Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Woman Starts Native American Fashion Mag

Oct 18, 2012

Here’s another reason to love good fashion. A 21-year-old woman who grew up on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation has created a new fashion magazine. It’s geared toward Native men and women, and non-Native Americans who want to learn about the culture. Kelly Holmes says she founded "Native Max" magazine after getting tired of thumbing through issues of "Seventeen" or "Vogue" and not seeing models that looked like her. The premiere issue cover of "Native Max" features Mariah Watchman, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, who rose to fame following her appearance on "America’s Next Top Model" as the first Native woman to compete. "Native Max" features interviews with Native artists, musicians, designers and models, as well as sections on health, beauty and sports. The magazine is also expected to tackle heavy issues like domestic violence. "A lot happens in Indian Country, and we got them covered. News stories and headliners involving Natives. We’ll also pick out personal stories that can make an impact on lives and tell it. We also plan to pick out one troubled issue in Indian Country every quarter publication and raise awareness," [states the magazine’s ‘about’ page.](http://www.native-max.com/#/about-us/4560447530) "There’s really no magazine, a Native-owned and operated, Native-designed magazine. There’s nothing like this magazine out there. The ones that do have stuff focused on younger people, they’re really vulgar and very revealing," Holmes, who now lives in Denver, [told the Associated Press. ](http://www.telegram.com/article/20121017/NEWS/121019510/1312#.UH_lWFFR6U6) The magazine’s nine staff members come from all over North America, including the Navajo Nation in Arizona and the Otomi and Yaqui nations in Mexico, the AP reports. Holmes has invested $1,000 of her own money in the project and is hoping the magazine pays for itself with advertising. Holmes says the magazine is geared towards both Native men and women and non-Native Americans who want to learn about the culture.