Just One Thing: Kiesha Bovill

“If you have a voice, use it!”

No one has just one job these days, and creatives certainly don’t. We’re a generation of multi-hyphenates and freelancers, just trying to make our way in the gig economy. Photographer Kaitlyn Bosnjak captures emerging models who are doing just that, breaking into the fashion industry and learning more about the world. While she had them, we thought we’d ask a couple of questions about the people behind the faces. And finally, what they would tell our audience if given the chance to say just one thing.

Hey Kiesha! First off, how old are you?

20 years young.

Where do you live?

Central Coast born and raised, and currently still living there in West Gosford.

Other than modelling, what do you do with your time?

I have a full-time job in marketing and communications. With the free time that I do have outside of modelling and my job you’ll either find me out in nature, educating myself on something new and listening to music or writing lyrics.

Can you tell us a little bit about your heritage?

I’m an Aboriginal woman living on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Originally, my family come from a small town called Walgett, making me a proud Kamilaroi woman.

What do you do to switch off?

I literally switch off. I’m constantly moving about, so when I get the chance, switching off my phone, putting on a soft track and burning some sage helps me to unwind. If not that, I go outside and sit with the trees.

There’s a lot to care about in the world. What are you most passionate about?

My people’s identity. Being a young Aboriginal girl growing up in a colonised society, I never felt like I truly knew who I was, almost like a big chunk of me was missing. As a child in school I was never taught about the true culture of Aboriginal people, only in a way that glorified Captain Cook and his First Fleet. With age, I’ve come to terms with what Australia wants me to believe versus the real history. I’m passionate about uplifting my people. I’m passionate about reconciling Indigenous Australia with non-Indigenous Australia. I’m passionate about educating others and having a voice for my community. But most of all I’m passionate about telling the truth.

What are you doing to fix it?

At my current job at Youth Connections, I’ve been blessed with some amazing opportunities. Recently, I was fortunate enough to fly over to Alice Springs with the CEO of the organisation (and my Aboriginal mentor) to visit other not-for-profits and help to implement a new Indigenous Youth Centre on the Central Coast. After a very successful trip and lots of planning, the youth centre is underway. I sit on the Youth Indigenous Advisory Committee, which will develop and launch the centre.

Here, I’m able to share ideas on a wide range of issues concerning Indigenous youth in my community. The youth centre’s program will be based on Indigenous values and spirituality. It will be the first youth centre on the Coast and aims to serve around 50 young, vulnerable people per night. It will provide young people with a hot meal, shower, washing service and activities to build confidence, connect to culture and back to community.

What’s your life motto?

A quote that has stuck with me a lot these past couple months is, “Help them help you”. If I want non-Indigenous Australia to understand my people and what we are fighting for, then I have to help them understand. For a long time now, I’ve also been using my modelling and social media platforms as a way to get my voice heard and it works. If you have a voice use it!

What do you think Australia needs right now?

A new government.

You can say just one thing to our FJ community. Go.

There’s no such thing as realistic, shoot for the stars.

Read other interviews in the Just One Thing series here. 

Styling credits