Yukon student to walk fashion runway in Australia

A Yukoner studying business administration in Whitehorse will take a vacation from her studies in March to participate in an international fashion show in Australia.

Aven-Lee Enzenauer just found out she's one of ten participants chosen from an open application to participate as a model in an event called the Indigenous Runway Project, billed as a way to help emerging Aboriginal models and designers break into the fashion industry.

"It sounds like a pretty huge opportunity just to get myself out there on an international level," says the 26-year-old.

Enzenauer is from the Duncan First Nation in Northern Alberta and has lived in the Yukon since age 10. She made her runway debut at Whitehorse's Adaka Cultural Festival last summer.

Enzenauer says the fashion event in Australia gives indigenous fashion designers and models the opportunity to showcase their work and raise awareness among other designers about culturally appropriate design.

She says she's not expecting to fall into a modeling or fashion career following the event, but she'll keep her options open.

"I don't expect anything from it but I definitely don't want to pass up the opportunity either."

Enzenauer will take part in several days of model training and rehearsals prior to the final event on Mar. 7. First though, she has to pay her own way to Australia, for which she is now fundraising.