Bethany Yellowtail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bethany Yellowtail
Born	1989 (age 35–36) Montana, United States
Nationality	Northern Cheyenne Tribe, American
Other names	Ammaakealachehiibaachilakacheesh, "Overcomes through Faith"- Crow Name Ese'hemeona'e "Sun Road Woman" - Cheyenne Name
Occupation	Fashion designer
Years active	2009-present

Bethany Yellowtail (born 1989) is a talented Native American fashion designer. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Bethany is famous for creating clothes that show off her Indigenous heritage. She is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. She also has roots in the Crow Tribe of Montana. Bethany is the main designer and CEO of her own fashion brand, B.Yellowtail.

Early Life and Learning

Growing Up in Montana

Bethany Yellowtail was born in 1989. She grew up in a small town called Wyola. This town is in the southeast part of Montana. It is close to the Wyoming border. Bethany is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. She lived with her parents and four siblings. They lived on the Crow Reservation.

Finding a Passion for Design

Bethany's family members were always involved in art. They created many beautiful Indigenous artworks. At first, Bethany was interested in making jewelry. She started by selling beaded earrings. Her aunts and grandmothers taught her how to sew. This is where her love for fashion began.

School Days

Bethany went to Tongue River schools. These schools were in Ranchester, Wyoming. This was about 23 miles from her family's ranch. She finished high school in 2007. After high school, she went to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. There, she studied fashion design.

Fashion Career

Starting Her Own Brand

Bethany Yellowtail first worked for big fashion companies. But she noticed that these brands often used Native American designs without permission. This is called cultural appropriation. It means using someone else's culture without understanding or respecting it. Bethany worked for BCBG Max Azria Group. She also made patterns for other brands. These experiences made her want to start her own company. She wanted to show Native American culture correctly. So, she launched B.Yellowtail in 2015.

Awards and Recognition

In 2015, Bethany was chosen as a First Peoples Fund Artist. This program helps Native artists grow their businesses. PBS Indie Lens Storycast featured B.Yellowtail. They made a short film series called "alter-NATIVE" about her work. In 2022, Bethany was honored by Visa's "She's Next in Fashion." She was recognized at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards. She received this award with other famous people like Tom Ford.

Supporting Her Community

Women's Rights and Empowerment

Bethany Yellowtail strongly supports women's rights. In 2017, she worked with artist John Isaiah Pepion. They created a special scarf for the 2017 Women's March. This march was in Washington D.C. The scarf showed Native American women wearing war bonnets. In Crow culture, women usually do not wear full headdresses. But they can for special events like the Shoshone War Bonnet Dance. This is a very high honor for Crow women. Bethany chose this design to show female strength and respect. Many Indigenous women wore the scarf. They were part of the Indigenous Women Rise group. This group first met at the Women's March.

Mentoring Young Indigenous Girls

Bethany also helps Indigenous girls through her Rez Girl Mentorship Fund. She works with the Native Wellness Institute on this program. The fund helps young Indigenous girls. It supports those affected by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) issue. This issue means many Indigenous people, especially women and girls, go missing or are harmed. The fund helps mentor girls to believe in themselves. It shows them they can achieve anything.

The B.Yellowtail Collective

Bethany also supports other Native American artists. She includes their work in The B.Yellowtail Collective. This is part of her effort to help other Native Americans start their own businesses.

Personal Life

Bethany Yellowtail is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. Her family comes from the Mighty Few District of the Crow Nation. This area is in Southeastern Montana. Bethany now lives in Los Angeles. She moved there to start her fashion company. She has loved fashion since she was young. Her aunt and grandmother taught her sewing and beadwork. She started by making powwow shawls for her family. She also made clothes in her high school home economics class. Bethany is thankful for this creative outlet. She remembers that some people judged her. They did not think she could turn her hobby into a career.

Gallery Work

Bethany Yellowtail is known for her fashion brands. But she has also shown her work in art galleries. In June 2016, the Portland Art Museum featured her. They highlighted her heritage and what inspires her designs. The Field Museum in Chicago also hosted Bethany. Her designs were part of an exhibit called “Apsáalooke Women and Warriors.” This exhibit showed historical and modern pieces. These pieces were from different generations and tribes.

Images for kids

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  Bethany Yellowtail, a Native American fashion designer.