Kamloops student Jada Raphael91裸聊视频攚ho grew up in Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, and is a member of the Cook91裸聊视频檚 Ferry Band91裸聊视频攚ill soon be flying to Melbourne, Australia to take part in the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival as an Indigenous model.
Raphael91裸聊视频攚ho turns 17 just before the festival in early March91裸聊视频攈as been modelling since she was 14, mostly in small shows where she wore clothing designed by her aunt, Nadine Spence. In 2015 she had an opportunity to model clothes alongside Ashley Callingbull from Alberta91裸聊视频檚 Enoch Cree Nation, who in August 2015 became the first Canadian woman, and first Indigenous woman, to be crowned Miss Universe.
The opportunity came about because Raphael91裸聊视频檚 mother, Cheryl Billy, contacted Callingbull prior to her appearance at TRU in Kamloops in October 2015. 91裸聊视频淚t was a big show,91裸聊视频� says Raphael. 91裸聊视频淚 got to meet a lot of Indigenous people.91裸聊视频�
Raphael was tagged in a Facebook post about the Melbourne fashion festival, and she applied online and sent in an application. 91裸聊视频淢ore than 1,000 people applied, and I was shocked and very emotional when I found out I91裸聊视频檇 been accepted.91裸聊视频� All the models are aged between 17 and 25, and the event is open for both beginners and professionals.
Raphael says there is a week of intensive training for all the models before the actual show. 91裸聊视频淭he training is worth about $3,000, and will help me in the future. I don91裸聊视频檛 have stage fright, and I91裸聊视频檓 not scared walking down the runway, so I think I91裸聊视频檒l be fine. I91裸聊视频檓 just scared of tripping.91裸聊视频� During the training, models cannot wear make-up or use hair products, and cannot show any body piercings. 91裸聊视频淭hey want to get to know us as natural people.91裸聊视频�
Billy says that the training is an elite program that will benefit her daughter and help in her runway future. Raphael confirms that modelling is a career she would like to pursue, but adds that the Melbourne festival will help her decide if that91裸聊视频檚 what she wants to do.
She currently attends Valleyview High School in Kamloops, in order to take advantage of the varied sports opportunities available there.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really into sports, and am more of an athletic model,91裸聊视频� says Raphael, noting that she is involved in kickboxing, hockey, and rugby. 91裸聊视频淚 won91裸聊视频檛 stop doing these.91裸聊视频�
A request for sponsorships or donations to help defray the costs has already produced a sponsor for the flight to Melbourne and a donation to help with spending money, and Billy says they are still looking for sponsors.
91裸聊视频淢odelling agencies will be looking at her for their shows, and we91裸聊视频檙e looking for funding for these opportunities.91裸聊视频� She adds, however, that her daughter is remaining humble, and is willing to come back and speak to other youth about sports and how she got to where she is.
91裸聊视频淢y family has been very supportive,91裸聊视频� says Raphael. 91裸聊视频淚 wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be here without my mom, who taught me to stay humble and stay classy. And my grandmother, Shirley Raphael [who passed in January 2017], taught me so much. I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be here without her, either. I got quite emotional when I heard about the festival, and wished Grandma was here.91裸聊视频�
Raphael91裸聊视频攚ho will be representing the Nlakapamux and Secwepemc Nations, as well as the Cook91裸聊视频檚 Ferry Band, at the Melbourne festival91裸聊视频攊s keenly aware of her roots. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 proud of who I am.91裸聊视频� Billy notes that her daughter is a leader of her own already, something that is very empowering for the little ones.
91裸聊视频淪he was raised very intensely in regard to Nlakapamux rules and laws,91裸聊视频� says Billy. 91裸聊视频淪he knows how to hunt and fish, and has done some drumming.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 tried for my first buck this year,91裸聊视频� says Raphael, adding that it was too far away for her to be assured of a clean shot that would kill and not wound it. 91裸聊视频淚 was taught to only hunt for food, and to honour the land and be respectful. I leave tobacco and sage to thank the fish for sustenance.91裸聊视频�
Looking ahead to March, Raphael says 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 very excited; and the closer I get to it the more excited I get. There will be Indigenous people there from all over the world, representing different countries. I91裸聊视频檓 really looking forward to it, and to building my portfolio.91裸聊视频�
Says Billy, 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 amazing how her life has turned from just being Jada to being a global Indigenous model.91裸聊视频�
Anyone who would like to sponsor Raphael, or make a donation, can contact Cheryl Billy at (250) 571-9314, or email her at cbjrjb@hotmail.com.
