On June 14, Gabrielle Gramont, representing Fort Collins, was crowned Miss Colorado at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. She went on to compete at the 106th Miss America competition at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., where Gramont took home a preliminary fitness award. Gramont is one of many indigenous women who have competed in the Miss America system.
Gramont was inspired to compete after connecting with Miss Colorado 2023, Sarah Swift. Gramont competed for the first time in 2024 and walked away as a Semi-Finalist in the top 11.
“She told me about the ability to be yourself and take all your facets and put them all together into one place where you don’t have to be one version of yourself,” Gramont explained.
After competing in 2024, Gramont expressed that she felt the sisterhood and vision that Swift had spoken to her about, which then motivated her to compete again in 2025.
Every Miss America contestant is required to have a Community Service Initiative, which they workshop and promote before, during and sometimes even after competition week. Gramont’s approach is called the Power of Motion, which aims to educate others about accessing mental health resources and utilizing exercise as a form of positive psychology. To Gramont, this means creating achievable goals and a workout plan.
Gramont is also a University of Denver Graduate student studying sports performance psychology. She chose DU for her love of Colorado, and the fact that it was the only school in the state that offered her area of study. Gramont also has a partnership with Mental Health Colorado, where she learned there are only 200 sports performance psychologists registered in the country.
Gramont broke her neck in 2021 in Montana and worked with a sports psychologist to not only physically heal but also regain her motivation for life and get back into working out. This experience motivated her to study sports performance psychology and give back through her Community Service Initiative.
“Montana is very limited when it comes to psychological mental health resources,” Gramont noted.
Her sports psychologist motivated her to start playing hockey after her injury during undergrad, which brought her a new sense of self.
Gramont identifies as Snoqualmie Indian, a Native American tribe based in Washington. Gramont’s mother did not reveal their native identity until she was 17 which was a pivotal moment in her life .
“Once you turn 18, you start learning your native language, you get to attend tribal meetings, get to be on voting — I get to be a part of something bigger than myself, that is a part of who I am and my genetic makeup, which is just so special,” she explained.
The annual meeting where voting takes place is very important to Gramont as it dictates how many traditions the tribe maintains. One of her personal favorite traditions is canoeing down the river.
When it comes to being Miss Colorado, Gramont finds pride in representing a state with an understanding of indigenous history and culture. She has been able to meet many community members and be a part of other Colorado indigenous tribe art fairs as a supporter.
Gramont believes that to become a better ally is to gain a better understanding.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We love talking about our culture and where we come from because for many years we weren’t allowed to do it,” Gramont said.
Gramont recommends attending public events and visiting tribal pages for further information.
If you are interested in competing in Miss Colorado 2026, visit their website to register. To keep up with Gramont’s reign, follow her on Instagram @misscoloradorg.
