Tohono O'odham
Juan-Saunders is from New Fields community in Chukut Kuk District of the Tohono O'odham Nation and is a former Miss Tohono O'odham Nation and later Miss Indian Arizona. She is the former vice president of Tohono O'odham Community College, which is located in Sells, Arizona. Juan-Saunders has a Masters in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona.