Embracing unexpected opportunities has led Jolie Bush to moments she never imagined for herself — like walking a runway in Hawaii for First American designer Angela Howe.
Bush, a Chickasaw citizen and impact banking officer for Local Bank in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, attended the Oweesta Annual Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Capital Access Convening Conference in May. During the conference, a casual five-minute conversation with a fellow conferencegoer turned into an impromptu invitation to walk in a fashion show.
“We walked into the room with the designer, and five minutes later I’m in the show and trying on dresses,” Bush said. “It wasn’t something I planned. It wasn’t something I intended to happen. It just worked out.”
The fashion show, hosted at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hilo, Hawaii, during sunset with the ocean as a backdrop, was Bush’s first runway experience. She modeled a sparkling yellow, floor-length gown designed by Howe, an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) and Pikuni (Blackfeet) Nations of Montana.
“Everyone was super welcoming and super encouraging,” Bush said. “It’s something I never thought I would do, but it made me want to do it again.”
The experience pushed Bush beyond her comfort zone, reminding her there is joy in living in the moment.
“I’m not a spontaneous person at all,” Bush said. “I really learned that I am able to be spontaneous and do things like this. Why not?”
While Bush has yet to plan a career in modeling, she has not ruled out more runway gigs in the future.
“If someone asked again, I’d definitely do it — but I don’t think I’m going to quit my job anytime soon,” Bush said, laughing.
Bush graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2023 with a degree in economics and supply chain management. She currently serves as an impact banking officer at a First American-owned Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where she sees her career as an extension of her values and heritage.
CDFIs are private sector organizations focused on serving underrepresented communities. They can take the form of banks, credit unions or venture capital providers.
In her line of work, Bush sees firsthand the barriers many First American families face when accessing banking services.
“Native Americans are the highest percentage of underbanked or unbanked people at 12%,” Bush said. “That’s 1 in 10 people.”
According to a 2023 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households, American Indians or Alaskan Natives have the highest unbanked rates in the U.S. per capita compared to white, Hispanic and black communities.
“I think it has a really big influence on the way I do my work,” Bush said, referring to her understanding of First American banking statistics and her Chickasaw heritage.
She noted her First American clients at Local Bank often measure wealth differently than others, focusing more on collective stability and supporting family rather than building large savings accounts for themselves alone.
“Their goal isn’t to amass huge wealth, but to take care of themselves and have their lives be uncomplicated,” Bush said. “They don’t want to hoard and keep everything for themselves. They want to help their kids, their grandkids, their cousins.”
Bush’s passion for serving fellow First Americans lies within the support she received from her tribe growing up. Her connection to the Chickasaw Nation was strengthened through family encouragement and involvement in cultural activities, often attending Chickasaw Nation led stomp dances or participating in Chickasaw youth camps. Although she no longer lives within the Chickasaw Nation, she still feels close to her culture.
“I think it’s the small things that add up to big things,” Bush said. “Even if I don’t have those everyday touches with the tribe now, I still feel close. I still feel involved.”
For Bush, being Chickasaw is all about collective support and resilience. This concept is a driving force in her desire to serve First American communities.
“To me, personally, I think it’s really that intertwinement or involvement in something that was here long before I was and will be here long after I am,” Bush said. “We all rise as one, and that really gives me a lot of inner strength and inner belief.”
As she continues her professional journey — and embraces the occasional runway moment — Bush remains focused on building herself and her village up.
“I really just want to keep improving,” Bush said. “Improve my community, improve my tribe and improve my family for what or who comes next.”