Native News Online interviewed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Ashley Callingbull on a recent edition of Bidaské.
Ashley is from Enoch Cree Nation near Edmonton, Alberta. She is a former Mrs. Universe, and the first Indigenous woman from North America to win that title.
Ashley spoke candidly about her life and career: “I came from living in poverty and overcoming abuse, to having to find myself to learn to let go of things in the past, so they don’t control my future. I had to learn to love myself again. And once I did that, I found my passions in life, and I chase happiness. And now I have all these amazing things going for me. And I’m able to amplify other people’s voices as well. So for me, it’s all about the legacy I’m going to leave behind. And for me, I just want it to be positive, always.”
She also spoke about the legacy of Indian Residential Boarding Schools in her family, as well as a forthcoming memoir and her work launching a jewelry line that will help Indigenous community programs.
Check out the full interview below, and be sure to subscribe to the Native News Online YouTube channel.