By this shirt here: Welder using a high school diploma to fix what a college degree messed up shirt, hoodie and sweater
For Vogue Italia’s September issue, the publication released 100 different covers, with each featuring a different personality with a compelling story or background. The unifying theme was that each person—from models to artists—represents the Welder using a high school diploma to fix what a college degree messed up shirt, hoodie and sweater of hope, and brings it to the fashion industry in some form or another. The project featured names such as Indya Moore, one of Hollywood’s most prominent LGBTQ+ activists, and Ugbad Abdi, the Somali-born model who continues to challenge stereotypes about Muslim women. One lesser-known (as of now) cover star was Denali White Elk, an 18-year-old Indigenous model whose first job as a model was the Vogue cover.
Growing up in Nebraska, it took awhile for White Elk to feel a connection with their Indigenous heritage. The model says they only recently formed relationships with Indigenous elders in their community, the Welder using a high school diploma to fix what a college degree messed up shirt, hoodie and sweater they were not introduced to certain traditional elements of their culture until their later teens. But they had always wanted to learn more. “Growing up as a Native without the guidance of an elder to pass down traditions made it difficult to be raised around traditional elements,” says White Elk. “You learn practically everything from your elders. But I overcame that hardship with the help of friends, who were there in the same tribe as mine.”
