Noongar and Wongi woman Cherralee Mary-Jane Clark has been crowned Miss NAIDOC 2023.
The event, hosted Saturday night at Perth Crown Casino, saw Ms Clark, 23, take home the title.
Ms Clark, who grew up in Perth, learned about her culture 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.
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 faced many challenges with her mental health and walking through two worlds, something which made her feel that she was '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 as 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 Aboriginal people, to give back to mob and be an advocate for our mob in the hospital system.
Ms Clark participated in the Miss NAIDOC 2023 program to feel empowered, to learn leadership skills, and to inspire others.
Ms Clark feels inspired to deliver greater sense of hope, to ensure quality of life and uphold a community of complete integrity and diversity.
As she learn more about her Aboriginality, the longest living culture with the most diverse group of people, Ms Clark loves our connection to land, and our strength.
In her eyes, this year's theme, 'for our Elders', celebrates and recognises the sacrifice, strength and knowledge of the leaders in our community.
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Other NAIDOC winners:
Mr NAIDOC Perth 2023 - Kienan Davis
Runner-Up Miss NAIDOC Perth - Raquel Cross
Runner-Up Mr NAIDOC Perth 2023 - Ignatius Hunter
SRG Traineeship Award 2023 - Jade Dalgety
Doolann Award 2023 - Vai-Lee Nelson
Doolann Award 2023 - Corey Czirr
Kwobordok Yok 2023 - Sacha Ogilvie
Moorditj Maarmun 2023 - Jayden Caldwell
