An Inspired Chat with Tiffany Tynes-Gonzales of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Tiffany Tynes-Gonzales and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Cooking has become my absolute favorite escape lately! I have always been an excellent cook but I’ve been diving deep into becoming a well-rounded home chef. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about the whole process – from planning a meal and picking out fresh ingredients to experimenting with new techniques and flavors.

What I love most is how cooking has become this creative outlet where I can be spontaneous and try new things without any pressure. One day I’m perfecting a solid meal prep dish, the next I’m attempting to recreate a dish I had at a restaurant or saw on one of my favorite cooking tv shows. The kitchen has become my playground, and every meal makes me feel accomplished.

I’ve actually started sharing this journey with my audience through a cooking series I call “Tiff’s Hot Mess Kitchen” on my platforms. The name pretty much says it all – it’s real, it’s messy sometimes, and it’s fun and delicious! Also, there’s nothing better than cooking for my family and seeing their faces when they see or taste something delicious that I made from scratch. Cooking has brought so much joy not just to me, but to the people I care about, and now to my community online who cheers me on through every kitchen adventure!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey y’all! I’m Tiffany Tynes-Gonzales and I am an actor and content creator. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and fun fact, my path into entertainment started randomly when I was just 13 – I got selected as a hair model for Sebastian Hair Products. From there, I knew exactly what I wanted my career to be. I was a Theatre Arts major at Arkansas State University, moved to Orlando to work as a live game show host and performer for Nickelodeon, and eventually made my way to LA. Since going viral on YouTube and accumulating over 119 million views, my acting and content creation careers have been thriving. I’ve been fortunate to work on projects like Netflix’s “Bright,” Comedy Central’s “Tosh.0,” and I have even danced for incredible artists like Beyoncé, Big Sean, and many more. Right now, I’m focused on creating content that brings joy to my audience, working with amazing brands, and I have a few secret projects that are to be announced soon!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Growing up, I was definitely seen as the “nerd” by some kids because I wore really thick glasses and was considered too “proper.” In seventh grade, someone took my headphones out of my locker and refused to give them back. I knew if I went home and told my mom I had lost my headphones, she’d be upset, so I decided I had to handle this myself.

I found out who took them and confronted him directly. He thought he could bully me by pushing and shoving me around because I was a girl and a “nerd”. But in that moment, something just clicked. I tackled him, bruised his face up pretty good, and it took several teachers to pull me off of him. It was that moment that I realized, “Wow! I can actually fight!”

That was the moment I discovered I was actually a really great fighter, even at such a young age. It completely shifted how I saw myself and how others saw me too. Everyone knew from that day on not to mess with me! That experience actually led me to start martial arts, which became a huge part of building my confidence and sense of personal power. I still actively train in martial arts and boxing to this day – it’s become such an integral part of who I am.

Looking back, it wasn’t just about the physical fight – it was about standing up for myself and realizing I didn’t have to accept being treated poorly by anyone. That moment taught me I had the strength to defend myself and fight for what was mine.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
This is going to sound absolutely bizarre, but horror films always made me feel better as a child! I know that’s completely backwards from what you’d expect, but Nightmare On Elm Street was literally always on repeat whenever I was sad. Freddy Krueger always made me laugh – there was something about his dark humor and over-the-top antics that just clicked with me.

I think most kids would run to their parents or want to watch cartoons when they were upset, but I was the weird kid who found comfort in horror movies. Maybe it was because the characters were so resilient or honestly, maybe I just appreciated the creativity and storytelling, even as a kid.

Looking back, it probably explains a lot about my personality. I’ve never been afraid to embrace the unconventional or find humor in challenging situations. Plus, it definitely prepared me for the entertainment industry, where you need a thick skin and the ability to laugh at the absurd!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! Absolutely. What you see is what you get with me, and that’s actually something I’m really intentional about. This is also why I will not work with brands who want me to just push their product even if I don’t like it or haven’t actually tried it. I refuse to fake enthusiasm for something I don’t genuinely believe in because that would go against everything I stand for.

I honestly forget that I’m considered a “public figure” most of the time, so when I get recognized in public from my videos, it’s so funny to me because I’m just… me! I’m the same person ordering my coffee or grocery shopping as I am on camera. There’s no switch that gets flipped or persona that gets put on.

I think people can sense authenticity, and that’s probably why my audience connects with me. They’re not getting a polished, perfect version of Tiffany – they’re getting the real deal.
Being authentic isn’t always the easiest path in this industry, but it’s the only way I know how to be.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am absolutely doing what I was born to do. Where I’m from in the South, you’re often told you need to have a “corporate” or “real” job, something stable and traditional that people can understand and respect. The entertainment industry isn’t exactly seen as a reliable career path, and pursuing acting and content creation was definitely met with some raised eyebrows and “are you sure about this?” conversations.

But from the moment I got that first modeling gig at 13 with Sebastian Hair Products, I knew this was my path. Every step of my journey , from studying theater, to hosting and performing for Nickelodeon, to dancing with incredible artists, to now creating viral content that genuinely connects with people, it’s all felt natural and right, even when it wasn’t easy.

I think what I was “told” to do was play it safe, get a desk job, follow a predictable path. The “real job” advice comes from a place of love and wanting security, but I’ve learned that doing what you’re passionate about IS real work, and it’s the most fulfilling kind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/miss_tiffyt
• Instagram: @miss_tiffyt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misstiffanytynes
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/misstiffanytynes

Image Credits
Alex Gonzales
Brittany Foster