FEATURED PRESS CLIPPINGS

Indigenous woman says taking part in new Nike campaign extremely special

CBC News 01/07/2020

Ashley Callingbull of Enoch Cree Nation says being a representative for the footwear company sends a strong message because Indigenous faces feature so prominently.

Cree model Ashley Callingbull picked for her power as face of new jewelry collection

THE STAR 24/09/2019

The 28-year-old from the Enoch Cree Nation is back in the limelight this fall as the face of a new campaign for Hillberg & Berk, a Canadian company that recently got a major boost when none other than the Queen wore its diamond and sapphire snowflake brooch to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

RW&CO. Scores Seven Iconic Ambassadors, Representing Six Remarkable Cities For Fall 2019

CISION 26/08/2019

This is also the first time RW&CO. is working with female ambassadors. Three Canadian muses: Tessa Virtue (the most decorated female ice skater in Olympic history), Ashley Callingbull (Mrs. Universe 2015, First Nation’s activist, actress and model) and Karine Vanasse (award-winning actress).

Parliament has risen for what could be the last time before the October election

CBC NEWS 23/06/2019

The 2019 election campaign is already underway — the CBC News Canada Votes newsletter is your weekly tip-sheet as we count down to Oct. 21.

Go, Team Ahkameyimok!

INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY 17/06/2019

Former Miss Universe Ashley Callingbull, who is from Enoch Cree Nation, tweeted, “Ahhh I love them!” after she saw a short interview with them.

NHL talent signs on for Northwestel hockey camp

WHITEHORSE DAILY STAR 29/05/2019

“Ashley (Callingbull) is a great First Nations role model,” said Vallevand. “Wacey Rabbit plays in the ECHL and is also an amazing role model for the kids. They really take to him.

Gene Frenette: As goal-scorer or on rodeo circuit, Icemen’s Rabbit feels at home

JACKSONVILLE 17/04/2019

Eight years later, Rabbit feels comfortable with his hockey lot. Being back in North America, it also gives him more time to spend with his famous girlfriend, Ashley Callingbull, who has attended many Icemen games.

Ashley Callinghbull Giving Voice to Change

Dress To Kill 02/12/2016

Ashley Callingbull is no textbook beauty queen. She may wear her crown better than most, but her greatest accomplishments extend far beyond the pageant stage. In her short time as Mrs.

The beauty queen who launched a scathing diatribe against the Canadian government

NY Times 16/09/2015

Recently crowned Mrs. Universe Ashley Burnham survived a childhood of poverty and abuse, and is determined to use her newfound fame as a platform for change.

‘I’m not going to shut up’: First Nations woman crowned Mrs. Universe urges Canadians to vote for new PM

National Post 02/09/2015

When Ashley Callingbull Burnham entered Miss Universe Canada — her first pageant — she was met with jeers like “What will her talent be? Drinking Lysol?” The sexual abuse survivor won second runner-up and silenced her critics.

'A perfect platform': Canadian Mrs. Universe on embracing First Nations culture to survive abuse

CTV Canada AM 31/08/2015

The Alberta First Nations woman who won this year’s Mrs. Universe pageant wants to use her title as a platform to speak about the kinds of physical and sexual abuse she experienced as a child.

Alberta-born Cree model becomes face of Nike campaign: ‘Breaking some glass ceilings’

GLOBAL NEWS 22/06/2020

An Alberta-born Cree model is now the face of a major Nike campaign that celebrates Indigenous culture.

‘Amazing Race Canada’ winners eyeing their own home renovation show

THE LOOP 11/09/2019

This may have been one of the most controversial seasons of The Amazing Race Canada—Time penalties! Cab stealing! Smack-talking all around!—but in the end it was James Makokis and Anthony Johnson’s positive spirit and sheer determination that helped catapult them to a first-place finish on the mat Tuesday night.

Learning to Lead hockey camp returns to Whitehorse

YUKON NEWS 01/08/2019

In Whitehorse for the camp are current and former professional players Arron Asham, Brandon Montour and Wacey Rabbit, as well as Ashley Callingbull, a model, actress and First Nations activist.

Elections Canada paid ‘influencers’ $325K — but won’t ask for the money back

GLOBAL NEWS 21/06/2019

The 13 influencers set to feature in the video included Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse, Olympic swimmer Penny Oleksiak, First Nations activist and model Ashley Callingbull and YouTubers Lilly Singh and Mitch Hughes, among others.

NHL star Eric Brewer remembers childhood in Ashcroft, gives advice to students

ASHCROFTCACHECREEK JOURNAL 04/06/2019

“I was finding kids really latch on to stories like this, especially in a small town,” she said. “So something I wanted to create was to call on people who have made it to the big show who are from small towns.”

Cheekbone Beauty is about more than a pretty face

CULT MTL 29/05/2019

Cheekbone Beauty aims high, bestowing honour — more than mere product names — on women like Cindy Blackstock, Ashley Callingbull, Buffy Sainte Marie and Olympic athlete Waneek Horn-Miller to create awareness and break down the walls between Indigenous communities and the rest of the world.

The creator of Toronto's Indigenous Fashion Week chooses 5 designers to watch

CBC NEWS 10/04/2019

Sage Paul, who is an urban Denesuliné tskwe, a member of English River First Nation and a designer by trade, founded Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) last year. She’s a huge advocate for her fellow Indigenous designers

All hail Ashley Callingbull: from ‘pageant girl’ to powerhouse

Chatelaine 7/12/2015

The newly-crowned Mrs. Universe, Ashley Callingbull-Burnham, talks candidly about politics, First Nations poverty and what it’s really like on the pageant circuit. She’s the first Canadian and the first indigenous woman to win the title of Mrs. Universe.

Meet Ashley Callingbull-Burnham, Badass Beauty Queen

Flare Magazine 16/09/2015

She’s the first Canadian and the first indigenous woman to win the title of Mrs. Universe. But that’s not the only thing that sets actor and model Ashley Callingbull-Burnham, 25, apart from your average beauty queen.

New Mrs. Universe says Tory government treats First Nations people 'like terrorists'

CBC News 03/09/2015

The first Canadian and First Nations woman to win Mrs. Universe is using her new fame to urge aboriginal people in Canada to vote to oust the Conservatives in the federal election. Callingbull-Burnham, who is from Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation, west of Edmonton, won the Mrs. Universe contest Aug. 29.

Ashley Burnham, A Proud Cree Woman, Named Mrs. Universe 2015

Huffpost Alberta 02/09/2015

In a historic event on Saturday evening, Ashley Burnham became both the first Canadian to win the Mrs. Universe title, as well as the first First Nations contestant — ever. Burnham, who is better known by her maiden name, Ashley Callingbull, is from the Enoch Cree First Nation.

Stylish creations help support women

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 05/10/2019

The founder of Regina-based Hillberg & Berk has found success in the global jewelry industry, thanks to constant encouragement from the women she surrounds herself with.

Tessa Virtue steps into the style spotlight for new 'uplifting' fashion campaign

VANCOUVER SUN 30/08/2019

“I was so lucky. I grew up with an incredibly strong grandmother, mother and sister,” Virtue says. “All three, independent, fierce, clever women who were hard workers, had goals and visions for themselves, and were really ambitious.”

Canada Day on Parliament Hill draws more than 11,000 — including Ryan Reynolds

GLOBAL NEWS 01/07/2019

Ashley Callingbull, a First Nations activist and model, and Quebec media personality Herby Moreau introduced the noon show guests.

Elections Canada cancels influencer campaign after discovering partisan comments

THE GLOBE AND MAIL 20/06/2019

For the first time, Elections Canada also released the names of the social-media influencers. They are First Nations activist and actor Ashley Callingbull

The inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls has spoken. Is Canada ready to listen?

THE STAR 31/05/2019

Indigenous women are statistically more likely to experience violence than most everyone else: our women are 12 times more likely to be subjected to violence than non-Indigenous women.

Women of the year: 30 Canadians who rocked 2015

Chatelaine 27/12/2015

For using her crown as a megaphone: Callingbull didn’t just shred the pageant queen stereotype upon winning Mrs. Universe in Belarus this fall — she became a real force for change on First Nations issues in Canada. The 26-year-old urged First Nations people to vote out Stephen Harper; this election, indigenous Canadians voted in record numbers. Best of all, she’s focused on empowering other indigenous kids with her story of resilience.

Mrs. Universe on Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous women

The Globe and Mail 1/10/2015

For the longest time, Ashley Callingbull questioned her worth. As an Enoch Cree Nation child growing up west of Edmonton, she was physically and sexually abused. She went hungry, gathering bottles with her mother to scrounge money for food. Classmates threw rocks at her, called her “dirty Indian” and stole her only shoes – a $2 pair from Value Village.

10 reasons to love the new Mrs. Universe, Ashley Burnham

UP Worthy 11/09/2015

Ashley Burnham, a native of the great country of Canada, recently won the Mrs. Universe Pageant. Mrs. Universe is a beauty pageant for married women. But now it’s more than that. It’s a beauty pageant for beautiful women who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and make me want to do a cartwheel of joy.

The Canadian Mrs. Universe winner is all kinds of amazing

Chatelain 01/09/2015

Less than 48 hours after being crowned, Ashley Callingbull called out Stephen Harper, spoke candidly about assault and challenged our assumptions about beauty queens. Alberta’s Ashley Callingbull plans to challenge all the stereotypes you have about beauty queens — and she’s not wasting any time.

OTHER PRESS & BLOGS

Mrs. Universe Winner Ashley Callingbull On Manitobah Mukluks And First Nations Culture

Real Style 11/2016

Last year, Alberta beauty queen Ashley Callingbull took home the Mrs. Universe crown, as the debut Canadian winner. Not only was the 27-year-old actress the first Canuck to be crowned in the pageant, she was also the first ever indigenous woman to win the title. Callingbull, who was born on the Enoch Cree Nation reservation, has become an impressive role model in the First Nations community.

Mukluk-making school aims to revive tradition and encourage culture

The Sun: Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Lifewise Canoe 18/11/2016

Ashley Callingbull, ambassador of the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School and Mrs. Universe 2015 just started the program herself and said it’s the school’s mission to keep indigenous culture alive that really drew her to it – and in case you were wondering, she’s a novice at beading.

Woman of Vision: Ashley Callingbull-Burnham first Canadian Indigenous woman to win Mrs. Universe title

Global News 11/01/2016

This month’s Woman of Vision is the first Canadian and first Indigenous woman to win the Mrs. Universe title. Ashley Callingbull-Burnham is from the Enoch Cree First Nation. The 26-year-old went from obscurity to being a powerful voice for First Nations’ issues. Lesley MacDonald has her story.

Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Fest plans tribute to Jamie Prefontaine, a.k.a. Brooklyn

CBC News 18/11/2015

Ashley Callingbull-Burnham of Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation was the first aboriginal woman and the first Canadian to win the Mrs. Universe pageant. She speaks at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival on Wednesday night.

Callingbull to C-51: the influence of the indigenous vote

CBC Radio 11/10/2015

Ashley Callingbull was recently crowned Mrs. Universe 2015, and wasted no time sharing her thoughts on the current Conservative government and its relationship with Indigenous Peoples: ‘We’re human beings and we’re not being treated as such. I think it’s time we had a new government.’

Beauty queen more than just a pretty face: Mrs. Universe address elicits tears

Winnipeg Free Press 3/10/2015

“People think I’m too political on my first day as Mrs. Universe,” tweeted Ashley Callingbull-Burham after her win at the end of August. “Did you think I was going to sit there and look pretty.” And with that, a role model was born. Because no, this 25-year-old dynamo from Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation didn’t sit there and look pretty.

Ashley Callingbull says First Nations rights 'slowly being taken from us'

CBC News 2/10/2015

Vote. That’s the message Mrs. Universe had for indigenous students at the University of Manitoba Friday. The beauty pageant winner whose name is Ashley Callingbull was the keynote speaker at a panel discussion about how indigenous vote can affect the federal election.

Mrs Universe uses celebrity to bring attention to plight of indigenous women

Tangata Whenua News 22/09/2015

Last month Ashley Burnham Callingbull became both the first Canadian to win the Mrs. Universe title, as well as the first First Nations contestant — ever. Since that moment, she hasn’t stopped giving voice to the plight of indigenous women in Canada.

Mrs. Universe Calls Attention to Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women at TRU

Kamloops BC Now 16/09/2015

Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull will speak with her mother, Lisa Ground, on Wednesday during a special event at Thompson Rivers University. Fashion Speaks will offer a full day of events including dance performances, aboriginal musicians, and a designer fashion show.

Meet the 21 women who are inspiring us right now: Life’s work

Toronto Star, The Kit 03/20/2017

How Ashley Callingbull combines the unlikely titles of pageant queen and activist. Ashley Callingbull, the Canadian Enoch Cree former Mrs. Universe, is no stranger to using her position to bring attention to causes close to her heart. When she was crowned Mrs. Universe in 2015, she immediately called out Stephen Harper for his inaction on cases of missing and murdered indigenous women.

Mrs. Universe Beauty Queen Ashley Callingbull Shares Her Secrets To Flawless Skin And Hair

Real Style 11/2016

Recently, Real Style caught up with Callingbull at the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School at Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. The pageant winner currently acts as an ambassador for Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School, which teaches the traditional art of mukluk making. Here’s what Callingbull had to share about her skincare, pageant makeup and hair care tips and techniques.

Ashley Callingbull Discusses Mrs. Universe Title

CP24 11/2016

Making Manitobah Mukluks on CP24

CBC Edmonton's most viewed stories in 2015: Enoch Cree woman crowned Mrs. Universe

CBC Edmonton 30/12/2015

Twenty-five-year-old Ashley Callingbull from Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation became the first First Nations woman (and first Canadian) to be crowned champion in the Mrs. Universe pageant. Since her win, Callingbull has used her fame to act as an advocate for First Nations people in Canada.

Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull Named Canadian Dignity Role Model

First Nations Drum 9/10/2015

In August, Ashley Callingbull-Burnham was crowned Mrs. Universe 2015, defeating contestants from around the world. Since then she’s been on national television and has graced magazines and news publications, all while voicing her opinions on murdered and missing Aboriginal women and the latest federal elections, urging people to vote. Now she’s been named the Canadian Dignity Role Model by the International youth empowerment organization Global Dignity Canada.

Ashley Burnham, Mrs. Universe, Tells First Nations Students It's Important To Vote In Election

Huffington Post 3/10/2015

The first aboriginal woman to be named Mrs. Universe is telling First Nations students at the University of Manitoba that it’s important for everyone to vote in the Oct. 19 federal election. “Our future lies in the hands of the next government and also our children’s future, our grandchildren; we don’t want them to suffer,” Ashley Burnham said Friday.

Not your typical beauty queen

The Daily Telegraph 26/09/2015

But the bikini-clad contestants of the pageantry world are slowly challenging the edict that showcasing a seamlessly applied fake tan and sequinned evening gown is the sum total of their contribution. The recently crowned Mrs Universe — a rival to the more conventional Miss Universe pageant — was quick to use her platform to make a political call to arms to her fellow Canadians.

A Cree Woman From Alberta Just Won Mrs. Universe 2015

Buzzfeed 29/08/2015

Ashley Burnham, a member of Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, was just crowned Mrs. Universe 2015 at an event held in Minsk, Belarus. She is the first First Nations woman and the first Canadian to win.

Former Mrs. Universe promoting traditional mukluk skills

Edmonton Journal 12/11/2016

A former Enoch Cree Nation woman and Mrs. Universe winner is putting her best foot forward for a group teaching people how to make mukluks and moccasins.

Ashley Callingbull-Burnham is volunteering as an ambassador for the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot School, which started offering weekly classes this fall at Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum.

Wednesday's editorial: Resolving to look on the bright side

Edmonton Journal 29/12/2015

Mrs. Canada Ashley Burnham (C) celebrates after being crowned Mrs. Universe during the Mrs. Universe 2015 pageant final in Minsk on August 29, 2015.

Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull Receives Canada's National Role Model Award

The Native News 21/10/2015

Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull will receive the Canada’s “Role Model Award” from the United Nations for Global Dignity Day in Ottawa, Ontario today. She also is celebrating her birthday.

Ashley Callingbull, left, poses for a selfie with David Suzuki while joining other actors, activists, and musicians in launching the Leap Manifesto

The Vancouver Sun 4/10/2015

Ashley Callingbull, left, poses for a selfie with David Suzuki while joining other actors, activists, and musicians in launching the Leap Manifesto.

'We can change the future': Canadian Mrs. Universe urges First Nations people to vote

CTV News 3/10/2015

A Canadian First Nations woman who won this year’s Mrs. Universe pageant is urging indigenous people to vote in the October federal election because their issues aren’t currently a “priority.” Ashley Callingbull-Burnham, 25, of the Enoch Cree Nation near Edmonton, was the keynote speaker at a panel discussion for indigenous students at the University of Manitoba on Friday.

Belinda Bullshoe presents dress to Mrs. Universe

Glacier Reporter 23/09/2015

Although being onstage with some of Canada’s top fashion designers was “intimidating” for local seamstress Belinda Bullshoe, she and her sister, Barbara Day Chief, and niece Tamara Gopher made it to Kamloops, BC, for the Sept. 16 “Fashion Speaks” event in honor of missing and murdered aboriginal women. Not only were Bullshoe’s designs presented first onstage, she was also offered first choice of models. Besides choosing her niece, Belinda also secured the services of Mrs. Universe Ashley Callingbull in modeling her creations.

5 Times Ashley Callingbull Has Enacted Intersectional Feminism as Mrs. Universe

Wear Your Voice 18/09/2015

Ashley Callingbull is a 25-year-old womyn from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada, who recently became the first native woman and the first Canadian to ever win the Mrs. Universe pageant. The Mrs. Universe pageant honors married women (and is in no way affiliated with the Donald Trump conglomerate), and while it still may feel quite archaic and anti-Feminist to most of our readers, what’s important to note is that Ashley has been utilizing this privileged position to leverage her voice for the needs of her Native Peoples, and against the mainstream in a very activistic and Feminist way.

Cree woman from Alberta crowned Mrs. Universe 2015

Toronto Star 30/08/2015

An aboriginal woman from Alberta has won an international pageant for married women. Ashley Burnham, 25, was crowned Mrs. Universe 2015 in Minsk, Belarus, on Saturday. “I’m so proud to say I am now the new Mrs. Universe 2015!” Burnham wrote on Instagram, following her historic win. “I am the first First Nations woman to win this title! I am also the first Canadian Delegate to win as well!”

Canadian Ashley Burnham Named Mrs. Universe 2015

HELLO 31/08/2015

Ashley Burnham has made history — two times over. This past weekend (Aug. 29), the stunning brunette became the first Canadian and First Nations contestant to ever claim the Mrs. Universe crown, similar to the popular Miss Universe pageant but catered to married contestants.