MOREE’S Jataya Wilson embraced her Gamilaroi culture at the National Aboriginal Model Search in Sydney on October 1 and left with the junior crown.
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The aspiring model advanced through the first round in Moree with three of her cousins, Keely Cain, Amelia Duncan and Shonnalea Smith, back in February.
Before they knew it, the girls were up against 50 other juniors and 70 seniors on the national stage.
Jataya’s mother Crystal Duncan said while preparing for Sydney, culture was a big factor Jataya was determined to embrace.
“My pop always said Aboriginal people did not always get opportunities, and if they come your way you have to grab it and work hard for it,” Jataya said.
Three runway walks, two photos shoots and an interview with a panel of six judges were the obstacles the four Moree girls had to tackle in Sydney, and Jataya wanted all to be memorable.
“The highlight of the event was when Jataya delivered her speech. My cousin Kaylene Hall from Walgett helped us translate her speech in Gamilaroi language. I first learnt the speech and then taught Jataya.
“She did not make a single mistake and you could hear a pin drop in the room. An Elder at the back of the room asked some girls to be quiet because he wanted to hear what Jataya had to say in traditional language. He said it was rare to hear a young, Aboriginal girl speak,” Crystal said.
Jataya and Crystal also asked their cousin and well-known fashion designer Colleen Tighe-Johnson to create an Aboriginal-influenced runway dress for one of her three outfits on the evening.
“I asked my cousin Ann Johnson to create an artwork on paper for the dress and I converted it into graphics and then designed the dress. The artwork represents our artesian basin, the waterways running in and out of it, and how important it is to our people,” Colleen said.
“It was a spiritual feeling to be working with family for a talented, intelligent, Aboriginal girl. I am so proud of Jataya and the hard work she put in and I was honoured to be asked to not only create something but have it on the runway. Jataya will go far in whatever she decides to do,” she said.
Colleen has asked Jataya to join her in Canada in September 2017 on an Indigenous fashion runway.
Mark Coulton, Adam Marshall, Margaret Hayes, Miyay Birray, Pius-X, Moree Boomerangs and most importantly, her family in Moree and Dubbo assisted Jataya on her journey.
A journey which has only just started after winning the National Model Search junior category which comes with the prize of a $3000 photo shoot and acting classes.
“A judge came up to me after the competition and ask to have a photo taken. She said she had been watching me and asked if I would like to be on Home and Away. I’ve always been a good actor; drama queen,” Jataya laughed.