If You Can't See It, You Can't Be It

Bianca Hunt

At just 25 years of age, Bianca Hunt is a proud Kamilaroi, Barkindji, Ballardong and Wadja woman, the founder of AGNT BLAK, a talent agency exclusively representing First Nations storytellers – the only one of its kind in Australia – and has already made her mark as a presenter hosting Indigenous TV network NITV X AFL’s Yokayi Footy 2020 program and the National NAIDOC Awards in 2019. Working in media, Bianca understands exactly the importance of her presence in the public arena, and knows how much it means for other First Nations peoples to see someone like them on screen.

“I feel fortunate that young Mob, especially my little nephews, can literally turn on the television and think ‘I can be on television just like my Aunty B’ – and I think that’s really cool.”

“Representation, especially in media, is important to me because if you can’t see it you can’t be it. Media genuinely does influence the rest of society and how everything works…hence I think it’s important why I’m in it. You grow up being told a certain look or certain person or certain opinion is right, then you’re going to believe that.”

“I’m so lucky to be surrounded by really, really talented creatives at the moment and they’re all First Nations. That’s the coolest thing because I can actually walk into a room where it’s full of Blak Fullas and we’re all killing it in our spaces and having fun.”

Kiesha Bovill

As a proud Kamilaroi woman and model with nearly five years of experience, Kiesha Bovill’s career has been centred around fashion and getting dressed up. “My first modelling gig was really cool and made me feel excited about life and excited about my future.”

“When I’m dressed my best, it makes me feel confident, empowered, like I can do anything I want… I feel like I’m a whole new b*tch!”

“Representation is important to me because I have little sisters and nieces who need someone that they can look up to. And not feel alone in this world, and know that they’re beautiful and that they can be considered beautiful, not just like the normal standard.”

Cindy Rostron

For Cindy Rostron, proud Kune, Rembarrnga, Dalabon woman from the Bonngu Clan, life as a model is only just beginning, and with an Australian Vogue cover and over 54k followers on TikTok under her belt, she’s taken off with rapid velocity. 

“Last year I went to Barunga Festival. I was doing the runway thing and yeah, it was great but I didn’t expect what’s coming next. I thought I went to Barunga just for fun! I felt great.”

When asked, as a young girl, if she saw women from her community on the cover of magazines how it would make her feel, she simply said “proud”. 

“Representation is important for my people. It’s important for us to get recognised, that we are here. It means everything.”

Katie Jones 

Similarly, Katie Jones feels a sense of pride when she sees people like herself being represented. Currently working as a lawyer, she’s hoping to make the move to modelling full time. “I followed a lot of models on social media and they gave me so much inspiration and I wanted to see more women out there who look like me, First Nations women, curvier girls, so I submitted with Viviens and I was very lucky to get signed right away.”

“My first modelling gig was nerve wracking! I jumped right into a campaign shoot – it was very different to what my everyday work life looked like, so it was just exciting, fun. I’m really proud looking at all the photos.” 

“When I’m dressed my best I feel confident, powerful, happy, vibing.”

“I think everyone deserves to go online, open a magazine, turn on the TV and see someone who looks like them. Growing up I didn't have that and it’s starting to be more inclusive, more diverse, and it’s just so important so everyone feels like what they look like is normal.”

Luke Currie-Richardson 

Best known for storytelling through all sorts of mediums, from dancing, acting and theatre to photography, poetry and writing, Luke Currie-Richardson, a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, says he is simply trying to be the best ancestor he can be. “I want to be that role model. I want to be someone that young Indigenous kids can look up to and aspire to and it’s one of the main reasons why I try to do so many different things with my art – it’s not about being known, it's about the impact I leave behind for them.”

“Representation is important because if you can’t see it you can’t be it…it’s hard to dream outside of what you already know. Representation allows you to dream bigger than your dreams are already.”

“Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids would never believe that they could play in the NBA and you got the likes of Patty Mills playing in the NBA, winning a bronze medal, playing at the All Stars Game three-point shootout, you know, people that see that now have dreams and know that’s real and they can be these things.”

“Who did I look to growing up? This is very cliché but it’s definitely my parents… and then to further that, we’re raised by community, parents are the frontliners but we’re raised by community, so my cousins that represented at Australian level allowed me to dream bigger than my dreams at that point in time; my uncles and aunties that stayed over, fed me and treated me as their own; and my brother was my competitor and my best friend – it’s cliché to say but family. Then on top of that my culture, the resilience that my people have shown since colonisation, the fight that they have makes you believe that you can do anything and everything.”

Rob Hookey

Rob Hookey, the proud Waanyi and Ngadjon photographer behind this incredible shoot, prefers life behind the lens, and has been capturing everything from food to fashion on camera for the last six years.

“Photography is my creative outlet and my therapy. I feel very very grateful and fortunate that I get to wake up and do what I love for a living. Being able to create is an essential part of my being, when I’m not creating I don’t feel like I’m living to my full potential.”

“My favourite aspect of this project was the collaboration and the diversity of people on set. I loved that indigenous creatives and models were able to combine our talents with non-indigenous creatives to create epic content. It wasn’t just an all white team, it wasn’t just an all black team, it was a multicultural team creating content with an awareness and respect for First Nations peoples.”

“I want to inspire the next generation of indigenous fashion photographers. To show the younger indigenous creatives that anything is possible when you’re persistent, passionate and open to learning.”