Who is Kerri?
My name is Kerri Keller. I am a 28-year-old Mohawk aboriginal from
Edmonton Alberta. I am an International
Model, a National Bikini Competitor and a Go-Go Dancer. I’ve been dancing since I was a toddler,
modeling for 12 years and competing in bodybuilding competitions for two years.
My life is ruled by a strong sense of self-worth, endless positivity and
impeccable health and wellness. I live and breathe fitness. My mission in life is to inspire and motivate
others to better themselves; not just physically but mentally, emotionally and
spiritually as well.
The stereotypes of modeling
As a
society when we see a model in a magazine, on a billboard or in an
advertisement we judge them instantly.
We either admire or envy their beauty and physique. Then we quickly come
up with 100 reasons to put down the model to make ourselves feel better. As a model, I have faced this kind of
judgment and ridicule often. Things I’ve often heard are: “Models are bimbos.” “Models get by on their looks.” “Models are
just objects.” “All models know are fashion and beauty.” “Models are high
maintenance”, etc. I’m here to set the
record straight by telling you a little bit more about a model’s life. My life.
A model’s life

Growing up
as a tomboy, in the country, with a disabled father meant that I had unusual
chores such as chopping and piling dump truck loads of wood. I also changed the
oil and filters in our vehicles. I also hunted and fished to provide for our
family. I was the only 15-year-old girl
I knew of who got a pump action 30-30 rifle and a gutting knife for her
birthday. I’ve gutted so many deer that
I can do it in less then 5 minutes.
After my
father passed away, I pursued post secondary education where I completed Health
Sciences and was accepted into dental school.
I quickly figured out that I would not be able to finish dental school
due to financial reasons. So I packed my life into my car and drove across the
country. I ended up in Fort McMurray.
Not your average girl

Once in Fort McMurray I got my trucking license. I learned how to operate dozers, graders, scrapers and loaders. I went on to work at Suncor in the Canadian Oil Fields where I was operating the worlds largest haul trucks. I was one of the only women out there which meant I had to bust my butt ten times harder to prove myself to the men. The harassment and scrutiny was out of control! My co-workers always gave me a hard time because I was a woman and I stood out. They always said to me, “What are YOU doing here?” I always replied, “Working… the same thing you’re supposed to be doing”. Apparently they thought I should be in Los Angeles or New York City.




One day, while driving over roads
that were unusually bumpy, I got a sharp pain in my stomach. I pulled the truck over and as soon as I
dismounted I fell to my knees and started throwing up. Later, at the hospital, I learned I had a
rupture in my abdomen and no longer would be able to work as an operator.
Fitness competition
Overcoming it all
Six weeks
after my surgery I was in the Virgin Islands for a photography workshop and I
got a call from my surgeon. He said that he had some good news and some bad /news. He proceeded to tell me that I had uterine cancer but the good news was
that they removed it all. The surgeon
also told me I would have been worse had I not been eating healthy and working
out. Despite the fact that he told me
absolutely no working out for 6 weeks after surgery, he knew I wouldn’t listen
and then asked how my competition went.
Being a fighter and a survivor
We can’t
always choose the things that happen to us, but we can choose how we react to
them. I choose to embrace life, to
always find the positive and grow from each experience. People always think my life is perfect and
that I hold the world in my hand because I’m constantly upbeat and happy. I am this way because I make the conscious
decision to be. Life is short and we’re
meant to be happy so embrace it. I set
the most unrealistic impossible goals and I don’t stop fighting until I achieve
them. I live my life, in the sense, to
inspire people to be more than they already might be.
Models deserve more respect
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