An Interview With Fashion Icon: Tonya Giddens

Tonya Giddens ,one of the pioneers, models, and a Director of FFFW (Full Figure Fashion Week) sits down with Michelle and Walter to discuss the state of the industry and the impact of Covid-19

 

About Tonya Giddens

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tonya Giddens has almost 20 years of experience in the business of fashion and beauty.

Tonya started as a freelance makeup artist and learned everything she could by studying and working on all types of complexions. Her freelancing skills paid off and she became a Beauty Advisor for Fashion Fair Cosmetics where she honed her skills and knowledge in the cosmetic industry, concentrating on the importance of skincare for all skin types.

A former plus model, Tonya has appeared in numerous fashion shows and was featured in Sister 2 Sister magazine and Fashion Manuscript (the bible of the fashion industry), among other publications. Her television credits include Fox 5′s Good Day New York, CBS’ The Early Show, Univision, and BET.

Tonya retired from the plus modeling industry and has been the Beauty Director of Full Figured Fashion Week®, the groundbreaking and highly successful fashion event dedicated to showcasing the visibility of plus size women, since its inception in 2009. Tonya is also the creator and producer of “The Conversation Diaries”, a series of specials which will be featured online as well as local television. In 2017 Tonya created The Purple Paisley Brunch (www.Thepurplepaisleybrunch.com), which was created to celebrate

the music of Prince, the artists he influenced, and “The Minneapolis Sound”

 In addition to her projects, Tonya is the president of her local college alumni chapter (Norfolk State University) as well as a board member of The Trey Whitfield Foundation, which provides deserving young people and adults with the necessary financial support and educational opportunities to develop their full potential.

Tonya loves music, reading, photography and is a self-professed “Prince snob”. Her motto is, “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

 

Social Media:

Thepurplepaisleybrunch.com

Brklyngurl.com