First Indigenous woman crowned Miss Minnesota

Rachel Evangelisto was crowned Miss Minnesota 2022 at the end of the 86th edition of Miss Minnesota pageant, held on June 17, 2022, at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. Besting twenty other women, Miss Winona succeeds Miss Minnesota 2021, Gabrielle “Elle” Louise Mark and to make history as the first Indigenous woman to wear this crown. “It’s awesome, surreal, awesome, overwhelming. My life has literally changed overnight,” said Evangelisto after her crowning.She will compete for the title of Miss America 2023 this December at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut.   “I’ve been competing since I’ve been 13 years old and never have I seen someone that looked like me or represented my tribe or culture,” she said. “I know what a difference it would’ve made to me.” As the new Miss Minnesota, Rachel was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Miss Minnesota organization. In addition, she received a preliminary award for the Red Carpet Evening Wear Competition and performed a routine of Jade Forest Praying Mantis Kung Fu for her talent presentation. She has already earned $23,000 to further her education through the Miss America Scholarship program.

The new titleholder is part of the Húŋkpapȟa Standing Rock Sioux tribe. According to her bio, in 2019, she graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris, with a degree in Political Science and an emphasis on Law. She has been accepted to Mitchell Hamline Law School where she hopes to obtain a Juris Doctorate in Tribal Law in the fall of 2023, according to the Miss Minnesota website.

Through her law work, her current work as an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Guardian ad Litem for the ICWA Division of Minnesota, and as Miss Minnesota 2022 she’s hoping to make a big impact on the lives of Native Americans, specifically Native American children and to use her platform as Miss Minnesota to expand her reach as a role model.

Rachel will promote her Social Impact Initiative, “Celebrating Culture & Driving Diversity,” during her year of service. She says she’s passionate about community and culture and will share authentic Indigenous culture and raise awareness around the Indian Child Welfare Act, as well as create cultural programs to support Indigenous youth involved in child protection and foster care during her time of service.

Besides making appearances across the state and working as a Native youth advocate in the Twin Cities, she’s also getting ready for her next competition in December. “I’m really excited as a Native American person to go to (the) ‘Miss America’ (pageant), which is on Native American land and bridge the connection that they need. I’m really looking forward to that opportunity,” she said.