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  • October 10, 2026
  • Sean Doherty

Miss Cherokee Claims Miss Cinderella 2026 Crown, First Title in 45 Years

Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson, wearing a tiara and a black gown, stands behind Kaycie Shelton and places a crown on her head on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. Shelton, Miss Cinderella 2026, smiles in a purple sequined gown and holds a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath. Strands of iridescent teardrop shapes hang against a gold backdrop behind them.
Miss Cinderella 2026 and Interview Award winner, Miss Cherokee Kaycie Shelton (left), is crowned by Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson of Alva (right). Shelton is the first Miss Cherokee to claim the Miss Cinderella title since Michaelle McDaniel in 1981.

ALVA, Okla. — Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee, won the title of Miss Cinderella 2026 at the 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, on Friday, Oct. 9. She is the first Miss Cherokee to wear the crown since Michaelle McDaniel in 1981.

Shelton also won the Interview Award. The pageant is held for high school senior girls in conjunction with Northwestern’s homecoming celebration.

2026 Miss Cinderella Pageant Winners

  • Miss Cinderella 2026 and Interview Award: Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee
  • First runner-up: Mary Katherine Teal, Miss Laverne
  • Second runner-up and Miss Congeniality: Rebecka Carlson, Miss Burlington
  • Third runner-up: Avyn Harland, Miss Buffalo
  • Fourth runner-up: Kassie Irwin, Miss Aline-Cleo
  • Talent Award: Amelie Burgtorf, Miss Shattuck

Carlson’s fellow contestants voted her Miss Congeniality.

Scholarships Awarded to Miss Cinderella Winners

  • Miss Cinderella, Kaycie Shelton: Eight semesters of tuition and a one-year room waiver scholarship for a semi-private room at Northwestern-Alva
  • Interview Award, Kaycie Shelton: A book scholarship from Northwestern
  • First runner-up, Mary Katherine Teal: Six semesters of tuition
  • Second runner-up, Rebecka Carlson: Four semesters of tuition
  • Third and fourth runners-up, Avyn Harland and Kassie Irwin: One-year room waivers
  • Talent Award, Amelie Burgtorf: A one-year room waiver
  • Miss Congeniality, Rebecka Carlson: A one-year room waiver
  • Every contestant: A $2,000 tuition scholarship to be used during their freshman year at Northwestern-Alva

Miss Cinderella Contestants in the Homecoming Parade

All Miss Cinderella contestants are part of Northwestern’s annual homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. on the downtown square in Alva.

Homecoming Photos and Event Information

Northwestern University Relations has posted photos from the week’s homecoming festivities on Flickr.

Browse Northwestern University Relations photo galleries

Visit Northwestern’s Homecoming webpage for Miss Cinderella Pageant and homecoming event information

Meet the 17 contestants in the 2026 Miss Cinderella Pageant

 

2026 Miss Cinderella Pageant Photos

Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee, laughs after being named Miss Cinderella 2026 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. She wears a purple sequined gown and holds a paper in one hand, and fellow contestants in blue and red sequined gowns applaud behind her.
Miss Cherokee Kaycie Shelton reacts after being named Miss Cinderella 2026 at the 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant Friday, Oct. 9, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson, wearing a tiara and a black gown, stands behind Kaycie Shelton and places a crown on her head on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. Shelton, Miss Cinderella 2026, smiles in a purple sequined gown and holds a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath. Strands of iridescent teardrop shapes hang against a gold backdrop behind them.
Miss Cinderella 2026 and Interview Award winner, Miss Cherokee Kaycie Shelton (left), is crowned by Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson of Alva (right). Shelton is the first Miss Cherokee to claim the Miss Cinderella title since Michaelle McDaniel in 1981.
The six award winners of Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant stand in a row on stage in Alva, Oklahoma, smiling at the camera and holding red roses. Shelton, Carlson and Burgtorf hold certificates reading "Miss Cinderella 2026 Interview Winner," "Miss Cinderella 2026 Miss Congeniality" and "Miss Cinderella 2026 Talent Winner." Left to right: fourth runner-up Kassie Irwin, Miss Aline-Cleo, in a black gown; third runner-up Avyn Harland, Miss Buffalo, in a coral gown; first runner-up Mary Katherine Teal, Miss Laverne, in an orange sequined gown; Miss Cinderella 2026 and Interview Award winner Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee, wearing a crown and a purple sequined gown; second runner-up and Miss Congeniality Rebecka Carlson, Miss Burlington, in an emerald green gown; and Talent Award winner Amelie Burgtorf, Miss Shattuck, in a red sequined gown. A gold backdrop hung with iridescent teardrop strands is behind them.
Winners from the 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant are (from left to right) fourth runner-up Kassie Irwin, Miss Aline-Cleo; third runner-up Avyn Harland, Miss Buffalo; first runner-up Mary Katherine Teal, Miss Laverne; Miss Cinderella 2026 and Interview Award winner Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee; second runner-up and Miss Congeniality Rebecka Carlson, Miss Burlington; and Talent Award winner Amelie Burgtorf, Miss Shattuck.
Amelie Burgtorf, Miss Shattuck, plays a black Steinway & Sons grand piano on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Talent Show in Alva, Oklahoma. Seen in profile, she wears a strapless blue sequined gown and looks down at the keys, with a backdrop of iridescent teardrop strands behind her. The piano reads "Steinway & Sons."
Miss Shattuck Amelie Burgtorf earned the Talent Award for her piano solo of “Rustle of Spring” by Christian Sinding.
Amelie Burgtorf, Miss Shattuck, smiles and raises one arm high while her other hand rests on the keys of a black Steinway & Sons grand piano on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Talent Show in Alva, Oklahoma. She wears a strapless blue sequined gown, and a gold backdrop hung with iridescent teardrop strands is behind her.
Miss Shattuck Amelie Burgtorf raises her hand at the piano during the Miss Cinderella Talent Show Thursday, Oct. 8. Burgtorf earned the Talent Award for her piano solo of ‘Rustle of Spring’ by Christian Sinding.
Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson, in a tiara and black gown, stands beside Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. Shelton wears a crown and a purple sequined gown and holds a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath. Both smile at the camera in front of a gold backdrop hung with iridescent teardrops.
Miss Cinderella 2025 Madeline Ryerson of Alva (left) stands with Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee (right).
Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cinderella 2026, smiles at the camera on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma, wearing a crown and a purple sequined gown and holding a bouquet of red roses and baby's breath wrapped in red. A gold backdrop hung with iridescent teardrop strands is behind her.
Miss Cherokee Kaycie Shelton won the title of Miss Cinderella 2026 Friday, Oct. 9, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She also won the Interview Award.
Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton, wearing a crown and a purple sequined gown and holding red roses, stands on stage with the judges of Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. Left to right: Brandt Sterling, in a gray plaid suit; Elda Jones, seated; Shelton; Kody Humphrey, in a white jacket; Myra Davison, in navy; and Paula McMurphy, in red. All smile at the camera in front of a gold backdrop.
Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee, poses with the pageant judges, (from left to right) Brandt Sterling, Elda Jones, Shelton, Kody Humphrey, Myra Davison and Paula McMurphy.
Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton, wearing a crown and a purple sequined gown and holding red roses, stands at the center of a group of women from the Miss Cinderella Pageant committee on stage at Northwestern Oklahoma State University's 74th Miss Cinderella Pageant in Alva, Oklahoma. All smile at the camera in front of a gold backdrop hung with iridescent teardrop strands.
Miss Cinderella 2026 Kaycie Shelton, Miss Cherokee (center), poses with members of the Miss Cinderella Pageant committee.

Media Contact

Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: 580-327-8480

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