FORT PECK INDIAN RESERVATION – Mariah Watchman knows what she wants and what it takes to get it.
“I’m just going to work hard and keep this tunnel vision of being the first Native (American) super model,” Watchman said.
Her recent adventure on the America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion was another accomplishment in her career where she met fashion icon Tyra Banks and People’s Revolution founder Kelly Cutrone.
“Everything was just amazing; I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Ever since the time I very first auditioned, I knew that it was my goal … my passion. It was really important to me to be the first Native American to make it on the show; first tribal enrolled member, and that was always my mission,” Watchman, 20, said. “I ended up getting eliminated on the second episode and it was really hard at the time. I was kind of in a sense, not embarrassed, but because I’m such a competitive person in everything that I do, to be eliminated second, that was something I didn’t expect. But I still did it to the best of my abilities; at least getting to make the top seven in the whole United States, and then on top of that being the first Native to ever make it.”
Watchman is enrolled with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla near Pendleton, Ore. She was born in Missoula, Mont. and that’s also where she auditioned for America’s Next Top Model during the nationwide casting call on June 29, 2011.
“I had the same chances thousands of other girls did ... I had to make it through a couple of rounds, video submissions … It was a long process, but I finally made it to the final casting call in L.A. I actually had to keep it under wraps for a long time,” She said. “The whole experience all together was just amazing. I would never change it. I was happy that even though I had gotten eliminated second that I felt like I did a really good job of representing Native Americans … Being the first Native I felt like I had this big weight on my shoulders …”
Watchman’s final photo shoot challenge was to pose as a toddler with another model. Kris Jenner and her youngest daughters Kendall and Kylie of “Keeping up with the Kardashians” were the celebrity guests and models for the shoot.
“I am proud that she maintained her cultural values while on a reality TV show… and most importantly, for returning to her reservation community on the Umatilla Indian Reservation to address all of her supporters – even on elimination night!” Lindsey Watchman, Mariah’s father said. “That is courage, but also pride, humility, respect and gratefulness towards all those whom help raise this young Indian woman.”
Watchman began modeling when she was 15, and the summer she turned 16 she fulfilled her first international modeling contract in Bangkok, Thailand. Later when she was 17 going on 18, she had a three-month contract to model in Hong Kong. Two days before leaving to Hong Kong she graduated as the 2009 salutatorian from Nixyaawii Community School on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). After Hong Kong, she lived in Miami for six months then took a year off from modeling to attend Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. She wanted to make sure she was taking the right path, and she always wanted to play basketball at a collegiate level.
“When I was younger I wanted to go to college and be an athlete, and that is what I always thought I was going to do,” Watchman said.
Her father was her first basketball coach, but soon realized during her sophomore year, it was time to “back off and let others help mold her, and for me to just become a ‘fan’ like the rest of the community,” he said. “Mariah is truly an example of the adage ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’”
After a year at Haskell she realized modeling is her true passion, and she wants to have a “huge voice to help create change.”
Watchman signed with Image Modeling Development (IMD) in Medford, Ore. when she was 15. IMD continues to be her “mother agency” although she has contracts with Wilhelmina Models, which is based in New York. She also attended the International Modeling and Talent Association, and works all aspects of modeling including runway, commercial, print, editorial, and fashion. She has been in magazines including Seventeen Magazine, Nordstrom, Delia’s teen fashion catalog, and in the music video “On Fire” for Lil Wayne and Birdman.
“I was essentially strong-armed to take Mariah to meet Teresa Pollman, whom would end up being her “mother” agent … and a great role model as well for her. I have always exposed Mariah to various activities, but let her gauge her own interest … then go from there,” Lindsey Watchman said. “Modeling was her dream, and I made sure she rode that interest as long as I could afford … which is when the industry took over the expenses. To Teresa, we are both very grateful for not only seeing potential, but for becoming a ‘surrogate mother’ in this new territory she was about to explore – mostly on her own.”
In addition to modeling and eventually acting, Watchman said there are a lot of different issues she wants to tackle including finding ways to provide economic growth to struggling reservations and becoming a business woman. She hopes to develop her own t-shirt clothing line called N8TV; with 10 percent of the proceeds going to different charities and organizations. She said her father worked for the National Congress of American Indians so tribal politics also interests her. Overall, she sees no limits.
“The possibilities are endless because if you create enough opportunity, then your possibilities should be endless,” she said. “I hope to make a lot of waves; be a mover and a shaker in Indian Country and I love meeting all these people along the way. I’ll continue to use my heart and continue to follow my dreams.”
Her mother is Cynthia Turcotte, and Watchman is the oldest of 11 kids. She has eight sisters and three brothers.
“I’m always trying to do my best for them and show them the way. That’s what made me push all the time … I want to be able to help them …,” Watchman said. “All my siblings are pretty excited; then I have all my little sisters who almost all of them want to be models too. We’re a bit like the Brady Bunch …”
Watchman said her sisters’ elementary school friends requested autographed pictures; then she laughed and said her little sister asked for an autograph too. “I’m like you don’t need one, I’m your sister. I’m like, that would just be weird,” Watchman giggles.
Lindsey Watchman said his daughter has always been comfortable in front of a diverse group of people. They spent three years in Germany while he was in the Air Force, he said, and he realized that much of her knowledge would come from her exposure to different types of teachers.
“Thus she learned basketball from someone else, learned our female roles in the Longhouse and how to pick berries and dig roots (by several Elders), (and) learned a different language (Walla Walla) from the one I was learning and teaching (Nez Perce). In short, she had an array of interests that I merely supported her in,” he said. “I can honestly say, I AM her No.1 fan and very happy to be riding along her journey with her. She has so much more to do and become … I must merely watch … like everyone else.”
Watchman is now evolving into a teacher as well. Since her ride on America’s Next Top Model ended, she’s kept busy visiting people throughout Indian Country. She has been to the Crow reservation for a life story lecture and autograph signing event, in Montana for the “Runway to Congress” fashion show fundraiser, in North Dakota making her debut as a celebrity ring girl for an MMA fight in front of George Foreman, and on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to speak to kids at a youth ministry. She will be at the Gathering of Nations powwow on April 26-28 in Albuquerque, N.M., and she hopes to make it to Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Okla.
She said she tells kids to find out what they really want to do in life and make it their goal. Once they have their goal they should hold on to it and do everything in their power to attain it.
“I basically let kids know not to be a victim of circumstance … whether it be coming from a dysfunctional family, or coming from not having the finances, or coming from being a minority, (or) coming from being on a reservation. I let them know that all of those should not be factors,” she said. “Whatever they decide to be, they can do it, with the right work and determination and the right resources.”
She also reminds aspiring models that she started when she was 15, and location is paramount. Models have to be available, and prime locations for the high fashion industry are New York, Los Angeles and Miami, she said. Watchman is now based out of Miami again.
“When you start really young it gives you a chance to gain a lot more experience because modeling is something that you can’t do forever,” Watchman said. “Start building your book or portfolio is one of the most important things you can do in your beginning stages.”
She said young models should be aware of radio ads from modeling agencies that claim to have connections to the best agencies then they require money up front. She said if the agency believes in a model enough they will up-front the money and then it will go towards a contract.
“There are always opportunities for girls who are serious; it just takes hard work and dedication all the time, and dedication to your craft,” Watchman said. “The path that I’m on and that I’m making for myself is not one that is usual. It’s a path that takes a lot of hard work and I spend a lot of time away from my family and made a lot of sacrifices … “
Watchman said she has received some negativity from people because she’s a “light skinned Native.”
“I’m an enrolled member, I still speak my language … I’m Native in my heart and I’m always going to be,” Watchman said. “Honestly, I want to be the best model that I can be, I want to be the first Native American super model … my culture is everything that I stand for … I’m trying to push myself to new limits of where I can go in the high fashion industry for Indian Country … and kind of lead the way … I test out my measures of where I can go and just always show that if you work hard enough … you will get there.”
Watchman’s website will soon be up at MariahWatchman.com and will include her photos, autobiography and her t-shirt line.
