In an exclusive interview, history-making petite model Taylor Tookes discusses her groundbreaking journey in the fashion industry, including gracing major magazine covers and walking NYFW runways. Tookes details the challenges she has faced as a short model, her co-founding of the Height Revolution movement to advocate for greater representation, and her vision for a more inclusive future for both petite models and Black women in fashion. She emphasizes the power of mindset and social media in building her career and expresses her gratitude for her supportive fanbase.
HI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS TAYLOR TOOKES IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
Hey, thanks for having me! If I were to tell you who Taylor Tookes is – I’d say she’s one of the first black petite models. She actually unexpectedly made history as the first short model to grace the cover of a high fashion magazine and walk an official NYFW runway.. Interests include food, traveling, world music, learning languages, watching trashy reality tv in her free time and rather than a house or apartment, she kinda lives in a plane these days haha.
YOU’VE BROKEN MULTIPLE BARRIERS IN FASHION, FROM NYFW TO MAJOR MAGAZINE COVERS. WHAT WAS THE MOST DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR?
Probably exactly what you just said! Gracing the covers of InStyle and Grazia were major defining moments for me because those opportunities are not given to people like me – short women. We’re always told to do acting instead or stick to commercial/print modeling. Well, what if I don’t want to? So, I didn’t. Beside that, walking an official NYFW runway as the only short model. I think I was able to prove to myself that many more big opportunities await me and with all I have in the works right now, that seems to be the case!
THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS LONG FAVORED TALL MODELS. WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE AS A SHORT MODEL, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?
As a short model, the only challenge I’ve experienced is.. being short. Fashion has been reserved for tall, skinny, blonde hair and blue-eyed models for the longest time. Seeing other models who aren’t standard size assert their spot at the table inspired me to do the same for my own spot. I don’t really see challenges anymore. I already know this is meant for me and I truly don’t believe anything or anyone can get in my way. When something’s meant for you, no one can take it away from you. You’ll just continue to thrive and doors will continue to open instead.
YOU CO-FOUNDED HEIGHT REVOLUTION TO ADVOCATE FOR SHORT WOMEN IN FASHION. WHAT IMPACT HAS THE MOVEMENT HAD SO FAR, AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR IT?
It started as a simple Instagram movement. Marissa and I didn’t really have any solid plans for it when we first launched in 2023, but we knew we wanted to do something bigger with it. Height Revolution has not only become a hub for short models to connect with other short models, but it has also become a collective voice of change and a force to be reckoned with. We are collaborating with well-renowned magazines, amazing agencies who share our mission and even agencies who did not share that mission before, but are now more open to it. There are many projects coming soon!
DIVERSITY IN FASHION IS IMPROVING, BUT THERE’S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. WHAT CHANGES DO YOU WANT TO SEE FOR BLACK WOMEN AND PETITE MODELS IN THE INDUSTRY?
For petite models, I’d obviously love to see more spaces for us at the table. Short model inclusion in fashion week on the runways, more short women in campaigns.. Why are we left out when we are the majority? As for black women, I’d love to see the industry hire more people who actually know how to work with us. I’m not the only one who has experienced this, but there are so many black models who have dealt with the infamous “I can do makeup and hair, but NOT BLACK makeup and hair.” My question is – who is hiring these people and why? Because they are your friends and family – not actually qualified for the job? I guess I could say I just want more inclusivity for everyone. Not the performative kind, but the actual kind.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN YOUR RISE. HOW DID YOU USE IT TO BUILD YOUR CAREER, AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING MODELS?
I didn’t really use it expecting a lot of people to care and tag along with me on my journey, but I knew it would probably happen anyway because that’s how social media works! When I started, I was posting content as an influencer – but that was only because I thought that’s what had to be done to get to where I wanted to be. Now, I want NOTHING to do with that word. It’s MODEL. Fashion model. I thought if people were interested in seeing my other posts that meant nothing to me, why wouldn’t even MORE PEOPLE be interested in seeing me pursue something that ACTUALLY means something to me? I would advise not just models but absolutely anyone to post what they want. Use social media to post about your passion – NOT what anyone else thinks you should be posting about. Post your portfolio, your mock campaigns, your photoshoots, your creativity. Just do it. There is an audience out there for everyone and you never know who is watching.
YOU’RE FLUENT IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND LOVE WORLD MUSIC. HAS YOUR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE INFLUENCED YOUR APPROACH TO FASHION AND MODELING?
Knowing several languages and having a ridiculously insane interest in other cultures has only made me want to explore those cultures more. I’m actually working with worldwide magazines and designers on a special project at the moment. I’d love to walk every fashion week if I could.
YOU’VE BEEN CALLED ‘THE MANIFESTATION MODEL.’ HOW HAS MANIFESTATION SHAPED YOUR SUCCESS, AND WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST MANIFESTATION GOAL RIGHT NOW?
I’m a firm believer that your mindset determines the life you lead – meaning whether or not you are successful AND even how successful you are is determined by your mindset (what you think of yourself, what you think is possible for you). I don’t allow myself to stand in my own way anymore. Ever since I ditched standing in my own way and adopting other people’s poor and limited mindsets as my own, things have changed for me. Only I decide what is and isn’t possible for me. My only goal right now is consistent success.
IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANY DESIGNER OR BRAND TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE FASHION LINE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Christian Siriano because I truly think he’s the only mainstream designer who consistently speaks out for genuine inclusion. He just gets it.
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOUR FANS?
A lot of them have been with me since my influencer days in 2021. I am NOT that anymore and they have stuck with me during my transition to a petite fashion model. Thank you guys a ton for supporting me and sticking with me – I definitely wouldn’t be here without your unwavering support so I really appreciate it. They have my back, really.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS CONNECT WITH YOU ONLINE?
My instagram is @taytookes!
