Indigenous model Quannah Chasinghorse has covered Vogue Mexico and walked runways for Gucci and Rihanna — but, she said, she didn’t feel like she ‘belonged’ at the Met Gala when she attended this year, describing it as ‘elitist’ and a ‘weird place to be in.’
The 19-year-old, whose heritage is Hän Gwich’in and Oglala Lakota, joined Megan Fox, Ciara, and Mary J. Blige as a guest of designer Peter Dundas at the September 14 fashion event, but told Insider this week that the whole affair didn’t quite align with her moral values.
‘I just don’t think I belong in spaces like that because I’m not an elitist,’ she said. ‘My way of walking in this world, in the industry, is so different compared to everyone else because I feel like I’m constantly having to break barriers.
‘No one knew me, no one cared to ask,’ she added. ‘People are there for themselves and it shows.’
Out of place? Indigenous model Quannah Chasinghorse says she didn’t feel like she ‘belonged’ at the Met Gala when she attended this year, describing it as ‘elitist’ and a ‘weird place to be in’
Her take: She also bristled at the theme, ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,’ and said she was celebrating ‘my indigenous bloodlines coursing through my veins’
Quannah certainly has broken a lot of barriers, and was the first Native American to cover an issue of Vogue when she fronted Vogue Mexico earlier this year.
She has also covered V Magazine, posed for Calvin Klein and Chanel campaigns, and walked the runway for Prabal Gurung, Gabriela Hearst, Jonathan Simkhai, Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty, and most recently, Gucci.
But attending the Met Gala was different for Quannah, who indicated she felt out of place.
‘It was just such a weird space to be in. I remember standing there and looking at everyone and feeling so alone. Like, really, really lonely,’ she said, noting that there weren’t many other indigenous people there.
Quannah appears to have taken some time to come to terms with those feelings, because the teen model had shared her excitement over attending that night.
‘Words can’t describe my gratitude to those who made it possible for me to attend my first Met Gala,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘No one knew me, no one cared to ask,’ she added. ‘People are there for themselves and it shows’
Meaningful: With her designer dress, she wore Navaho silver and turquoise jewelry she borrowed from her aunt in Arizona. She said her jewelry and traditional tattoos means her ‘ancestors were with me in that moment’ and made her feel ‘powerful’
‘MAHSI’CHOO (thank you very much) Anna Wintour @voguemagazine and @peter_dundas for inviting me and making me feeling like I belong. Truly an honor and I will forever be thankful for this opportunity.’
However, she did say at the time that she took issue with the gala’s theme, ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,’ writing: ‘I did not celebrate American independence (nor will I ever), I celebrated my indigenous bloodlines coursing through my veins as I hold so close and sacred to my heart because over and over again my people fought genocide and WE ARE STILL HERE!’
Speaking to Insider, she reiterated: ‘No way am I celebrating America. If I were to celebrate anything it would be my indigenous roots, my indigeneity, who I am. Because of what America did to my people, I am proud to be here today.’
‘My ancestors had to go through so much genocide after genocide after genocide,’ she added.
To that end, Quannah paired her dress — a Dundas x Revolve number custom-made for her — with Navaho silver and turquoise jewelry she borrowed from her aunt in Arizona, the former Miss Navajo Nation Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw.
‘All that turquoise and silver, and my tattoos, brought me back,’ she said. ‘All my ancestors were with me in that moment, they walked the red carpet with me, That made me feel more powerful.’
On Instagram, she said it was ‘extremely special that I was able to showcase beautiful TRUE (native) American “culture” and described the particular significance of her jewelry.
Breaking barriers: Quannah covered Vogue Mexico earlier this year, making her the first Native American to cover an issue of Vogue
Model moment: She has also walked the runway for Prabal Gurung, Gabriela Hearst, Jonathan Simkhai, and most recently, Gucci (pictured)
In demand: Quannah is pictured at Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show
Changes: She has appeared in campaigns for Chanel and Calvin Klein. She noted that she always wanted to be a model, but never saw Indigenous representation in fashion or beauty. Now, fortunately, she is seeing a shift -which she is part of
‘The turquoise represents protection, guidance and love,’ she said. ‘All of which I felt walking the red carpet with the spirit of my ancestors walking with me.
‘Truly is an empowering feeling knowing that my presence brings much needed visibility to indigenous beauty, fashion, art, and our communities, along with many of the things we face as a collective.’
Quannah, who is also well known for her activism for Indigenous issues and climate change, told Vogue earlier this year that her causes are still quite important to her.
‘I’m extremely passionate about the [activism] work that I do,’ she said. ‘I get Native youth reaching out to me and telling me that I inspire them to use their voice, and to look more into their identity as an Indigenous person too.’
In fact, her modeling career is helping her bring more attention to the issues.
‘People forget that we are people that have gone through so much. They forget the history, let alone even know the history— it’s been invisibilized for years. But we’re starting to see more Indigenous people being uplifted and included, and it’s amazing to be a part of it,’ she said.
She noted that she always wanted to be a model, but never saw Indigenous representation in fashion or beauty. Now, fortunately, she is seeing a shift — which she is part of.
‘I never grew up feeling confident because of the negative stereotypes of Native Americans,’ she said. ‘But that’s changing. Today, younger generations are going to be able to witness Indigenous excellence on the cover of magazines — and hopefully everywhere.’
Quannah is not the only Met Gala attendee to have spoken out about the negative experience they had at the exclusive event.
In 2016, comedian Amy Schumer opened up about her first appearance at the soiree during an interview with Howard Stern, in which she described the Met Gala as being more ‘like a punishment’ than an enjoyable evening.
‘It’s people doing an impression of having a conversation,’ Amy said of the fashion-focused fundraiser. ‘I don’t like the farce.
‘We’re dressed up like a bunch of f**king a**holes. I don’t like it. I have no interest in fashion… I don’t care.’
Despite her discomfort during the event however, Amy did end up returning the following year.
Chart-topper Demi Lovato also offered a very candid insight into their ‘terrible experience’ at the 2016 Met Gala, revealing to Billboard in 2018 that they had such an awful time at the event, it nearly caused them to relapse in their sobriety.
‘This one celebrity was a complete b**** and was miserable to be around,’ they said. ‘It was very cliquey. I remember being so uncomfortable that I wanted to drink.’
Meanwhile Gwyneth Paltrow branded the event ‘so un-fun’ after attending in 2013, telling Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O that ‘it sucked’ – before insisting to USA Today that she would never return, although the Oscar-winning actress ultimately ended up attending the gala both in 2017 and 2019.