Quannah Chasinghorse at the 2023 Met Gala, wearing beadwork jewellery by Sota Scowi Designs
Glass beads, faux pearls, porcupine quills and dentalium shells.
sotascowidesigns: 'Making jewelry for the Met Gala, what a dream! For years, beading was just something I did therapeutically, I never imagined my art would become what it has today! All of my inspiration comes from my community, both my Dakota & Ghanaian relatives. When I create, I look for ways to pull from those that I came from-often using designs that have been used by my Grandmas with a mix of new ideas today. I couldn’t imagine a life where I’m not an artist. It is the greatest gift to make medicine with my hands. Everything I do is made with the intention to bring people joy & make y’all feel pretty!
For my beautiful Hän Gwich’in & Lakota sis, I am so grateful to be able to share my designs (which came from my Bdewakantunwan Dakota Grandmas) for you and to see you representing our Nations proudly.' X
Quannah Chasinghorse, a groundbreaking Indigenous model, stands tall and confident, her gaze piercing through the lens to remind viewers “whose land you’re living on”. Using her fame to support activism, Chasinghorse’s assertive presence speaks to her dedication to creating positive change and elevating the voices of marginalized communities.
Quannah Rose Chasinghorse (born June 7, 2002) is a Native American model and fierce land protector who is an advocate for causes that affect her community. Her Indigenous ancestry is both Hän Gwich’in (from Alaska and Canada) and Oglala Lakota (from South Dakota)
Now that Chasinghorse has catapulted into the spotlight, walking the runways of Prabal Gurung, Chloé, and Chanel (among others) and attending the Met Gala, she's using her platform to advocate for change. She is using her unique beauty to forward the narrative of protecting indigenous lands, their people, and their animals while killing it as a model.