Born and raised in an Indigenous community in the remote Brazilian Amazon, Zaya Guarani (b. 2001) belongs to a line of strong women who have led their communities as both shamans and spiritual guides. Continuing her ancestral tradition of political and spiritual engagement, Zaya has chosen to dedicate her platform as an internationally renowned model to the ongoing global struggle for Indigenous rights and climate justice. A member of the powerful Kamurape and Guarani Mbya ethnicities, Zaya initially infused her traditional Indigenous upbringing with a Western-style education after earning a scholarship to attend the German College of Rio de Janeiro at the age of 16. Shortly thereafter, Zaya was spotted by Dayana Molina, a prominent Brazilian Indigenous rights advocate, stylist, and columnist, with whom Zaya would found the first Indigenous Creative Collective (featured in Vogue Brazil and Elle Brazil) dedicated to Indigenous representation in the fashion world. Zaya has recently been embraced as an ambassador for the Legacy Forum, a non-profit that advocates for Indigenous and environmental causes worldwide. As part of their extensive program of cultural engagement, Zaya delivered the closing remarks at the 2022 Venice Film Festival’s Masterclass of The Territory, an award-winning documentary filmed near Zaya’s community in Rondônia, Brazil. Over the next year, she plans to attend the ChangeNOW Summit (May 2023), and the Cannes Film Festival (May 2023) in a similar capacity. Fortified by distinguished mentors in global fashion and entertainment — including Lily Cole, Darren Aronofsky, and Alessandra Ambrosio — Zaya has a unique opportunity to elevate her community’s message and influence the cultural sector.