On Set: Lisa Fatnowna


With her infectious smile, Lisa Fatnowna brought an energy to the Utopia set that was unforgettable. As a Kuku Yalanji Woman from Moa and Ugar Islands in the Torres Strait Island region, Lisa is part of a new generation of models who are using their platform to represent their Community on the world stage. We sat down with Lisa on set to discuss her hopes for the future, her self-care rituals and the pride she takes in representing her Community.



Tell us a little about yourself…
 
My name is Lisa Fatnowna, I’m 21 years old and I’m a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. My grandfathers (maternal and paternal) are Kuku Yalanji from the Port Douglas and Mossman region, while my grandmothers are from Moa Island (paternal) and Ugar Island (maternal) in the Torres Straits. I grew up on Gimuy-Walubara Yidinji Country in Northern QLD but moved down to Gadigal Country in 2021 to pursue my modeling career. Before modeling, I was and will continue to work with Indigenous at-risk youth in Cairns
and surrounding regions.

Tell us a little about yourself…

My name is Lisa Fatnowna, I’m 21 years old and I’m a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. My grandfathers (maternal and paternal) are Kuku Yalanji from the Port Douglas and Mossman region, while my grandmothers are from Moa Island (paternal) and Ugar Island (maternal) in the Torres Straits. I grew up on Gimuy-Walubara Yidinji Country in Northern QLD but moved down to Gadigal Country in 2021 to pursue my modeling career. Before modeling, I was and will continue to work with Indigenous at-risk youth in Cairns and surrounding regions.



What inspired you to start a career in modeling?

Before I was signed by IMG, modelling was just a hobby and I enjoyed working with local Indigenous designers and photographers. Once I was discovered in an ‘instagram vortex’ early 2020, something that was just a hobby then turned into a potential career. My inspiration for modeling is always representation. Being seen as a role model by the Indigenous youth is something I aim for and during my career, I hope to be able to spread awareness and give back to the communities.

What inspired you to start a career in modeling?

Before I was signed by IMG, modelling was just a hobby and I enjoyed working with local Indigenous designers and photographers. Once I was discovered in an ‘instagram vortex’ early 2020, something that was just a hobby then turned into a potential career. My inspiration for modeling is always representation. Being seen as a role model by the Indigenous youth is something I aim for and during my career, I hope to be able to spread awareness and give back to the communities.




We know you have another life playing sport - can you tell us more about that?

I was born into an athletic family, my parents and my siblings played AFL at a young age while I was introduced into gymnastics. Hockey didn’t come long after and around the age of 7, I was playing for one of my local clubs. Throughout my childhood I was making the Cairns representative teams and Peninsula teams. With a bunch of goals, trophies and medals underneath my belt, I most definitely felt unstoppable. After winning the grand final at the Queensland Country Tournament, the selectors announced the U21’s Australian Country Women’s team. I was one of the players selected to tour Malaysia in 2020 and it became the biggest highlight of my hockey journey. I was so happy to represent not only my country, my state or even my town but to represent my culture. I was the only Indigenous player out of the mens and womens team on tour that year.


We know you have another life playing sport - can you tell us more about that?

I was born into an athletic family, my parents and my siblings played AFL at a young age while I was introduced into gymnastics. Hockey didn’t come long after and around the age of 7, I was playing for one of my local clubs. Throughout my childhood I was making the Cairns representative teams and Peninsula teams. With a bunch of goals, trophies and medals underneath my belt, I most definitely felt unstoppable. After winning the grand final at the Queensland Country Tournament, the selectors announced the U21’s Australian Country Women’s team. I was one of the players selected to tour Malaysia in 2020 and it became the biggest highlight of my hockey journey. I was so happy to represent not only my country, my state or even my town but to represent my culture. I was the only Indigenous player out of the mens and womens team on
tour that year.


We know you have another life playing sport - can you tell us more about that?

I was born into an athletic family, my parents and my siblings played AFL at a young age while I was introduced into gymnastics. Hockey didn’t come long after and around the age of 7, I was playing for one of my local clubs. Throughout my childhood I was making the Cairns representative teams and Peninsula teams. With a bunch of goals, trophies and medals underneath my belt, I most definitely felt unstoppable. After winning the grand final at the Queensland Country Tournament, the selectors announced the U21’s Australian Country Women’s team. I was one of the players selected to tour Malaysia in 2020 and it became the biggest highlight of my hockey journey. I was so happy to represent not only my country, my state or even my town but to represent my culture. I was the only Indigenous player out of the mens and womens team on tour that year.




Where is home for you?

Home is my family. They’re the most important thing in my life, they will forever support and love me no matter where I am and I’m blessed to have them.

 

How would you describe your Utopia?

My Utopia is the creeks surrounded by the rainforest. I love connecting with nature and I could spend hours in it. Whenever I feel the breeze, I think of my ancestors being present with me in the moment, I’m in awe when looking up at the trees that have been here for thousands of years and running my fingers against their damp trunks, filling my lungs with the fresh air, hearing the water run and the insects, walking on the rocks and feeling the soil in my toes is something so indescribable. My culture will forever
be one with the earth.


How did it feel shooting on the beautiful Mulgumpin landscape? Do you have a favorite moment from Spell's Utopia campaign?

Mulgumpin was breathtaking, the scenery and the team were an amazing mix. My favorite moment would be shooting in the water on the second day and seeing a dolphin swim close to us. As common as they are near Mulgumpin, I knew this particular dolphin was my Aka checking up on me and being present at my shoot.

 

Which look are you loving the most from the collection?

My favorite look is hands down the ‘Banksia tie top and tie bottoms’ set!!I just get island girl vibes
from it.

How did it feel shooting on the beautiful Mulgumpin landscape? Do you have a favorite moment from Spell's Utopia campaign?

Mulgumpin was breathtaking, the scenery and the team were an amazing mix. My favorite moment would be shooting in the water on the second day and seeing a dolphin swim close to us. As common as they are near Mulgumpin, I knew this particular dolphin was my Aka checking up on me and being present at my shoot.

 

Which look are you loving the most from the collection?

My favorite look is hands down the ‘Banksia tie top and tie bottoms’ set!! I just get island girl vibes from it.


What are your daily or weekly self care rituals?

My daily/weekly self care ritual would simply be getting out of the house and reconnecting, this means catching up with my close friends, checking in with my family, going for a walk or a swim in the ocean or even burying myself into a book.

 

Who is your ultimate style icon and why?

Naomi Campbell. She is an icon, the ultimate muse and the queen
of the runway.

How did it feel shooting on the beautiful Mulgumpin landscape? Do you have a favorite moment from Spell's Utopia campaign?
 
Mulgumpin was breathtaking, the scenery and the team were an amazing mix. My favorite moment would be shooting in the water on the second day and seeing a dolphin swim close to us. As common as they are near Mulgumpin, I knew this particular dolphin was my Aka checking up on me and being present at my shoot.
 
Which look are you loving the most from the collection?
 
My favorite look is hands down the ‘Banksia tie top and tie bottoms’ set!! I just get island girl vibes from it.


What are your daily or weekly self care rituals?

My daily/weekly self care ritual would simply be getting out of the house and reconnecting, this means catching up with my close friends, checking in with my family, going for a walk or a swim in the ocean or even burying myself into a book.

 

Who is your ultimate style icon and why?

Naomi Campbell. She is an icon, the ultimate muse and the queen of the runway.




You expressed the pride you take in representing your community within the modeling industry, what important movements are you seeing in the industry? What improvements do you hope to see?
 
As ‘Invasion Day’, ‘Day of the Mourning’ or even ‘Survival Day’ was recent, I’ve seen influencers/brands and BIPOC that are well known in the industry use their platform to continue to educate and learn about the land they live on. I’m also witnessing Nooky bring together well-known important Indigenous artists, models and storytellers to spread awareness about our culture, battle the stereotypes and the system and celebrating Blak excellence through representation for young mob to ‘know they’ve got options’ and faces to relate to.
 
The improvements I hope to see are effort/initiative from brands, designers, MUAs, agencies etc. I’d love to see owners or creators run a ‘cultural awareness’ course/session on a regular basis with their workers and when shooting on country, to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land they shoot on and use their traditional names when addressing the location. I’d also love to see make-up artists have various shades of colors in their kits and for hair stylists to take their time to learn how to style and maintain all types of hair without damage.
 
 

What do you hope to accomplish through your modeling?

I hope to accomplish traveling the globe working,
representing and educating.

 

What’s on your 2022 bucket list?

I have numerous hobbies such as skateboarding, learning how to play an instrument or even crocheting but I’d love to hopefully tick off a cover of Vogue or Harper's Baazar before the
end of the year.

You expressed the pride you take in representing your community within the modeling industry, what important movements are you seeing in the industry?
What improvements do you hope to see?
 
As ‘Invasion Day’, ‘Day of the Mourning’ or even ‘Survival Day’ was recent, I’ve seen influencers/brands and BIPOC that are well known in the industry use their platform to continue to educate and learn about the land they live on. I’m also witnessing Nooky bring together well-known important Indigenous artists, models and storytellers to spread awareness about our culture, battle the stereotypes and the system and celebrating Blak excellence through representation for young mob to ‘know they’ve got options’ and faces to relate to.
 
The improvements I hope to see are effort/initiative from brands, designers, MUAs, agencies etc. I’d love to see owners or creators run a ‘cultural awareness’ course/session on a regular basis with their workers and when shooting on country, to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land they shoot on and use their traditional names when addressing the location. I’d also love to see make-up artists have various shades of colors in their kits and for hair stylists to take their time to learn how to style and maintain all types of hair without damage.
 
 

What do you hope to accomplish through your modeling?

I hope to accomplish traveling the globe working, representing and educating.

 

What’s on your 2022 bucket list?

I have numerous hobbies such as skateboarding, learning how to play an instrument or even crocheting but I’d love to hopefully tick off a cover of Vogue or Harper's Baazar before the end of the year.