Kamloops student Jada Raphael害羞草研究所攚ho grew up in Spences Bridge and Ashcroft, and is a member of the Cook害羞草研究所檚 Ferry Band害羞草研究所攚ill soon be flying to Melbourne, Australia to take part in the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival as an Indigenous model.

Raphael害羞草研究所攚ho turns 17 just before the festival in early March害羞草研究所攈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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 mother, Cheryl Billy, contacted Callingbull prior to her appearance at TRU in Kamloops in October 2015. 害羞草研究所淚t was a big show,害羞草研究所� says Raphael. 害羞草研究所淚 got to meet a lot of Indigenous people.害羞草研究所�

Raphael was tagged in a Facebook post about the Melbourne fashion festival, and she applied online and sent in an application. 害羞草研究所淢ore than 1,000 people applied, and I was shocked and very emotional when I found out I害羞草研究所檇 been accepted.害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淭he training is worth about $3,000, and will help me in the future. I don害羞草研究所檛 have stage fright, and I害羞草研究所檓 not scared walking down the runway, so I think I害羞草研究所檒l be fine. I害羞草研究所檓 just scared of tripping.害羞草研究所� During the training, models cannot wear make-up or use hair products, and cannot show any body piercings. 害羞草研究所淭hey want to get to know us as natural people.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really into sports, and am more of an athletic model,害羞草研究所� says Raphael, noting that she is involved in kickboxing, hockey, and rugby. 害羞草研究所淚 won害羞草研究所檛 stop doing these.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淢odelling agencies will be looking at her for their shows, and we害羞草研究所檙e looking for funding for these opportunities.害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淢y family has been very supportive,害羞草研究所� says Raphael. 害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檛 be here without her, either. I got quite emotional when I heard about the festival, and wished Grandma was here.害羞草研究所�

Raphael害羞草研究所攚ho will be representing the Nlakapamux and Secwepemc Nations, as well as the Cook害羞草研究所檚 Ferry Band, at the Melbourne festival害羞草研究所攊s keenly aware of her roots. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 proud of who I am.害羞草研究所� Billy notes that her daughter is a leader of her own already, something that is very empowering for the little ones.

害羞草研究所淪he was raised very intensely in regard to Nlakapamux rules and laws,害羞草研究所� says Billy. 害羞草研究所淪he knows how to hunt and fish, and has done some drumming.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 tried for my first buck this year,害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�

Looking ahead to March, Raphael says 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 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害羞草研究所檓 really looking forward to it, and to building my portfolio.害羞草研究所�

Says Billy, 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing how her life has turned from just being Jada to being a global Indigenous model.害羞草研究所�

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.