Enoch Cree model becomes 1st Indigenous woman in Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition
Global News
Ashely Callingbull is the first Indigenous woman to model in Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. This year, she's also the only Canadian represented.
Ashley Callingbull has been selected to model in this year’s Sports Illustrated magazine swimsuit edition — the first Indigenous woman to be featured.
“I got the call at 6 a.m. I was still in bed. I couldn’t believe it,” Callingbull said in an interview with Global News from the Dominican Republic Thursday night. “I thought I was actually dreaming… I just started crying.
“It’s breaking a lot of barriers but it’s also opening a door for other Indigenous women to follow so that they’re comfortable in this space and they feel that they can shine here,” she said.
“Being the first is great but knowing that I’m not the last is the most important thing for me.”
The model and advocate, who is from Enoch Cree Nation, just west of Edmonton, is also the only Canadian in this year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
“It’s really exciting and I hope Canada is there for me to vote and support me,” she said, explaining the cover model will be chosen through a vote.
“I want to represent my people and I want to represent my country,” Callingbull said.