Fresh from the runway of Australian Fashion Week, First Nations model and proud Wiradjuri, Gamilaroi and Noongar Woman, Tynga Williams, spoke with Style Up about her career.
The young creative and first Indigenous trans woman to be represented by Blaklist Agency is on a pathway to success.
"I began modelling when I was 22, I saw a post looking for Indigenous models for an all-Indigenous runway and thought maybe this could be my one chance to shine… maybe it could be my chance to break into the industry like I had always dreamed and thankfully I ended up being booked to walk," she said.
"Coincidentally it was actually the runway I met TJ Cowlishaw and Elaine George from Blaklist who both instantly took me under their wings like it was meant to be."
"I am proudly a Trans Woman and I'm also the first Trans Woman signed to Blaklist Agency which for me has come with bounds of support from both my community and my team," Williams told Style Up.
"I'm really humbled at the thought me living out my dreams can represent for my queer community and my Indigenous community, both of which have faced a severity of discrimination, and even now during the current affairs of queer rights being removed in certain countries, I feel like showing up in this way, in a mainstream spotlight, where I am able to spread some beauty or joy.
"Having this kind of representation in mainstream media I think could lead to the normalisation of diversity and potentially lead to rights being restored."
On the topic of Blaklist Agency and being signed, Williams said she had her eye on the agency for quite some time.
"I was really lucky to create a relationship with both TJ and Elaine from Blaklist after my first runway, I know they took a liking to me, I think maybe they saw potential or something in me I might not have seen just yet, they supported me as community members and they had both kept fairly close tabs on me and my progress in my career both as a model and a dancer/performer," she said.
"I would always see Blaklist at fashion shows after that and we would talk about the progress of Blaklist, I've always loved and encouraged the way they carve out spaces for indigenous opportunities in a field that doesn't often create pathways for indigenous talent."
"I was lucky enough to be asked earlier this year to join their Next Gen Program which mentors upcoming talent and I think that's a real value in this industry to have this kind of support and mentorship, I would say I've always felt supported by Blaklist, they have always mentored me throughout my modelling journey just now I luckily get to be officially signed."
Fresh off the Australian Fashion Week runway with Blaklist, Williams said despite it being intense and rather busy it is always a rewarding and fun experience.
"Australian Fashion Week this year was really intense but in a good way, I was really happy going into AFW this year with the official support of Blaklist behind me," she said.
"This was my fourth AFW and previously I've only been lucky enough to do one runway each year, a really big goal of mine this year was to book more then one show and I was ble to book both Jordan Gogos and Nicol and Ford both of whom I'm a really big fan and supporter of, they both really value the idea of diversity on the runway and find beauty in the differences each type of life can provide.
"The experience working with both of these design houses was so amazing, being valued and praised for all the things that as a child I thought were negatives was a really amazing experience. I grew up having negative thoughts about my dark skin or my queerness but to have that not only valued but celebrated this year made me feel like maybe I can have a successful modelling career."
When looking at the creative industry as a whole and the opportunities for First Nations creatives, the multi-talented creative says she would love to see more change surrounding the casting process of models.
"I'd love to see a change in casting opportunities, I think there's so much diverse talent and with diversity I believe comes with a certain amount of charm and personality and sometimes ive even found personally just being in the room has booked me jobs before," she said.
"If there was more of an opportunity in the casting process and First Nations or queer talent could just be in the room with the show makers, it could really change the way we see the runways final result."
Looking ahead, Williams is eager to pursue her modelling career further and take on new opportunities.
"I'm really happy to say the opportunities and exposure from AFW25 has created a little platform or portfolio for me to market myself a little more. It's great being seen in one instance because you never know who's at a show and a single opportunity creates more opportunities," she said.
"As of right now there are a few things I'm looking forward to, being signed to Blaklist being both a stage performer and model there's a lot of really cool developments, touring opportunities and events were locking in."
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