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The Fancy Navajo: Diné Influencer Shares Culture Through Food, Fashion

Social media influencers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram have become their own industry these days.

They brand themselves to sell ads on their profile pages, create their own line of products or — if they’re really successful — they become the spokespeople for brands they love.

It’s a new and growing industry, and has become a way of life for the people who choose it.

One local influencer is doing things a little differently.

Alana Yazzie studied marketing at Marquette University after growing up near the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. After a stint in HR, she quit and decided to strike out on her own as The Fancy Navajo. That’s her Instagram handle, and it has led her to a career of baking and blogging.

The Show spoke with her for more about her career change.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.