Kelina Anderson was crowned Miss Indian TMF 2025 on Tuesday, Jan. 22 after competing in a cultural share alongside contestant Jaclyn Hollingsworth. The pageant brought generations of the Tribe of Many Feathers club together.
The BYU Tribe of Many Feathers club hosted a pageant where BYU students showcased their Native American heritage. This event started in 1968 and has occurred annually, with the exception of a handful of years. Students had the opportunity to wear traditional regalia from their tribe, perform a talent and answer interview questions in front of family and friends.
This year Kelina Anderson of the Squamish tribe was crowned Miss Indian TMF 2025.
“I feel excited for Kelina,” Savanna Silversmith, Miss Indian TMF 2024 said. “I was in Living Legends, so I danced with Kelina for a couple years too, so I got to know her really well.”
Silversmith had the opportunity to crown Kelina after her win.
“I feel like both of them would have done such a good job, but for me it was just nice to have that connection with her.” Silversmith said.
Silversmith and Kelina had the opportunity to travel and share their culture with the multicultural dance group — Living Legends — that celebrates indigenous, Latin American and Polynesian culture. Kelina Anderson and her brother are second generation members of TMF and Living Legends.
Crispen Anderson, a former member of the club and father of Kelina Anderson, attended the event to watch his daughter compete. Crispen Anderson has loved watching his kids follow in his footsteps by joining TMF and Living Legends to showcase their heritage. He said teaching his kids to dance was very important to him.
“My mother-in-law said that 'I’ll only let you marry Susan ... if you teach your children how to dance and remember their culture,' and that’s what we did, " Crispen Anderson said, pointing to his wife standing nearby.
During the pageant, Kelina Anderson wore her father’s bone choker, which he used to wear during his time dancing for Living Legends. Crispen Anderson said his father made it for him to remember him by.
“One day when I was done performing, I noticed it was missing,” Crispen Anderson said. “And the first time I saw it was when she went on stage and she had put it on herself and I was like, 'oh my gosh, there it is again,' and I haven’t seen it since.”
Kelina Anderson and Hollingsworth both wore regalia from their tribes. Afterwards, Kelina Anderson performed a traditional hoop dance and Hollingsworth sang a hymn in Navajo while playing the piano.
Hollingsworth and Kelina Anderson both said they were first introduced to the club from parents and other family members.
“I love how much it’s grown since I’ve been in it,” Crispen Anderson said.
At the end of the pageant, the judges announced Kelina Anderson as the winner. She gave a speech about this title and talked about “dancing for those who can’t” and representing those who came before her.
“I honestly feel like having the title is great, but the way I felt before and after is not too much different because I’ve always been a big activist of wanting to strengthen the community.” Kelina Anderson said.
“I’m a passionate person, very passionate, and so my heart just really goes out to everybody to know that you are loved because you come from this lineage of beauty,” Kelina Anderson said.
Kelina Anderson felt participating in Living Legends and TMF helped her to connect with her culture. To her, this title feels like it opens another door to spread that message.
“We have a line in our show that means so much to me, and it says ‘you are the result of the love of thousands’ and that’s really what it is like,” Kelina Anderson said.
She said this is an opportunity to showcase stories that matter to each of us.
