The term trailblazer is used a lot today. As our society becomes more inclusive, and as we witness more out-of-the-box creative endeavors come to fruition in the arts, it is most often the initiative of a select few individuals that allows for such progress. Many people are working to bring about change in the fashion industry, despite the fact that there are so many people making waves in every field. The youngest, most unique, and most versatile person blazing a new trail in today’s fashion world is model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse.
Chasinghorse, whose Indigenous heritage is Hn Gwich’in of East Village, Alaska on her mother’s side and the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota on her father’s side, has risen through the industry. She made her modeling debut in 2020 in a Calvin Klein campaign. She has been representing top brands such as Gucci, and the beloved lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, ever since she signed with IMG Models.
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Chasinghorse’s success is more significant than just being famous. The lack of Indigenous representation in the fashion world was not lost on the young model, who had taken an interest in the industry at an early age. With this in mind, Quannah has made it her mission to solidify a place for herself in fashion, as well as for all Native girls interested in following in her footsteps. Her traditional Hn Gwich’in tattoos, which reflect a nearly 10,000-year-old practice and are hand-poked by her mother to celebrate the watershed moments in her life thus far, not only see her challenging the rigid beauty standards of the modelling industry, but also allow She is using her fashion and online platform to spread the word about issues the Native community faces on a daily basis, including land recognition and climate change.
CR sat down with the model to discuss her journey thus far, the importance of Indigenous representation in the industry, and what’s next for her.
CR: As someone who grew up in the rural areas of Arizona, Mongolia, and Alaska, and is coming from an indigenous background that is not traditionally represented in fashion, how did you get into the industry?
I wanted to be a model since I was three. When we were young, my mom took us to Mongolia. We lived in a different country for two years and it gave us a different way of looking at things. There was a fashion channel on TV. Since I was so young, I picked up the language quickly and became fluent. She was annoyed with trying to keep up with the TV shows because they were so fast. I became obsessed with the fashion channel when she turned on it. I have loved fashion ever since. I like the outfits, the styling, and the art behind it, and the model that wears it. I was brought into the industry because of that, but I never thought I had the potential to be a model. I lost a lot of confidence. I didn’t think the world would want to see someone on the cover of a magazine that looked like me. I had this thing in the back of my mind that I just wanted so badly. I did so much when I felt like I couldn’t do it. I looked at the top modelling agencies when I was younger, and I still do today. I think it is crazy that I am where I am. I say this all of the time, but the little girl inside of me is screaming, and she still can’t believe that this is my life.
I didn’t think the world would want to see someone on the cover of a magazine that looked like me.
Coming from a rural background to an industry that is so cosmopolitan how do you stay grounded? What do you think makes your perspective on modelling unique?
It is hard for anyone to achieve their dreams in Alaska unless they climb a mountain or something. There isn’t much opportunity for me. I love my hometown and it is a beautiful place. It is important for my people back at home to see the rest of the world. Being able to get out of Alaska to pursue my career and achieve so many goals and dreams is something that I never take for granted. I try to pull my people along with me. I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be where I am without my community. The ones in my community that don’t support what I do encourage me to be better. I use their fire as fuel. Being able to get out and achieve my dreams, while also trying to bring my people with me, and speak on behalf of them, is so important. It is important to have those discussions because it all comes down to just recognition and topics such as land recognition, which is recognizing sacred lands, whose land you are occupying, what tribal nations were there before, and respecting that.
Your ascent through the fashion world in the past year has been astounding. You make it look easy on the runway, but how has it been from your perspective? How have you handled the rise into the spotlight?
It can be difficult to navigate certain spaces when I am working. I always show up with a smile and try my best. It is important for me to break those stereotypes so that the next generation of native girls don’t have to do that work. It can be tiring and exhausting, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I am very grateful to be in a position where I can shine a light on certain issues and show what indigenous people have to go through. Being able to shine a light on that darkness allows people to see that we are not just a stereotype. We are not all the same and there is a lot to us. Representation is important. Three years ago, I said I would do anything to walk in a Gucci show. I said that three years ago and now I am walking in their show. I don’t have that privilege to take it for granted, so I just embrace all that is happening and all of the energy. I don’t. I think it’s a privilege because people who are black have to work harder. For me to be in that space and be seen is important. I think about all of the young kids who will be able to see an indigenous person on the runway and think, “That could be me one day.” I have the ability. I can do that as well. I never thought I could be a model because of the lack of representation.
You attended your first Met Gala this past year in a stunning Peter Dundas look that was an homage to your heritage. What was the process like in developing that look, and what message did you want to convey?
When I got the news that I was invited, I didn’t know what to think. I wanted to be good for my people. I didn’t want my presence to be meaningless and I just wanted to do something meaningful. It was an honor to know that Peter Dundas supported me and wanted me to be seen. They made sure that I was beautiful as well. It was a big moment because of the theme. When people think of America, they think of the flag, red, white, blue, and patriotic things. I am proud of my heritage and the fact that my people are still here. We had to overcome a lot of cycles of genocide. I am able to shine a light and make people think or even realize that we are still here. That representation is important. It was an honor and I am glad I went.
CR: In addition to being an advocate for environmental issues, you are also an advocate for the preservation and representation of Native American culture in the mainstream fashion world. Do you think some of your favorite indigenous brands deserve more attention?
I can’t think of many. My people have been creating beautiful designs and art for thousands of years and they are sacred. We have our own fashion and it’s fun for me because I love bringing my people up with me and showcasing their work. There are three people: Red Berry Woman, B. Yellowtail and Jamie Okuma. My aunties make a lot of the jewelry that I wear. They give me something. Usually it is family and friends. A lot of my family and even my grandma are beaders and they create beautiful artwork with their beading. I have a family that shares that skill with me.
I am very grateful to be in a position where I can shine a light on certain issues and show what indigenous people have to go through.
How important are your traditional Hn Gwich’in tattoos to your identity? What does it mean to be able to show them off? What does it mean to represent your heritage in the fashion industry, considering that there are so few models of indigenous descent today?
I am excited to see more indigenous girls join the modelling space with me. I love the work of a few other indigenous models. They are so beautiful. Being able to showcase my tattoos is a big deal for me. After years and years of genocide, our traditions, culture, and languages were erased through colonization, so it wasn’t until recently that we started getting these tattoos back. Being able to bring this tradition back in my tribe is so powerful and now being able to showcase it through modelling is making people curious about it. Other native women with these tattoos can see themselves in me on the cover of a magazine and feel beautiful. They are deserving of that. There is a stigma about people with tattoos. People forget that our tattoos are beautiful, sacred, and carry a lot of medicine when they see them. We practice medicine with tattoos. It is important for me to show them off. I have a team that supports me, advocates for me, and allows me to be myself. A lot of models feel like they have to be someone they are not, and they don’t feel accepted in the modelling world. To be seen with my tattoos is a big deal for me.
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CR: Now that you have a large platform, how do you plan on using it to promote your causes? What do you hope the other indigenous people don’t take away from your pop culture presence?
There are some things that I am working on and some things that I am not. It will probably take a while for me to figure it out. There are many things that I am very excited about. It is important for me to continue my work in the movement and be an advocate because that is what brought me into modelling in the first place. I started modelling because I had a platform through my advocacy that I stayed strong with. I am excited for coming projects because I think they are steps toward helping my communities in Alaska and indigenous youth, as well as creating spaces for them to feel safe and heard. It’s natural for me to be in that space and use my voice because I grew up in the movement. I was taught by my mom and aunties that they were passionate about things and took up space with their power. Seeing their power and their voices creating change, and seeing them overcome a lot of challenges, inspired me. They have helped me get here and guide me along the way so it is an honor for me to be here.
You have a lot of jobs and projects to keep you busy on a daily basis. What projects are you most looking forward to in the future?
I can’t talk about them yet. I think they are going to be amazing, and I am really excited to share them.
images: cr fashion book
source: cr fashion book
