It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...

...without a dope blog to read to. (Timbaland/Aaliyah reference). I can't believe it's been so long since I've written. You would think with me being ill and house bound, I would have written a bit. No worries. I am here now with news, pics and lots of warm fuzzies to spread around!


From the last blog you can see that my agency here in the States put out a huge press release. The release includes articles, a fabulous photo and two billbaords in Times Square and Las Vegas. As you can see below, I am in fact, on a billboard. I always wanted to say that, and thanks to my hard working and determined agency, I am. This is only leading to more amazing things on the way.








As far as an update with the international agency I'm with, Brigitte Models in Germany and the UK, I can now be found and booked through their website:

www.brigittemodels.com

I feel so proud of this accomplishment since it plays so much into my ultimate goal of international travel and exposure. It is such a BIG check off my list, when I think of marking it off, I can't help but jump up and down like a little girl and dance around my kitchen! All smiles over here!


From my Food Network sources, that is, my father and a couple of friends who share his passion for all things cooking, have told me they are running promos for 24 Hour Restaurant Battle - the show I am a part of this summer. Keep in mind I'm in Episode 5. Dvr it, watch it live, play a drinking game to it (any time you see my face, take a shot!). Do what you got to, but don't miss it! It'll be my first national television appearance since America's Next Top Model back in 2007! It's nice to be back on the boob tube.


And lastly, to all my California boys and girls, I will be traveling to Los Angeles pretty soon for work. More details to come, but get ready to show me a good time, Cali-stylie! Big hugs and lots of love to you guys. Thanks for showing interest and keeping up with me on my journey. I am thrilled to pieces you are a part of it. Kisses!

IPM Models Press Release

As you all know, my American agency is IPM Model Management in New York. There are offices in Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles as well. I signed with IPM after a month of moving to New York, and my career thus far speaks for itself. Recently five girls from the agency and I were asked to be a part of a huge press release showcasing the agency and the talent. I was thrilled I came to New York in time to be a part of such an incredible experience. I am grateful to work with such inspiring women who want nothing but the best for each other, and have offered so much moral support in the aspirations of each individual. Here is the press release and the photo chosen of the sexy, curvy ladies of IPM Model Management:


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-new-york-city-plus-size-model-agency-celebrates-curves-96571074.html


Once I receive copies of the photo in high resolution, I will post it here for your viewing pleasure! This can only break down doors and bring in more opportunity for the dream. I am so excited, and look forward to sharing more amazing experiences as they come!

Time to make a change...

Choosing to be in this industry means being flexible with your life. Scheduling, priorities, and meetings ebb and flow like the tides. Sometimes you are so busy you forget what day it is, and other times your days crawl by at an excruciating rate. The past couple of weeks have been a mixture of the two for me. On June 7, myself and Gabby from our agency got a unique opportunity to test with Lane Bryant to possibly become new models for them. They flew us out to their headquarters in Ohio in the early morning. When we arrived, we jumped into hair and make up to start our full day of shooting. It was a blast to say the least. All day we rocked out to classic hits of the eighties, which kept my spirits fun and loose. The office at their headquarters is such a great place. I can't imagine the people who work for Lane Bryant not loving their job. Music is playing everywhere you go, they pride themselves on being green and have signs posted that say "Every day is Earth Day at Lane Bryant", and the organic cafe inside is awesome. Originally we were to do ten outfits, but ended up having so much fun we kept it going to about fifteen or so. No matter the outcome, the experience was unforgettable and I am so grateful I had the chance to meet all those wonderful people and be in such a positive environment. After the shooting was done, Gabby and I hopped back on a plane and headed back to NYC.


When I got home, I honestly didn't think my day could have been any better or more productive, but I was in for a treat! I had received an email from Brigitte Models in Germany with an invitation to join their amazing board of models from Europe and the US. What a thrill!! I immediately responded and have since taken steps to become a Brigitte Model. One of my ultimate goals, as you can tell from this blog, is to go international. This is the first step in achieving that success. Their board is impressive, and I am honored to be part of it.


The more I think about my priorities in this industry, and the pursuit of this career, the more I realize what's truly important to me. It's not so much about the fame and attention as it is the life experience that comes with opportunities like the ones afforded in the entertainment industry. As long as I can remember, I have wanted financial security, world travel and a cultured mind and soul. I want to learn everything, see everything, take it all in and have my mind blown on a daily basis. I am an experience junkie, to put it simply. It doesn't matter how small or great the feat. I just know in my deepest desire, I want to see and be it all. Maybe that's asking a lot, but I think it's possible. There's no limit to what I am capable of. And that thought alone gets me so excited about life. Bring it on!!

MP Fresh Face

Hey everyone! I was recently invited to be a Madison Plus Fresh Face, and couldn't be more honored and happy to do it. The ladies over at Madison Plus have their finger on the pulse of all things plus, fashion and in style right now for women everywhere. Check them out here:


http://madisonplus.com/


And while you are there, check out my Fresh Face article with photos. This blog is going to be short since today is a busy one, but I will be back next week with more! Stay tuned...


http://madisonplus.com/mp-insider/mp-fresh-face-tara/

A job is a job is a... lesson?

This blog is going to talk about a recent shoot I was on and subject matter the marketing campaign is about. Although I believe it is a topic of extreme importance, and something more people the world over need to know about, I want to issue a warning. This warning is mostly for my younger readers who are inexperienced in the ways of relationships and love, and ask that you first have your parents read this blog before you do as it deals with something they may not have brought up to you yet. I will say this, the research on this topic says girls starting as young as nine should be informed, but I realize that is a parental decision and not mine to make. So let's take a brief pause whilst you youngsters do the right thing and let your 'rents know before you read...


Good? Good.


Yesterday I was part of a marketing campaign (in the works) about the virus HPV. This research company is looking to find new ways of getting the word out about HPV, not just to young women, but to everyone. Considering it is linked to sexual health even though it is a public health concern, it can be difficult finding ways to market the vaccine and get information out in general. I understand it is a sensitive topic, but there is so much more that is involved with the over 100 known strains of HPV than most people know about. I hesitated on taking the job initially because my career is so new, and having my stamp on subject matter as stigmatized as HPV scared me a little. But there is one thing I understand: as scary as it is, it is something that deserves attention in order to help save young women's lives. When I arrived at the office, I didn't really know what to expect. And when I left the office, I didn't really know how I felt.


Since the campaign is still in it's infancy and production phase, I won't discuss much on the ads and approaches they are taking to get the word out. I do want to talk about the severity of the virus, and how important it is to take your life into your own hands and get tested. When you start a new relationship, or are in one for years, stay safe and smart and still get tested with your annual woman's exam. As I watched some of the ads they have already made on this topic, I found it really difficult to not get emotional knowing that so many serious health risks, including DEATH, could have been prevented for these women had they been informed, felt supported in seeking information and done something before it was too late.


At the risk of sounding like I am on a soapbox, which is not my intention, I will not go on and on about this topic. There are just a few quick facts I learned yesterday that stuck with me and I felt the need to share.
1. Over 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year stemming from the virus HPV.
2. Not all strains of HPV are incurable, lead to genital warts or cervical cancer, but with so many strains out there, is it worth the risk in NOT getting tested?
3. Pre-cancerous cells are showing up in women with certain types of HPV as young as 22 years old.


I apologize if this subject matter and this blog upset anyone or made anyone uncomfortable. Trust me, the whole time we filmed yesterday, I was uncomfortable. But sometimes it takes getting out of our comfort zones to really learn something important. Think of it this way: When you or someone you know and love finds out they have pre-cancerous cells or complications stemming from a type of HPV, and they didn't know it could have been prevented because they weren't informed, yet YOU did - how uncomfortable would you feel then?


I wanted to come back and add something very important that I left out earlier, and it's something that gets left out when talking about HPV quite often. If you are diagnosed with any form of it, it is not the end of the world. There are so many resources out there to help you live a healthy life even with HPV. It's not knowing you have it, not getting tested and being uninformed that leads to the most severe consequences of this virus. I just want to be clear on that. You can still lead a healthy, vibrant and happy life even with HPV. But knowing and staying informed is your greatest tool for success.

Always learning...

I think it's safe to say that since I have arrived in NYC in January, I have hit the ground running and done very well in terms of making progress in my quest. I do my best everyday to make new contacts, go on auditions, meet the right people and just put myself out there in general. I have learned a lot about myself in the years prior to coming here, and even more since being here - even if it has been for just a short period as of yet. For the most part, I am what you would call an idealist. I like to think of the perfect situation or outcome to a situation, and focus of that. I work hard to get what I want, and can sometimes be stubborn about it (and really bummed when it doesn't happen). I believe wholeheartedly in the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction. Whatever you put out in the world is what you will receive back from it. I don't believe in dwelling on negative outcomes or possibilities, and I try to distance myself from people who do.

What's the point of all this, you ask?

Well, I have done so well focusing and working hard on my career dreams of being a professional in the entertainment industry that I have lost sight of being a success in my day to day life of being a self sufficient, independent adult. Sometimes the downside to being an idealist is that you don't realize you are not being a realist. This is not intended to be a negative blog. I am not at all coming down on myself for anything, but I am learning. As much as, like Rihanna, I "want it all - the fame, the money, the cars, the clothes" - I also want to be completely self sufficient and strong within myself emotionally, mentally and financially. Modeling is a great paying job. One of the best. And for that, I am grateful. But it doesn't really matter if I don't make the effort to invest - not only in the stability of my financial future - but also in the care of my soul.

Maybe this blog is just a rant. Maybe its just a selfish, cathartic act. And maybe it's how I see it. A lesson. I read something really inspiring the other day from Rob Brezny. He said our hearts were made to be broken. Each time it breaks, it opens that much more for love to hold space. I like that. It's not just romantic love that causes our hearts to break. We break our own hearts. The important thing here is when it heals, it's more open for love to enter.

This lesson has been tough, but I think it's the best one I have been given in a long time.

Coming to a television near you...

Although I haven't watched many shows on the Food Network, I have a lot of friends and family that are fans. This is one of the reasons I am so excited that my first bit part in a television show is for a program on this network.



The set was incredible, and I had a big part in helping design the final product for the show. So when you watch, not only am I in it, but I had a hand in creating the decor! My call time was at 8am, and with the studio being located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I was up and at 'em at 5am to make the commute. I arrived a little early, which is normal for me. I do not like being late. When I got there, I met one of the sound guys, Andy, who showed me in and got me some water. I had never been to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The area the studio was located in was mainly all industrial. I had planned on eating and getting bottled water once I arrived before filming, but there was literally ONE convenient store within a 5 mile radius of the studio, and it wasn't open yet. That was poor planning on my part. Normally I eat breakfast every morning, but I was concentrated on getting there on time, so I skipped it regretfully. One thing I look forward to on shoots in the catering. They always have the BEST food on the sets. When I walked in, that wasn't the case and I immediately started to fear I would go all day without eating.

I filled out all my paperwork in order to get paid, and waited for the rest of the cast to arrive. Since it's a restaurant themed show, I was cast as the part of the "Host". There were servers and sous chefs cast as well. When everyone arrived, we all got mic-ed up and ready to film. I was so excited at this point. I had NO idea what to expect, but I was literally holding myself back from jumping up and down, busting out into a dance and acting a fool from the thought of being on television. It may sound silly to some, but my dream is to be in movies. I want to become different people, portray the intricate lives of others and make an impact on the world through the art of storytelling in film. And since this is just one step closer in the process, I am beyond excited!

We walked out onto the set to meet the rest of the crew and begin filming. It was so cool seeing all the cameras, lights and production people hustling about. It was an exhausting day, but so much fun! Everyone was super nice. They did feed us well for lunch, thank goodness! The audio guys were my favorite. They were super laid back and hilarious. Half the crew was from the Food Network, the other half was from CBS. All in all, it was one of the best experiences ever. And to think, that was just a bit part, just the beginning in a long career of filming to come. HOW COOL IS THAT?! When I am on stage in front of my peers, thanking everyone who helped me along the way and aided in me getting to the point where I attained award winning status, I will remember this first shoot and think, "I always knew it'd be like this". I am truly blessed, and truly grateful. I can't wait to see what's next - it's gonna be HUGE.