Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiana Marcano.
Hi Tiana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, it all started from a young age when I knew that I was destined to create a significant change within the world to then realized that change will be expressed within the fashion industry. Originally when I was ten years old; I was inspired to be within the Fashion Industry through my favorite childhood show called “Bratz”. It inspired me to originally want to explore Fashion Design which I did pursue through the High School of Fashion Industries which was a career and technical educational school. Not only did the show “Bratz” inspire me to go into Fashion Design but it also ignited my passion for the Fashion Industry. I participated within beauty pageants when I was ten in which I had won within my local pageants. I was then invited to participate within the international Prince & Princess Pageant in Spring 2008. Within this Pageant I was a National Photogenic Model Search Finalist for the Model of the Year 2009 title. I was also invited to be a part of Good Morning America when they had a segment on the International Prince & Princess pageant. Later on, within that year, I was scouted to be a part of Industry Model & Talent Studios as a model in which my mom went through with the year contract.
During my contract, I had to attend numerous castings and portfolio development shoots that my mom and I couldn’t handle at the time, especially since my mom was working at the time and I was in school. My mom hadn’t realized how much work goes into modeling and she wanted me to focus on my studies at the time which I completely understand looking back on it from my perspective now and I am truly grateful for my mom’s decision. During my final years of high school, I was mentored by Cyma Zaraghami, then-president of Nickelodeon, through the Big Brother Big Sister program. I became more acquainted with makeup artists, Hairstylists, and some fashion industry professionals due to going to events that either Nickelodeon hosted or we were invited to. Through my personal conversations with them, I became more acquainted with the fashion industry from individuals’ personal experiences.
Back in 2017, I lived in Paris, France for four months for a study abroad program in which I continued my degree at the American Business School of Paris. Staying in Paris ignited the flame once again where I wanted to be within the Fashion Industry, particularly as a model. I did submit myself to agencies in Paris but nothing came from it at the time.
I started my modeling career back in October 2018, when I first signed with EMG Models. During my two-year contract with EMG Models, I had clients such as Cipriani, Rollie Nation, and Seventeen Magazine. I also had published with Vanity Teen Magazine, Vulkan Magazine, and Vogue Italia during my contract with EMG Models. When My contract was coming to an end, I decided not to renew the contract due to health issues that had arisen at that time.
I made a noteworthy comeback to modeling in July 2021, signing a contract with an agency led by a former EMG Models agent. Despite less-than-anticipated success, my spirit remained undeterred. Around this time, I got into fashion styling and gained recognition when Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam featured my work. This led to an unexpected turn when I stepped in for a model who pulled out last minute from an editorial shoot. The result was my first print publication in Harper’s Bazaar. My career took an exhilarating leap in September 2022 when I walked for New York Fashion Week, for House of Arti and Lexlo. This prominence culminated in features in Harper’s Bazaar España, Elle Italia, Marie Claire Italia, Madame Figaro FR, and The Impression. I was officially within high fashion through my breakthrough in LīgaZemture’s L’officiel Baltic Magazine. Glamour Bulgaria also featured me in an editorial in November 2022.
At the start of 2023, it dawned as a promising year. Grazia Serbia showcased my success story, celebrating my journey as a petite model. In an exclusive interview, I highlighted the secret ingredients of my success, which was persistence, unwavering willpower, committed determination, and embodying the frequency of success.
At the moment, I had gotten published within Dazed Digital back in August, and I’m currently in the search of an agency to represent me as a model since it’s been a long time since I’ve been with a modeling agency, and I figured it’s time now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It had not been a smooth road at first but shifting & transmuting stuff within myself and my inner reality allowed me to have a more graceful, easeful, and successful path. As humans, it’s necessary to go through this. It helps us gain awareness of what we need to transmute/shift within ourselves in order to grow and embody more of our true selves which ultimately will be reflected within our life. At the beginning of my career back in 2018 I dedicated a whole year to building my portfolio so it exuded my essence so clients would know who I am just simply looking at my portfolio.
My portfolio alone gravitated clients to me where they wanted to meet me in person. There were a lot of difficulties that arose when they met me in person since they would come to the realization that I was 5’3. I did have a lot of rejections but I noticed that it took only one person to see my potential and to have faith/believe in my ability in order to shift the dynamic.
I would constantly check in with myself at castings to make sure it’s coming from a place of truth since they will sense when you’re not being truthful within the interaction, and it will appear desperate and insincere, which wouldn’t serve anyone at that point.
I was constantly being told I couldn’t do certain jobs or wouldn’t make it as a model. I always knew deep down inside that I would be able to achieve a lot of my goals within modeling and be a successful model. This is what I did during NYFW for Spring/Summer 2023 when I had my first debut walking for two designers House of Arti and Lexlo. Not only did I make personal history being 5’3 walking runway but I was part of a major change within NYFW with House of Arti being the first luxury petite brand designer to debut their designs during NYFW.
It was no longer a question of if it’s going to happen but when it was going to happen. It took a lot of personal development and work for me to get to this place.
Another challenge I began to face was consistently being told to choose one career path out of the three I was pursuing. Every time I wanted to just choose one career, it always felt incomplete or not aligned. I began to realize that I didn’t need to just focus on one career path solely. In the past, there have been many models who had chosen to focus on their modeling career for ten-plus years before even thinking about taking on a different career path but I decided to challenge that standard. I believed it was possible to take on multiple careers and develop them at the same time. Especially since the Fashion, Modeling, and Film industries are intertwined together and can greatly contribute to each other.
When I began training as an actress, I utilized my training as an actress towards modeling, which significantly improved my modeling since I was able to channel certain energies into those specific roles or jobs I had to fulfill as a model. As a Fashion Stylist having an understanding of the garments being used for the editorial, campaign or ads helped within modeling as to how to present the garments in the best light. Vice versa being a model did help my Fashion Styling.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my work as a model although I am also a Fashion Stylist and Actress. I infuse ethereal surrealism within my work, and I specialize as a high fashion model since I’ve worked with prominent individuals and brands. Despite being a model at 5’3, I’ve had successes within my career such as being published with Dazed Digital, The Daily Front Row, Harpers Bazaar Espana, Marie Claire Italia, Elle Italia, L’officiel Baltic, The Impression, and Grazia Serbia. Not only was I published within these publications, but to walk for NYFW in spite of my height was one of my proudest moments. I remember I told the designer House of Arti when we were backstage that walking for her show was such a deep satisfaction that no other job has given me at this point in time. After working for House of Arti, I had a personal realization that as a model, I had been breaking the standard of the modeling industry.
It was then when I realized that I had wanted the Fashion and Modeling Industry to be more integrity with the truth that there is divine beauty in all shapes and forms. It’s important to recognize since no one would relate or feel a personal connection to anything within the industry without this. For all these years, we have been trying to match something that isn’t the truth. If we had more models or individuals that reflect each individual difference not only will people feel gravitate towards them since they feel a personal connection to them due to that person being relatable and real but people would be more invested within the Fashion and Modeling industry due to it being relatable if the industry makes a shift within this direction. As a model, I realized I am a nodal point within this shift. I continuously worked on myself to shift my own personal dynamics & realities, and I took action when no one else did and successfully broke those obstacles.
I continue till this day to pave the pathway for petite models to have an actual career within the industry and to not shy away from this career because of all the challenges you will face.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
There are many favorite childhood memories, believe it or not but I will always remember towards the end of November, on a Friday or Saturday night, my mom and I would have our own Christmas tradition. My mom would get the Christmas tree out while I took Christmas CDs out from storage to play on the stereo. We would sing and dance to George Michael Last Christmas while putting the ornaments up on the tree. It was important for us because we were infusing joy into the Christmas tree and decorations. We would take a quick break mid-way for food and continue until 11pm when the tree is fully furnished and ready for Christmas.
Pricing:
- Hourly Rate $280
- Half day rate $1,008
- Full day rate $2108
Contact Info:
- Website: https://models.com/models/tiana-marcano
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiana_marcano/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14148888/
Image Credits
Image One: Photographer: Molly Tellekson Image Two- Four: Photographer: Richard Yerkes Makeup Artist: YK
