The Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) has officially unveiled its 2026 nominees, and among the most powerful names on the list is Indigenous supermodel Heather Diamond Strongarm, nominated for Model of the Year.
A member of Fishing Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, Heather is Saulteaux-Cree and one of the few people in the world who speaks the traditional Nakawe language. Beyond fashion, she is a jingle dancer who performs traditional healing dances—grounding her international modeling career in culture, language, and ceremony.
Heather made her runway debut with Proenza Schouler in 2023 and quickly ascended to global prominence. In her first season, she became the first model of Indigenous background to open the Dior show in Paris—an industry milestone that signaled a broader shift toward representation at the highest levels of fashion. Since then, she has walked for Bottega Veneta, Chloé, Max Mara, Versace, and other major houses, while collaborating with renowned creatives including Steven Meisel, Pat McGrath, Tonne Goodman, and Guido Palau.
Outside of fashion, Heather is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ communities and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. She has consistently used her platform to amplify Indigenous visibility while remaining deeply connected to her home community. Her long-term goal is to attend university and become a social worker, further extending her commitment to service and advocacy.
Her nomination for CAFA’s 2026 Model of the Year Award not only recognizes her professional excellence, but also the cultural leadership she embodies on and off the runway.
As CAFA celebrates the nominees for the 2026 awards season, Heather Diamond Strongarm stands as a reminder that Indigenous excellence continues to reshape global fashion—rooted in identity, powered by purpose.
