Tanzania Mack shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Tanzania, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My family. In the past year, my husband and I became parents to our beautiful daughter Brooklyn Jae. I feel complete. I feel joy. I can wake up and step out into the world and go through so much, but at the end of the day when we are all together, and at home bonding, that’ brings me joy. Seeing my daughter blossom as she learns new words, expressions, discovers her mobility and all that she loves. experiencing her joy, and being witness to the joy it brings my husband and myself, it gets no better.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tanzania Mack and I am a plus size model. I am also a wife, a mother, dancer, advocate, singer. Etc. the list goes on and on. I have been modeling for the past 8 years. When I began modeling. Which was totally by accident, I found it as a healthy outlet, not only to feel good about myself, but to also express my creative side. I also found what I was doing was inspiring women from all over the world who loved seeing a plus size woman do things many felt anxious about doing. I was showing up to castings, I was doing runway, I was dancing; I was not just “conservative”. I displayed that plus size women belonged, and that we could be sexy, and do what all other models do. The same intention lives In me today as it did then, except I’ve expanded. I am now a mother, and I am doing this to feel good about myself, and let plus size women AND mothers know we can still do what we love after becoming a parent. We can feel good, we can dress how we love, still be creative, sexy, and fabulous. We can do it all !
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I was extremely self conscious. I always felt like no matter where I ended up, I was the person in the room who was talked about, and in a negative way. People talked about my weight a lot. I felt like my parents were the only people to tell me I was pretty, and that they told me that because of course I was their daughter. I felt very unpretty. I felt I was awkward and like I served no purpose. I no longer feel this. I feel like becoming an adult, going out to see the world amongst also meeting new people, helped me to realize I was not awkward at all. I see that I am very open minded, I’m observant, and yes I am quiet but it’s not because I am awkward. I also know I am beautiful.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were plenty of times when I almost gave up. Trying to be successful in an industry that still has sooo much work to do in acceptance of all sizes is very hard. While you can come across companies who truly want to work with plus size models, some “fake it” or do not deliver on what they say. This happens so much and it can become very frustrating. Some companies or brands just simply don’t acknowledge that we exist. I truly do believe in what’s meant for you will happen for you. I no longer stress when things don’t happen. I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities that have come to me and just for me being myself. I did not have to compete, deal with disrespect, have to shrink or change myself. Those are my modeling jobs I appreciate and I love to do.
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. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that my family is what matters to me most. They also would say modeling, dancing, and/or anything creative means a great deal as well. When I first became pregnant, I actually did a podcast with my friends and it always sticks comes to my mind how they gave me my flowers and basically agreed that they knew how important being a mother and wife is to me, but they knew I would still persevere in the modeling world.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they talk about how multifaceted I am. I hope they signify how important home life is for me and that I still strove to do what I wanted to do in the world. I worked a 9-5, still took care of home and booked jobs, worked events, took care of myself and all. I put in the work. I wish I could show my calendar !
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Tanzania_akiaa
Image Credits
Ashley Kaplan, Kaplan Photography
Tamara Karns, Vision.captured
Nandi Nefertiti, Photos by Nefertiti
Didier Hatungimana
