Meet Tiana Najai | Model, Photographer, Content Creator & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiana Najai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiana, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is part of my growth as a creative, business woman, and individual who works to become better everyday. Without risks, we’re left with “what if’s”. Through experiencing multiple near-death situations; I began to realize how short life truly is. We don’t know when we’ll take our last breath, so I plan to make the most of my life while I’m still here. Throughout my childhood, I let my insecurities stop me from unleashing my true potential and there came a day where I had enough. I was tired of waiting for other people to give me permission to make my dreams a reality. Instead, I work towards accomplishing my goals by failing my way to the top. Every risk has a lesson within it, so no matter what happens, it’s a win in my eyes.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve loved the arts since I could walk. I was fascinated with every art form and used it to express myself. From singing in choir, to dancing in auditoriums, to performing in plays, to now being a professional model, photographer and content creator – I’d describe my journey as a snowball rolling down a mountain. For me, the arts is more than a hobby. It’s my lifestyle. My modeling career started when I was 17, with the help of my photography major friend (shoutout to Greta Gannon), who captured the first photos for my portfolio. After posting those photos, local photographers were in-boxing me constantly. I was booked and busy to say the least. One thing led to another and I was published in my first magazine a year later. As my modeling career started to grow and I decided to take my photography and content creation seriously, I received less and less support. I learned early on that not everyone wants to see you win. Now, I focus less on what others have to say and more on how I can be better today than I was yesterday. Making your dreams come to life is never easy, but it’s worth it. Everyday I create art that I hope inspires young ladies who felt just like me. I choose to show up for myself everyday so I can lead by example. I started as a scared, insecure girl with big dreams and now I’m on the road to be in Forbes’ 30 under 30 as a self made entrepreneur.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Special shoutout to my amazing family for always routing for me. To mom, who encouraged me to shoot for the stars since the minute I opened my eyes. In the moments when I was at my lowest, she pushed me to persevere with elegance and hold my head high at all times. To my friends who saw potential in me, even when I didn’t see it in myself. My twin Tiana, thank you for being such a light in this crazy world. Ronnie, thank you for always pushing me to stay consistent with everything I do. Zenis, thank you for showing me that being fierce is not something to be afraid of. I’d also like to thank my younger self for not giving up, even when you wanted to. You would be amazed at what we’ve accomplished so far. Last but not least, I want to give a huge shoutout to all of my subscribers and supporters who continuously follow me throughout my journey.

Website: www.TianaNajai.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiananajai/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpVTdgbaGEXKlRwTvQqz4Q

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tiananajai

Image Credits
Alex Schwartz Michael Fo Natasha Cocco Bryan Holmes