Hello angels, and a happy new year! This week we’re talking to actual ray of sunshine Charlee Fraser—one of the most successful models to come out of Australia in the last decade. Charlee was scouted within a year of finishing high school, and quickly became a darling of the world of high fashion, walking for (among others) Chanel, Prada, Versace, Valentino and Dior. Plus, she was something of a muse for Phoebe Philo, wearing era-defining looks in Philo's final collections for Celine, and has appeared on the cover of Harper’s BAZAAR and multiple international editions of Vogue. Charlee is also a proud Awabakal woman, and is using her considerable influence to encourage Indigenous representation in all facets of the Australian fashion industry. She has recently become the ambassador for First Nation Fashion + Design, an initiative that offers skill development and access to industry contacts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers, textile artists, jewellery designs, photographers, hair and makeup artists, stylists and models. When we spoke to Charlee, she had just returned from two weeks On Country, an experience she says changed her life.

We talk to Charlee about the strange contradiction that so many models suffer from self-esteem (and how to battle your inner saboteur during castings); how the power dynamics have shifted behind the scenes since #MeToo; being a central part of some of the most iconic collections in recent fashion history; and how to achieve real inclusivity in Australian fashion. We hope you loved listening, and if so, please rate, review and subscribe. 

This episode is bought to you by our friends at Ultra Violette, who has partnered with After Work Drinks for the whole summer. Enter the code AWD10 at the checkout to receive 10% off your next order (excludes limited edition sets, can be used once, and not in conjunction with other offers).

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