A Yarn with Model Georgia King
Interviews
Georgia King: On Family and her Island Home
TEAGAN KUM SING
JULY 5, 2023
Bright and bubbly Georgia King has spent the last decade and more in front of the camera. Her signature creativity and joy has allowed her to live around Australia modelling, dancing, and performing in fashion, storytelling, and cultural shows. Yarn has been lucky enough to work with Georgia on several shoots around the Rubibi (Broome) area, and we were so excited to sit down with her for a chat about her career and what her culture means to her.
Georgia is a proud Meriam-Mir woman, her lineage coming from the Torres Strait Islands and her connections from Murray Island. She was born and raised in Perth and has modelled since she was young. “Well,” she says, laughing, “I’ve pretended to model ever since I was young. I was never afraid of the camera when I was little. As a kid I was up there modelling!” She strikes a pose and giggles as though it's nothing special.
Her childhood confidence only blossomed and when she was 15 she had the opportunity to join The Dreamtime Project. The Perth-based program for young First Nations women interested in fashion was run until 2018 and focused on building empowerment and confidence. It launched Georgia’s career and put her in touch with photographers, fashion shows, and many other talented young people working in the fashion industry.
"One thing that makes me proud of the Torres Strait Islander heritage is the sense of family and the sense of community. It's so strong and they're so family oriented, it’s beautiful to see."
From there Georgia lived in Queensland and Victoria working in fashion and performance. She starred in Intertwined, a multi-media Indigenous fashion show combining storytelling, dance that was held on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth games. And she appeared on the catwalks of Melbourne Fashion Week and Australian Fashion Week several times. “I’ve been photographed by some awesome, awesome photographers that I am incredibly grateful for,” she says. But after years of city living she decided enough was enough and returned to Perth. “And now I'm living on beautiful Yawuru country in Broome,” she says, “a place of healing and opportunity, and it's the best decision I've ever made!” She has taken a step back and now does freelance modelling on her own terms. “Nothing too serious,” she says. “It's just for fun. It’s my creative outlet. Whenever I get the chance to pose up in front of a camera, I'm down!”
As she speaks about her culture she beams with pride for her Torres Strait Island heritage. “It’s the sense of family and the sense of community,” she describes, “it's so strong and they're so family oriented. It’s beautiful to see. I love that they are about the land and the sea. I love that they are connected spiritually, calling on the ancestors for healing y'know, I find that so powerful.” Having grown up away from Murray Island in Perth, she feels now that her time to return is approaching. “I want to learn, I want to connect, I want to understand our history, our lineage,” she says. “It’s calling me, and it’s calling my essence. I need to put my roots down on my Country. So hopefully I can go back there one day and make my nan and my mum proud. Because it is my yearning, I'm being called and drawn.”
"They've taught us, educated us, given us a sense of purpose in our Culture and understanding"
When asked about NAIDOC Week and what this year’s theme means for her she circles back again to family, connection, and the social support of community. “‘For Our Elders’ means to me… to listen, to hear their stories, pay attention. Make ‘em a tea when they want a tea, yknow!” she says. “It’s to be aware of your Elders, keep them in your heart forever, acknowledge them, be respectful and grateful for them.”
She’s on a roll now and her eyes sparkle as she speaks about the people in her life who have helped her grow into the confident and caring person she is today. “Our Elders have done so much for us while we've grown up. They've taught us, educated us, given us a sense of purpose in our Culture and understanding. They've given us biggest mob feeds when we needed! Or when our parents have been sick they take us in for a few days or even a week. They just want what is best for us. And I believe, you know, we have to give back to them, now that we’re paving the way for the next generation.”
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