just like me, and educate everyone about my beautiful Lumbee people. Always remember to be yourself and treat others with kindness. With my platform, Jadyn’s Jewels (where I make jewelry to donate to children’s hospitals), I wear and share my jewelry with others to remind people that they are loved.
I am so excited to spend this year with my pageant sisters. We have already started to form a bond together, and I love them so much!! Together, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
I am…your Little Miss Lumbee, Jadyn Grace Herndon.
Junior Miss Lumbee
Kyndall Locklear
Kyndall Elizabeth Locklear is a bright and outgoing 13-year-old from Raynham, North Carolina. She is the proud daughter of Kenly Locklear and Ashton Blue and will be entering the 8th grade this fall at Pembroke Middle School. Known for her big smile, creative energy, and warm personality, Kyndall brings light into every space she enters.
A true Gen Z spirit, Kyndall loves spending her free time making fun and creative TikTok videos, keeping up with the latest trends, and sharing laughs with her friends and followers. She also has a strong passion for volleyball and enjoys the challenge, excitement, and teamwork that come with being on the court. Through sports, Kyndall has learned valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance, and supporting others—skills that carry over into all areas of her life.
Kyndall also treasures spending time with her siblings, who she considers her best friends. Whether they’re laughing over inside jokes, playing outside, or just relaxing at home, her bond with them is one of the most important parts of her life.
This year, Kyndall is honored to serve as Junior Miss Lumbee 2025–2026, a dream she has had since she was little. As a proud Lumbee from Raynham, she is excited to represent her tribal community and be a voice for Native youth. This opportunity means so much to her, and she’s committed to embracing every part of the experience with pride and heart.
Throughout her reign, Kyndall looks forward to learning more about her tribe’s rich history, values, and traditions. She’s excited to travel the powwow circuit alongside her queen sisters, visit tribal communities, and attend cultural events throughout the region. For Kyndall, these moments are about more than wearing a crown—they’re about celebrating where she comes from, deepening her connection to her culture, and inspiring other young people to do the same.
As Junior Miss Lumbee, Kyndall is ready to take on the responsibility of serving as a cultural ambassador for her people. She hopes to use her voice to lift up others, especially younger girls who may one day follow in her footsteps. She’s also looking forward to the friendships, travel, and memories that this incredible journey will bring.
Balancing school, sports, and her duties as Junior Miss Lumbee is a challenge, but Kyndall is up to the task. With support from her family and community, she’s determined to make the most of this year and represent the Lumbee Tribe with dignity, enthusiasm, and authenticity.
With a bright future ahead, Kyndall hopes to continue growing as a student, athlete, and cultural leader. Whether she’s in the classroom, on the volleyball court, or onstage as Junior Miss Lumbee, she carries herself with pride in who she is and where she comes from.
Teen Miss Lumbee
Keely Deal
My name is Keely Noelle Deal, and I’m honored to serve as your 2025 Teen Miss Lumbee. I’m a 15-year-old rising sophomore at Purnell Swett High School and the proud daughter of Bobby and Kelly Deal. I’m a member of the National Beta Club and an active varsity cheerleader (Go Rams!). Some of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned have come from sharing my heritage through gospel music and song—stories about my family, our Lumbee roots, and the traditions that have shaped me into the young woman I am today.
Those quiet, soulful moments taught me that being Lumbee is more than just a name—it’s about identity, strength, and pride in where we come from. It’s about carrying our history with us in everything we do.
I’ve grown up in this sisterhood and the LRDA family—first as Little Miss Lumbee, then as Junior Miss Lumbee—and now, as Teen Miss Lumbee, I have the special opportunity to be a role model for the Lumbee Nation. It’s a full-circle moment I hold close to my heart, and I hope to inspire every little girl who has ever dreamed of wearing this crown that dreams do come true.
My platform, You Are Enough, is rooted in reminding others of their God-given worth—especially in a world that often leaves people feeling unseen and unheard. My mission is to uplift and encourage, reminding young people that who they are is already enough. One of my favorite Bible verses declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and I carry that truth with me in everything I do.
Through faith, service, and leadership, I hope to be a light for everyone—but especially for those who need it most. Being Lumbee is one of my greatest honors, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to represent our people, celebrate our culture, and share the story of who we are.
With love,
Keely Noelle Deal
2025 Teen Miss Lumbee
Miss Lumbee
Taylor Davis
26-year-old Taylor Davis, daughter of James and Alicia Davis, is a woman of vision with a powerful voice of hope within her community. As a severe stutterer and a cancer survivor, Taylor was recently crowned Miss Lumbee 2025-2026. She uses her platform, "Culture Heals," to advocate for the importance of faith and family, which promotes healing and preserves the next seven generations.
With a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Professional Writing Emphasis from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Taylor combines her passion for communication with her commitment to her cultural heritage. Currently, she serves as the Communications Information Support Specialist for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina's Public Relations Department, where she works diligently to represent and uplift her community. In addition to her professional role, Taylor is actively involved in the Lumbee Tribe's Dark Water Society, where she helps manage culture outreach opportunities that celebrate and preserve the rich traditions of her people. Her dedication to culture and healing reflects her belief in the power of unity and support, proving that faith and family can indeed lead to profound transformations. Taylor is also the owner and operator of Perfectly Put Together, LLC—a public relations and party planning business.
Taylor’s journey to becoming Miss Lumbee was one that was ordered by God. She had always dreamed of being Miss Lumbee but always let her disability (severe stutter) and her lack of pageant experience hold her back. One day she was asked ‘If not you, then who? If not now, then when?’ and she decided to apply—on the last day to submit the application in the car while traveling for work. She gives all the glory and honor to her Lord, Jesus Christ for allowing her to serve as Miss Lumbee, in which she plans to do so with humbleness and grace.
Taylor Davis is not only a beacon of hope for those around her but also a testament to God's grace and His mercy.