Kamloops student Jada Raphael香蕉视频直播攚ho grew up in Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, and is a member of the Cook香蕉视频直播檚 Ferry Band香蕉视频直播攚ill soon be flying to Melbourne, Australia to take part in the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival as an Indigenous model.

Raphael香蕉视频直播攚ho turns 17 just before the festival in early March香蕉视频直播攈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 Alberta香蕉视频直播檚 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 Raphael香蕉视频直播檚 mother, Cheryl Billy, contacted Callingbull prior to her appearance at TRU in Kamloops in October 2015. 香蕉视频直播淚t was a big show,香蕉视频直播� says Raphael. 香蕉视频直播淚 got to meet a lot of Indigenous people.香蕉视频直播�

Raphael was tagged in a Facebook post about the Melbourne fashion festival, and she applied online and sent in an application. 香蕉视频直播淢ore than 1,000 people applied, and I was shocked and very emotional when I found out I香蕉视频直播檇 been accepted.香蕉视频直播� 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. 香蕉视频直播淭he training is worth about $3,000, and will help me in the future. I don香蕉视频直播檛 have stage fright, and I香蕉视频直播檓 not scared walking down the runway, so I think I香蕉视频直播檒l be fine. I香蕉视频直播檓 just scared of tripping.香蕉视频直播� During the training, models cannot wear make-up or use hair products, and cannot show any body piercings. 香蕉视频直播淭hey want to get to know us as natural people.香蕉视频直播�

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 that香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really into sports, and am more of an athletic model,香蕉视频直播� says Raphael, noting that she is involved in kickboxing, hockey, and rugby. 香蕉视频直播淚 won香蕉视频直播檛 stop doing these.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淢odelling agencies will be looking at her for their shows, and we香蕉视频直播檙e looking for funding for these opportunities.香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淢y family has been very supportive,香蕉视频直播� says Raphael. 香蕉视频直播淚 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 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 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be here without her, either. I got quite emotional when I heard about the festival, and wished Grandma was here.香蕉视频直播�

Raphael香蕉视频直播攚ho will be representing the Nlakapamux and Secwepemc Nations, as well as the Cook香蕉视频直播檚 Ferry Band, at the Melbourne festival香蕉视频直播攊s keenly aware of her roots. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 proud of who I am.香蕉视频直播� Billy notes that her daughter is a leader of her own already, something that is very empowering for the little ones.

香蕉视频直播淪he was raised very intensely in regard to Nlakapamux rules and laws,香蕉视频直播� says Billy. 香蕉视频直播淪he knows how to hunt and fish, and has done some drumming.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 tried for my first buck this year,香蕉视频直播� 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. 香蕉视频直播淚 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.香蕉视频直播�

Looking ahead to March, Raphael says 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 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. I香蕉视频直播檓 really looking forward to it, and to building my portfolio.香蕉视频直播�

Says Billy, 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 amazing how her life has turned from just being Jada to being a global Indigenous model.香蕉视频直播�

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.