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History-Making Swim Search Model Ashley Callingbull Shares the Inspirational Words She Lives by

The model was the first Indigenous First Nations woman to be featured in SI Swimsuit.

Ananya Panchal

Ashley Callingbull.

Ashley Callingbull.

Ashley Callingbull is sharing words of wisdom with her followers. The 2022 SI Swim Search model made history last year as the first Indigenous First Nations woman to be featured in the magazine. On March 29, she posted an Instagram reel with an inspirational message she has carried since she was a little girl.

“Love and live fearlessly,” the 33-year-old said. “When I say that I mean you should love and appreciate yourself for the way you were created because creator made you that way for a reason. You should never let fear stop you from chasing your dreams, no matter how big or small they are.”

The Canadian Football League broadcast host has been using her growing platform to advocate for diversity while encouraging women of color to go for what they want and never give up.

“Dream big and show the world that what [you’re] made of,” she continued. “Carry your culture proudly with you everywhere that you go.”

The 2015 Mrs. Universe said that as a young girl, she was inspired by Tyra Banks’s iconic SI Swimsuit covers. She said thinking about someday breaking barriers and being in the same magazine gave her goosebumps.

“I always think about the legacy I am going to leave behind and what doors I can open for others along the way. It was always a goal of mine to shatter glass ceilings and be the first Indigenous First Nations woman in Sports Illustrated,” the soon-to-be published author said at the time. “This dream is finally a reality and the most important part about it all is that I won’t be the last. I am opening the door for other Indigenous women to walk through and shine.”

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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