Indigenous model Charlee Fraser on first Welcome To Country ceremony at Australian Fashion Week

EXCLUSIVE: Indigenous runway model Charlee Fraser reveals she ‘started crying’ during the first-ever Welcome To Country ceremony at Australian Fashion Week


Indigenous runway model Charlee Fraser has graced catwalks all over the world for designer brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada and Givenchy.

And on Monday, she revealed to Daily Mail Australia she became emotional during the first-ever Welcome To Country ceremony held for Australian Fashion Week.

The 25-year-old was very proud to see her people recognised by the annual event, and said: ‘I actually started crying.’

EXCLUSIVE: Indigenous runway model Charlee Fraser [pictured] told Daily Mail Australia she ‘started crying’ during the first-ever Welcome To Country ceremony for Australian Fashion Week, on Monday

‘I started crying, especially when I saw most of the Mob who were up there performing, the dancers and some of the models who wore the beautiful Indigenous designs.

‘I had a moment, I was a bit teary,’ she added.

The brunette beauty, whose is part of the Awabakal people of New South Wales’ mid-north coast, called the historic moment ‘really special’.

Emotional: She was very proud to see her people recognised by the annual event, and said: 'I actually started crying.' The Welcome to Country was held at Carriageworks and featured a 60,000-year-old Indigenous smoking ceremony, which Charlee was also a part of (pictured)

Emotional: She was very proud to see her people recognised by the annual event, and said: ‘I actually started crying.’ The Welcome to Country was held at Carriageworks and featured a 60,000-year-old Indigenous smoking ceremony, which Charlee was also a part of (pictured)

Tradition: The Muggera Dance Company performed a traditional dance. Charlee said: 'I'm so glad we've made it here. It was an empty space that really needed it'

Tradition: The Muggera Dance Company performed a traditional dance. Charlee said: ‘I’m so glad we’ve made it here. It was an empty space that really needed it’

‘I’m so glad we’ve made it here. It was an empty space that really needed it,’ she said of the ceremony.

The Welcome to Country was held at Carriageworks, in Eveleigh, and featured a 60,000-year-old Indigenous smoking ceremony, which Charlee was also a part of.

The Muggera Dance Company also performed a traditional dance at the event.

Proud: Charlee said of the event: 'I started crying, especially when I saw most of the Mob who were up there performing, the dancers and some of the models who wore the beautiful Indigenous designs

Proud: Charlee said of the event: ‘I started crying, especially when I saw most of the Mob who were up there performing, the dancers and some of the models who wore the beautiful Indigenous designs

'I love what I do so much': Charlee also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her career and representing the Australian Indigenous people on a global stage. She has graced catwalks all over the world for designer brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada and Givenchy

‘I love what I do so much’: Charlee also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her career and representing the Australian Indigenous people on a global stage. She has graced catwalks all over the world for designer brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada and Givenchy

Charlee also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her career and representing the Australian Indigenous people on a global stage as one of the country’s most in-demand models.

‘This is unlike anything else I’ve ever done and it’s been a space that I’ve strongly been searching for for such a long time. I love what I do so much.

‘Modelling is my passion and my culture is something I’ve felt that’s been missing from my life, and now I’ve finally found a space where they collide and it’s the most humbling, and exciting and powerful thing to be doing right now,’ she proudly said. 

Runway star: 'Modelling is my passion and my culture is something I've felt that's been missing from my life, and now I've finally found a space where they collide.' Charlee proudly said. Pictured is Charlee at Melbourne Fashion week

Runway star: ‘Modelling is my passion and my culture is something I’ve felt that’s been missing from my life, and now I’ve finally found a space where they collide.’ Charlee proudly said. Pictured is Charlee at Melbourne Fashion week