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Niya DeGroat is a two-spirited fashion & culture writer and multi-hyphenate creative based in Flagstaff, Arizona; and is originally from Mariano Lake, New Mexico – a checkerboard reservation community on the Diné Nation.
In May of 2020, Niya obtained a master’s degree in fashion journalism from the Academy of Art University with a focus on contemporary Indigenous fashion. Their work has been published in Indian Country Today, The American Indian Graduate, Cultural Survival, Academy Art U News, Fashion School Daily and Native Max Magazine.
From 2015 to 2024, Niya served on the executive team of Phoenix Fashion Week as Director of Branding and Media where he was responsible for overseeing the visual and written content of the PHXFW brand from social media to marketing, as well as co-produce the behind-the-scenes and front of house operations and production. Niya helped indigenize the PHXFW runway by recruiting a number of Indigenous fashion brands including Designers of the Year ACONAV and Red Berry Woman.
Niya specializes in fashion-focused content including writing, social media, graphic design, branding, creative direction, styling, photography, digital marketing and event planning & management.
Currently, Niya serves as the Social Media Manager for Native Max magazine and its sister brands Creatives Indigenous and Skoden Ventures.
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