Seminole Chosen for Rez Dog Calendar

By Susan Etxebarria

BRIGHTON — Keyah Osceola of Brighton, daughter of Sandy and Kevin Osceola, has been selected as one of the 12 models to be featured in the 2006 Rez Dog Swimsuit Calendar. All the models are chosen from Indian Country.

This will be the first Seminole woman to be featured in the calendar produced by the Rez Dog Clothing Company of Norman, Okla. Osceola was picked from more than 100 applicants.

“I was shocked,” Osceola said. “I never thought something like this would happen. I always wanted to try modeling. It is nice to represent the Seminole Tribe. I hope it gets bigger from here.”

The popular Native American clothing company was present at the 2004 Tribal Fair featuring their product lines when Mary DeHass, co-owner with her husband, Keith, spotted 18-year-old Osceola. She was impressed with the young woman’s natural beauty and asked her to enter the contest.

The 12 models chosen for the Rez Dog calendar are judged by a panel of 16 judges not only on physical appearance, but also on achievements, education and self-confidence.

“There’s something special about Keyah,” said Mary DeHass in a phone interview. “She did a very professional job with her portfolio she submitted. I knew when I talked with her for over an hour at the Tribal Fair that she is special.”

Many of the former models have used the calendar as a stepping stone to further their modeling and acting careers. The 2004 cover model, Jamie Vondal Everett of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe, took the calendar to agents in Los Angeles, Calif. She signed with the same agent that handles successful models like Brooke Burke and Nikki Ziering. Other models have been featured in hundreds of magazines have made appearances on TV shows and modeled in numerous commercials.

All of the models are financially compensated for their photo shoots. They receive an all-expense paid trip, stay in a beautiful resort, are given pictures for their portfolio, receive swimwear and Rez Dog clothing, and have a week to network with their peers.

After expenses, a percentage of the calendar sales go to Native American Cancer Research. The calendar is dedicated to Miss Indian America 1955, Rita Ann McLaughlin DeHass, mother of Rez Dog owner Keith DeHass, who died of breast cancer. Mary’s mother, Edna Boardman, is a breast cancer survivor.

Rez Dog has a reputation for excellence and commitment to sponsorship of many Native American activities and organizations. They sponsor the Rez Dog Rodeo Team, Iron Five, the Men’s All Indian Basketball Team; the All American Native American High School Football Championships and the Oklahomans for Indian Opportunities Spirit of Women; among other sponsorships.

In September 2004, Rez Dog won an international award given every four years to an American Indian business or person doing diverse and great work for their reservation and the Indian community.

The official announcement of all the models chosen from 12 different American Indian Tribes took place June 6. For a complete list of all the Native American women chose for the 2006 calendar, please see www.rezdog.com.