As the crowning of Mr and Miss NAIDOC Perth approaches fast, meet the 2023 finalists and hear their inspiring stories.

Sacha Ogilvie

Ms Ogilvie is 26 years of age and a proud Whadjuk, Ballardong, Yued, Nyaki Nyaki, Nanda woman from Perth, Western Australia. She was born on Yawuru Country (Broome WA) however spent most of her childhood growing up in East Fremantle.

Her family connections range from Midwest region, wheatbelt region and the southwest coast region of Western Australia. With her strongest connection to Perth - Whadjuk country through her grandmother Freda Ogilvie nee Collard.

Growing up, Ms Ogilvie lacked confidence to speak up and be heard, she suffered many traumatic experiences and it wasn't until being diagnosed with PTSD that she truly understood the depth of how much those traumas impacted her life.

It's been an eye-opening journey wanting to change herself, and the ways she used to cope with her emotions, to be a better leader and role model for people and the youth in her life that look up to her.

Ms Ogilvie spent a few years living off-country finishing year 12 in Halls Creek (remote East Kimberley) and working for an Aboriginal not-for-profit organisation, Wunan Foundation, in Kununurra.

When COVID lockdown hit Ms Ogilvie made the decision to move back home and reconnect with country and she's very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Elders within the community on projects with CAN (Community Arts Network).

Ms Ogilvie had to completely change direction in what I wanted to do for work, she finished a Certificate II in Animal Care and welfare with hopes to go on to complete a Certificate IV in Veterinary nursing.

However waiting for the course intake she gained a traineeship as a ranger, and is currently studying a Certificate II In conservation and ecosystem management.

Through this traineeship Ms Ogilvie has had the privilege of working as a firefighter crew member with Parks and Wildlife, with the most demanding shift being during the recent summer fire season in Donnybrook.

Being a part of Miss NAIDOC as a finalist will give Ms Ogilvie the platform to empower our mob and the wider Aboriginal community to not lose hope and every goal is achievable no matter how low you feel or what obstacles are in your way.

Culture, history, community, youth and elders are what gives Ms Ogilvie strength everyday to accomplish small goals and strive for change. When a door closes, another will open with a better opportunity.

Cherralee Mary-Jane Clark

Clark is a 23 year-old and a proud Noongar and Wongi woman, who grew up in Perth. Ms Clark had to learn about herself and family background at a later stage in life.

Her nan, Thelma Tucker, passed away when she was nine years old, and her mum Samantha Clark passed away one year later due to breast cancer.

Due to Ms Clark's father and mother's separation at a very young age, and her two matriarchs passing, she did not have the opportunity to grow up around all her family members.

However, she was fortunate enough to have her four older siblings around to raise and teach her about culture and family history, but she admits she still has a lot of learning to do.

Later down the track Ms Clark was openly welcomed into a beautiful English family, the Yost family, who helped shape and support her through her adolescence to present, and now she finds herself on a journey to finding out more about culture and connecting to her mob.

In recent years Ms Clark has faced many challenges with her mental health and walking through two worlds that has made her feel that she's 'too black to be white and too white to be black.'

Ms Clark's late mother is the reason she strives to make a difference in the world, which has led her to become a nurse.

She studied at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing and currently works in a tertiary hospital in Perth on an acute medical ward.

She's motivated to further her passion for people and health studies, with prospects to specialise in oncology or Aboriginal health.

Ms Clark intends to apply herself and her career in a rural setting, where she can focus on working with a higher population of Aboriginal people, to give back to mob and be an advocate for our mob in the hospital system.

With her journey of finding her identity has been long, having felt shame and doubt, Ms Clark knows now is the time for her to participate in the Miss NAIDOC 2023 program, to feel empowered, to learn leadership skills and to inspire others.

Raquel Cross. Image: Supplied by Perth NAIDOC

Raquel Cross

Ms Cross, a 25-year-old Yamatji nyarlu (woman) from Geraldton, the country with which she feels strongly connected.

She has family ties reaching up to Carnarvon/Gwoonwardu, Shark Bay/Gutharraguda and back down to the south west within Ballardong Noongar nation.

A Cross, Kickett from her dad's side and Kelly, Dowden on her mum's side. Ms Cross' identity as a young Aboriginal woman makes her so proud.

She believes being a part of the oldest living culture in the world is something extremely special.

At a young age Ms Cross, her father and her siblings moved from Geraldton to Perth for better opportunities with education and sport.

As the eldest Ms Cross had to grow up quickly and stepped up as a mother figure for her three younger siblings at the time. Through time she learnt how to be strong, resilient, and independent, she was also fortunate to have her dad to guide and emphasise these qualities.

Currently Ms Cross is a working mum who spends her time during the week at DM Roads as a Business Support Officer while juggling school and childcare runs.

She works hard on breaking the cycle of DV, alcoholism and drugs in our community, to ensure her children have a better life.

Ms Cross's future goals and dreams are to gain a Diploma in Business as she has now completed her traineeship and gained her Certificate III in Business with assistance from Nudge at DM Roads.

This has been a great stepping stone for Cross as she is wanting to go down the career path of an Aboriginal liaison officer but will see where it takes her.

Ms Cross applied for Miss NAIDOC Perth because she's in a good space mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. She wants to get back in touch within the community and feels like she has a lot to give and learn right now.

Ms Cross is wanting to help the young mums in the community and the youth to help guide them on their journey.

After having followed the Miss NAIDOC event for years, Ms Cross felt it was finally her time to apply. NAIDOC Week to her means highlighting and celebrating our people and culture, show that we've made it despite what all our ancestors and people went through.

Ms Cross is grateful for this opportunity to take part in Miss NAIDOC Perth 2023, as she finds it exciting and amazing being around an empowering atmosphere, amongst all the finalists and the committee.

Jorja Hart-Barnes

Ms Hart-Barnes is 22 years old and a very proud Kaniyang yorga from Gnaala Karla Booja. She is a mother to two beautiful children, an almost four year old boy and a five month old girl, and married to the love of her life.

A full-time Mum, Ms Hart-Barnes also works casually with her mother-in-law assisting with admin and marketing for her dance studio.

Ms Hart-Barnes lost her mother on her first birthday to domestic violence, which had a profound impact on her. She struggled with Aboriginal identity in her youth, associating it with the perpetrator who took her mother's life.

She struggled with her mental health and meeting her partner was a life-changing moment. The couple had a son and Ms Hart-Barnes found she was waking up happy, motivated and "wanting to be better every day" for her "little family".

Since becoming a mum, she has reflected on her childhood and realised that she missed out on a massive part of her identity growing up. Since meeting her half-brother for the first time he has inspired her to learn more about our culture.

Watching her brother and his partner embrace their Aboriginal heritage with pride and teaching their own daughter Noongar words, dances, dreamtime stories and so much more, Ms Hart-Barnes began working to ensure her own children learn about their identity and culture.

She makes the effort to learn more and more every day about who she is, her culture, her connections, her land and her people. Ms Hart-Barnes is proud of who she is and wants the same for her children, their children and the many generations to come after them.

She says she is beyond grateful to be picked as a finalist for Miss NAIDOC Perth 2023.

She will take this opportunity to show her kids that they can be proud of who they are and to ""wear who you are and where you come from with pride, be confident, embrace yourself and never be ashamed!".

Crowning for Miss NAIDOC will be held this Saturday on the June the 3rd.