Cathee Dahmen: The First Native American Supermodel in the 1960s and 1970s

Born 1945, Catherine Helen Sachs née Cathee Dahmen was half German, half Chippewa and was born and raised in Minnesota. She left home at the age of 17 to live with her uncle, artist George Morrison, in Providence, Rhode Island. She was discovered in her late teens by The New York Times illustrator Antonio Lopez, who spotted her uncle’s portrait of her and was ultimately responsible for her introduction into the fashion industry.

Cathee Dahmen in the 1960s and ’70s

Dahmen spent her peak years with Ford Models, where she was one of the agency’s top earners of the 1960s. She appeared on the covers of numerous fashion magazines including, Harper’s Bazaar in 1968 and both UK Vogue and Italia in 1971. She was also associated with the Youthquake movement.

Dahmen retired from modeling in 1980s and died in 1997 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aged 52. Take a look at these glamorous photos of a young Cathee Dahmen in the 1960s and 1970s.

Cathee Dahmen wearing starprint-minidress in black-light room, photo by Milton Greene, 1960s

Cathee Dahmen in a floor-length wool jersey dress with a breastplate of sequins by Galanos, diamond earrings by David Webb, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, December 1967

Cathee Dahmen in sequined-splashed dress, bell-sleeved and flaring to cocktail-hem height by Arnold Scaasi, magnificent diamond necklace by Harry Winston, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, December 1967

Cathee Dahmen in beautiful design by Galanos at Neiman Marcus, Vogue, November 1, 1968

Cathee Dahmen in brilliant white linen middy jacket fastened with gold rounds over red silk blouse and navy wool skirt with repeating gold buttons down the front by B.H. Wragge, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, January 1968

Cathee Dahmen in evening organdy dress rimmed with coral and gold embroidery, belted in Moroccan gold chains and medallions by Marc Bohan for Dior, berber headdress and two chignons by Alexandre, photo by Neal Barr, March 1968

Cathee Dahmen in long slender tunic of flower-springing lace banded in pink grosgrain, tied here with white organdy kerchief by Yves Saint Laurent, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, April 1968

Cathee Dahmen in lovely ruffled organdie dress scattered with gardenias across the bodice by Castillo, photo by Neal Barr, 1968

Cathee Dahmen in swirling red and white chiffon evening dress, the hem and sleeves circled with red and white ostrich feathers by Marc Bohan for Dior, photo by Neal Barr, Harper's Bazaar, April 1968

Cathee Dahmen, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by David Bailey, April 20, 1967, published in Vogue, March 1, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by F.C. Gundlach, for ‘Brigitte’ Tenerife, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by F.C. Gundlach, for ‘Brigitte’ Tenerife, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by F.C. Gundlach, for ‘Brigitte’ Tenerife, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by F.C. Gundlach, for ‘Brigitte’ Tenerife, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by F.C. Gundlach, for ‘Brigitte’ Tenerife, 1968

Cathee Dahmen, photo by Pierre Houlès, circa 1968

Cathee Dahmen in a silk organza dress in red, blue and purple ruffles by Oscar De La Renta, Harper's Bazaar, January 1969

Cathee Dahmen in Betsy Johnson’s outfit, photo by Claude Guillaumin, 1969

Cathee Dahmen is Kinky, photo by Claude Guillaumin, 1969

Cathee Dahmen on the pier, New York City, photo by Claude Guillaumin, 1969

Cathee Dahmen sitting on street, New York City, photo by Claude Guillaumin, 1969

Cathee Dahmen by Peter Knapp for British Vogue, June 1971

Cathee Dahmen by Peter Knapp for British Vogue, June 1971

Cathee Dahmen in Charles Revson advertisement for Ultima II, photo by David Bailey, 1973

Cathee Dahmen, photo by David Bailey, 1973

Cathee Dahmen, photo by David Bailey, 1973

Cathee Dahmen, photo by David Bailey, 1973

Cathee Dahmen, photo by Clive Arrowsmith, 1970s

Cathee Dahmen, photo by Clive Arrowsmith, 1970s