Darwin, Australia – Cindy Rostron, a model and youth leader, has been honored with the Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards in Darwin. The Bununggu and Warraingu woman, who has garnered nearly 6 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, is recognized for her impactful use of social media to share her culture and experiences.
Cindy Rostron, a rising star in the fashion world and a powerful advocate for her culture, received the Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award.
Key Takeaways:
- Cindy Rostron gained widespread recognition through TikTok and Instagram, reaching nearly 6 million followers.
- She was awarded the Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards in Darwin.
- Rostron uses her platform to celebrate and share First Nations culture and community.
- Her career path has bridged traditional life on country with the international fashion industry.
Rostron, who grew up in the remote Northern Territory community of Kolorbidahdah in West Arnhem Land, initially envisioned a career in land management, following in her father’s footsteps as a ranger. However, the allure of the arts and modeling remained a persistent ambition.
Inspired by models like Magnolia Maymuru, Rostron participated in her first runway show at the Barunga Festival in 2021. This experience, modeling a design from her family’s Bàbbarra Design, marked the unexpected beginning of her modeling career.
Her journey seamlessly merged her connection to country with the fashion industry. By 2022, Rostron secured her first feature in Vogue Australia, a moment that came as a surprise to the then-young woman who initially didn’t grasp the publication’s significance.
“It is great to see Cindy carve out her own brand and use social media to tell stories on her own terms, and in her unique voice,” noted judge Yatu Widders-Hunt. “Her commitment to sharing her experiences and mentoring other young people is particularly impressive. It is clear that culture and community are what drives Cindy.”
From ‘bush girl’ to Vogue model
Rostron’s artistic talent is deeply rooted in her family. Her mother, Jay Jurrupula Rostron, won the Textile Design award at the 2024 National Indigenous Fashion Awards.
“My whole family is artists and singers,” Rostron shared. Her mother, she explained, began creating art at a young age, inspired by her own father’s weaving and paintings.
For her high school graduation, Rostron wore a dress designed by her mother. Her father also performed the “MiMi (Bungal)” songline, a melody she described as “very special and sacred.”
Now 20, Rostron remains grounded, balancing her modeling aspirations with her commitment to her family and community. “I want to keep doing this modeling… and [also] my goal is to go back out country and help my families,” she stated. Currently, she assists her father at home, including road maintenance.
Her practical style reflects her lifestyle. “I like wearing baggy clothes, pants that have lots of pockets so every time when I go out hunting or fishing, I’ll just put everything in my pockets so I don’t lose anything,” she explained.
Rostron offers advice to other young First Nations women pursuing modeling: “Don’t be shy, don’t feel shame. Just be yourself.”
