How Prey Star Amber Midthunder Brought Indigenous Style to the Red Carpet

Amber Midthunder has made waves as one of Hollywood’s first leading female Indigenous action heroes by starring in Prey, the latest installment in the action-horror Predator franchise out now. In the film, she plays a young warrior who must defeat an extraterrestrial species to save her people on the Comanche Nation. “I was interested in the opportunity to show Native people in a period piece and what our culture and way of life was actually like,” Midthunder told Vogue of the barrier-breaking role. For the film’s press tour, the star also continued this energy with her stellar fashion choices: Midthunder chose to spotlight Indigenous designers on the movie’s various red carpets. “The first thing I said [for this press tour] was that I always want at least one Indigenous designer or jewelry maker on my body,” Midthunder says.

Indigenous jewelry has been a focal point. For press interviews, she wore two pairs of long, dangly earrings by Indy City. “I also wore a pair of dentalium earrings that [the film’s producer] Jane Mhyers made for me in London,” Midthunder shares. The star has also been embracing Native ready-to-wear brands. For the film’s L.A. premiere the weekend, Midthunder wore a long floral-embroidered dress by Sky Eagle Collection’s designer Dante Biss-Grayson, who is Osage. She’s also delivered more traditional ensembles. For a screening at Beyond Fest in California this weekend, she wore a Predator-themed ribbon skirt made by her friend Kylei Big Bow (Kisikahwskew); Traditionally, ribbon skirts are worn as powwow regalia, and during cultural ceremonies. “I was excited to just get back to my roots and go classic in my ribbon skirt and moccasins,” Midthunder says.

In addition to these Indigenous labels, Midthunder has also worn a few dazzling dresses by mainstream luxury labels, including a black Dior dress and a printed Valentino mini dress. Her fashion highlights from the press tour, however, all trace back to her own cultural clothing. “Indigenous artists are an untapped resource in a given field,” says Midthunder. “We’ve been doing storytelling since the very beginning. You look at our fashion—we’ve been putting meaning into what we put on our bodies for so long. It’s a different level.”

Below, more of Midthunder’s best red carpet moments.