About
Charlee Fraser is an Indigenous Australian model who stormed the global fashion scene and, more recently, has begun turning heads on the big screen. Born on December 25, 1995, in Newcastle, New South Wales, she belongs to the Awabakal people and also traces Worimi and Biripi ancestry through her mother. After launching internationally in 2016, Fraser quickly became one of Australia’s most in-demand exports, fronting campaigns for Prada, Dior, Chanel, and Celine while topping models.com’s “Top 50” list. In 2024 she pivoted to acting, portraying Mary Jabassa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a role critics hailed as a powerful breakout. Proud of her heritage, she uses every platform—runway, red carpet, or magazine cover—to call for greater First Nations visibility in fashion and film.
Before Fame
Fraser’s childhood in Newcastle was lively—there were cats, dogs, goats, and even a turtle in the yard—but she often escaped to the branches of two towering trees to day-dream and sketch ideas. Creativity thrived early, yet modeling was not an obvious path until a Facebook post about a local workshop caught her eye in 2013. The session led to a contract with a Sydney agency; three years later Alexander Wang booked her for a New York Fashion Week exclusive. Hairstylist Guido Palau gave her a sharp bob that season, a look that became her signature and helped her book 40 shows in a single runway calendar.
Trivia
- Runway Marathon: Fraser walked the most shows of any model at NYFW Spring 2018, underlining her stamina and industry demand.
- Top-10 Newcomer: Models.com ranked her among the season’s ten breakout stars after her 2016 debut.
- Festival Founder: Away from fashion, she co-created the Clearly Music, Art & Wellness Festival in Kiama, aiming to blend culture with community-focused entertainment.
- Acting Prep: For Furiosa she studied martial arts and worked with an acting coach, saying the warrior-mother role helped her discover new facets of herself.
- Mentor at Heart: As an ambassador for First Nations Fashion + Design, Fraser guides emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, helping them navigate casting calls and contracts without losing cultural grounding.
Family Life
Charlee is the middle of three siblings in a close-knit household. Though her father is non-Indigenous, her mother and grandmother ensured that stories of Awabakal lineage remained part of everyday conversation, even if cultural practices were not always accessible off-Country. The family’s support was unwavering, whether driving her to early photo shoots around Newcastle or cheering from afar during Paris couture weeks. Fraser often credits their encouragement—and the grounding chores of farm-style living—for keeping her humble amid industry glamour. When global campaigns began paying off, she prioritized helping relatives back home and remains outspoken about creating opportunities for regional youth who rarely see themselves reflected on magazine pages.
Associated With
- Designers: Alexander Wang jump-started her international rise; soon after, she became a runway regular for Prada, Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, and Celine.
- Photographers & Stylists: From Mario Sorrenti to Manolo Campion, many top creatives captured her versatility, with Guido Palau’s transformative haircut often cited as a career turning point.
- Actors: On film sets she has shared scenes with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You and starred opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa.
- Advocacy Partners: Through First Nations Fashion + Design she collaborates with founder Grace Lillian Lee to push for systemic change in an industry still catching up on representation.
