Ashley Callingbull-Rabbit (born October 21, 1989) is a Canadian beauty pageant titleholder. She was the first Canadian and First Nations woman to win Mrs. Universe, winning the title on August 29, 2015. She also was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2024 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2024.[2][3]
Ashley Callingbull-Rabbit | |
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| Born | October 21, 1989 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1] |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title |
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| Hair color | Brown[citation needed] |
| Eye color | Brown[citation needed] |
| Major competition(s) |
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| Website | ashleycallingbullrabbit |
She and her stepfather participated in The Amazing Race Canada 4. They also ran in the second Amazing Race Devon, a local youth fundraiser, in which they finished second.[4]
Life and career
editAshley Callingbull-Rabbit was born in Enoch Cree Nation near Edmonton in Alberta,[1] to Cree parents. By the age of 10, she had consecutively won all Enoch's princess crowns in her community. She graduated from high school at the age of 16. Soon after, she began her University studies to pursue her Bachelor of Science, Communications, and an Arts degree focusing on drama and acting/television.[1]
Callingbull was also chosen as Miss Canada for the Miss Friendship International Pageant held in Hubei, China in September 2010, and represented Canada at the Queen of the World Final held in Germany also in 2010.
She also represented Canada at Miss Humanity International in Barbados in October 2011.[3]
She used her fame to urge the First Nations band governments to vote to depose the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2015 federal election.[5] Callingbull stated that the First Nation's concerns needed to be prominent in the campaign.[6] While competing in Mrs. Universe, she wore a dress that aimed to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, designed by Lesley Hampton.[7]
In May 2022, she become the first Indigenous First Nations woman to be featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.[8][9]
She is also an actress and plays Sheila Delaronde in the series Blackstone.[10]
Personal life
editCallingbull has said that she "never had the perfect childhood everyone dreams of. I had an incredibly difficult childhood and was raised mainly by my mother and grandparents...It was difficult to grow up the way I did, but it made me appreciate everything I have and most importantly made me the strong woman I am today."[1]
Callingbull says she was drawn to the Mrs. Universe competition because of its domestic violence theme. "I thought, this is a perfect platform for me because I'm relatable to people, I've experienced this myself and I'm able to speak about it," she said. "I'm glad I'm able to use this title as a way to speak for others that can't speak for themselves."[11][12]
She also credits turning to her First Nation culture for helping her heal and find herself.[12]
Callingbull has received the Role Model Award from the United Nations in 2015, the Youth Award at the Indspire Awards in 2019 and was inducted into the Circle Of Honour at the Esquao Awards in 2016. Callingbull was also named one of the Top 10 Power women in Canada.[citation needed]
In June 2021, Callingbull got engaged to hockey player Wacey Rabbit.[13] The couple married in September that same year.[14][15]
In 2022, Callingbull was the first Indigenous First Nations woman to become a Sports Illustrated Model.[citation needed]
Callingbull is currently an in game host for the National Hockey League, National Lacrosse League and the Canadian Football League.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Ashley Callingbull". Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Ashley Callingbull Is The First Nation Mrs. Universe". The Huffington Post. August 31, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ashley Callingbull, is a Canadian of Cree descent from Alberta, crowned Mrs. Universe 2015". metronews.ca. August 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Instagram". Instagram.
- ^ "New Mrs. Universe says Tory government treats First Nations people 'like terrorists'". September 3, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Ashley Callingbull says First Nations rights 'slowly being taken from us'". October 2, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Simonpillai, Radheyan (October 7, 2021). "Lesley Hampton makes Indigenous fashion that anyone can wear". NOW Magazine. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Swimsuit, S. I. (May 16, 2022). "Ashley Callingbull 2022 SI Swimsuit Photos". Swimsuit | SI.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ ""Mom, I made history!": Cree model stuns in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut (PHOTOS) | Curated". dailyhive.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Rising Enoch actress/model overcomes stereotype..." Spruce Grove Examiner. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Meet Mrs. Universe, Ashley Burnham of Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta". Canada AM. August 31, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Chatelaine. "Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull winner is all kinds of amazing". Chatelaine. Retrieved December 20, 2015.. Callingbull was criticized following Mrs. Universe Canada for hosting Mike Tyson at her private residence in the Bahamas with then husband Ryan Burnham
- ^ Callingbull, Ashley (June 9, 2021). "Soon to be Mrs". Instagram.
- ^ Callingbull, Ashley (September 13, 2021). "I married my best friend yesterday". Instagram.
- ^ "First ever Indigenous SI Swimsuit model married her 'best friend' in 2021". The Focus. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
