A Pelly Crossing woman is heading to Colorado to strut her stuff in a First Nations fashion show.

Rebecca Roberts, a Selkirk First Nation woman, will walk the runway for the second time in the Native Fashion in the City show in Denver later this month.

“I am proud to be a strong, confident native woman; it shows in my photos and when I walk the runway,” she told the Star recently.

The born-and-raised Yukoner is one of two Canadian models who donned famous First Nation designers’ clothing on the catwalk last year. The other woman was born in Ontario but moved to Los Angeles at a young age.

“It was scary but exciting at the same time,” Roberts said of her experience last year.

Inspired by a childhood dream, she started modeling in 2015 at the Adäka Fashion Show “Da Ze Tsan” in Whitehorse. She has since modeled for photographers all over the Yukon.

As a mother of five, she says she wants to be a role model for younger generations.

“I wanted to inspire and motivate and show them that your hard work and dedication can go somewhere,” she said.

While her children are proud of her work, Roberts said she’s still “just Mom” to them.

“People tell them that I’m famous and they’re like, ‘no, that’s my mom,’” she said.

“They think it’s cool when they see my photos; it’s amazing to them; they’re just in awe. And my four-year-old daughter is like, ‘you look so beautiful, Mom.’”

She has also received support from the community and through her Facebook page.

“Love and support, that’s all I’ve been getting and that’s what I’m rising with,” she said.

“I’m very modest in a way when it comes to all of this, but I’m loving all the support, all the love and the kindness when I post my pictures.”

And she has no plans of stopping.

“I feed off that positivity; it makes me want to do more, and I’m going to. I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can.”

Aside from modeling, Roberts has been performing with the Selkirk Spirit Dancers since 2014.

“The respect and love and courage from everybody else when I started performing, it just gave me an added boost,” she said.

“And I think I truly found my identity and confidence through song and dance, through our culture.”

Roberts said she has noticed a change in her confidence since she started performing and modeling, and wants this to be an example for youth.

“I believe that you look at yourself differently, you tend to care for yourself more, you put yourself first and it raises confidence in yourself,” she said.

The March 24 Native Fashion in the City show will mark its fourth year at the Colorado History Center.

Put on by NativeMax Magazine, the interactive fashion and cultural showcase will feature First Nations fashion designers, stylists, models and photographers.