Ashley Callingbull makes history by becoming first Indigenous woman to win Miss Universe Canada

Earlier this week the 34-year-old model, actress and television host from Alberta was crowned in Windsor, Ontario.

Currently an in-game host for the National Hockey League, Canadian Football League, and the National Lacrosse League, Callingbull has acted in APTN series “Blackstone” and “Tribal.”

According to her biography, she's set to publish her first book in 2025.

Callingbull, who hails from the Enoch Cree Nation located west of Edmonton, highlighted the issues faced by Indigenous women during Miss Universe Canada's Q&A segment.

"Imagine your daughter, your sister, or your mother went missing...the government needs to prioritize legitimate resources and equal resources for women like myself because I envision a Canada where all women are treated equally, where you're valued and respected because I myself am a survivor of domestic abuse."

“This monumental achievement celebrates Canada’s rich cultural diversity and the resilience of Indigenous communities. Ashley’s victory inspires young Indigenous girls everywhere, proving that their heritage is a source of strength and pride on the global stage,” Miss Universe Canada wrote on its Facebook page.

Having received awards and recognition for her community work and activism, Callingbull previously broke barriers when she became the first Canadian and Indigenous person to win Mrs. Universe in 2015 and the first Indigenous woman to appear as a “Sports Illustrated” model in 2022.

She will compete for the title of Miss Universe in Mexico in November.

"This is the most surreal feeling. I’ve been chasing this dream for years and I’m still in awe that it really came true," Callingbull wrote in a social media post.

"Representation truly matters because when one of us wins, we all win."

Callingbull will represent Canada in this year's Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Mexico.

Callingbull's diverse achievements along with other trailblazing women across Canada would be celebrated on Sept 13  by the Women Empowerment Awards,  presented by Rogers Communications and in association with Mantella Corporation at the Park Hyatt Toronto, Ontario.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)