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

Hi Tosha, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has been the cornerstone of every major decision I’ve made. especially when the path was unclear or entirely unpaved.

At the end of 2023, I took a leap of faith and moved to Brighton, Colorado. I had been told I’d have the opportunity to test with one of the larger modeling agencies there. That promise was the reason we left Wyoming – the place where beauty and fashion photography felt like a ghost town sucking my soul dry. I needed more. I needed connection, collaboration, creation. So I convinced my husband to uproot our lives. But shortly upon arrival, that opportunity was gone. The agency had changed their minds, & I was left in a place I wouldn’t have chosen had I known- somewhere between grief & grit.

That moment forced me to redefine risk. It wasn’t just about chasing success-it became about not abandoning myself. About holding onto my creative drive even when the world didn’t offer clear entry points. The fashion industry doesn’t hand you a blueprint. It tests your conviction at every turn.

Through all of this, the love of my life and my amazing daughter have been my anchor. They’ve reminded me why I took this risk in the first place – to build something that felt real, beautiful, and honest. There were moments I wanted to give up, but when I would say I am done – my heart would feel crushed even more so than it already was. I couldn’t let them down, & I have to keep going. I can’t let myself just give up. I’m not a quitter, except smoking… gladly quit that. It was through their belief in me that lit the path when mine faltered.

Risk has never guaranteed reward – but it’s the only reason I’ve ever moved forward. It’s how I keep choosing myself, even when the doors aren’t opening.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart is that I don’t wait for permission to create. I build from nothing. I’ve learned to alchemize frustration into vision-and isolation into defiance.

Nothing about this path has been easy. I lived in Wyoming, where fashion and beauty photography doesn’t exist in any real way. I left everything behind to. chase an opportunity in Colorado, only to be have the door close before I could even knock. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Because I believe in the work I’m meant to do, even when the industry doesn’t offer a roadmap.

The truth is, ‘no’ doesn’t mean ‘no’ – it just means not right now. I’ve had to learn that deeply. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. You have to keep creating when there’s no feedback, no applause, & certainly no guarantees.

The biggest lesson I have learned? Your voice becomes powerful the moment you stop trying to fit in. My work is about integrity, rebellion, & emotional truth. It’s about showing up raw, real, and unapologetically human.

What I want the whole world to know about me & my brand is this: I don’t chase trends – I tell the truth. I don’t conform – I create. And I’m not here to be palatable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am probably not the best person to ask this to as we are very much still trying to avoid covid-19 – so we still mask. In 2021 we caught Covid-19, it left me with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, just as many others have had happen to them. I wouldn’t be alright with myself if I had Covid unknowingly & gave it to someone that then has adverse health issue because of my choice to not mask. So we mask. We are about community. We still enjoy life. I cook often because apparently my body isn’t a fan of all the good things there are to eat so my diet is restricted unfortunately due to not being able to consume things with tomato, potato, wheat, etc… – the good stuff. When we do order food out though its typically from Yampa Sandwiches, The Modern Market Eatery, & The Denver Pizza Kitchen… (I have to substitute the pizza sauce – boooo)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My familia. My heart. I am so entirely grateful for them – they’ve helped me through so much, and to become the person I am today. Those low days when you aren’t sure you are going to keep going – they have been there to push me through to see one more day.

Website: https://www.toshablackburn.com

Instagram: toshablackburn

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/toshablackburn.com

Image Credits
Connor | Otto Models, Nadja G @ Otto Models, Jenny & Jackie S @ Signed By Erin Scimeca Meghan Bears, Meghan @ Best MGMT

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.