ANTM model, Tatiana Elizabeth, is licensed to help your skin look flawless af
You might remember seeing Tatiana Elizabeth‘s face awhile back on “America’s Next Top Model,” but these days she’s extremely focused her beauty brand, SkinBUTTR.
The Queens, New York native model and boss sat down with us to discuss all the ups and downs of her career. She talks about how she got fired from her job before joining “ANTM,” her love for skin, and why she’s so obsessed with all things beauty.
Keeping reading for alllllll the tea!
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What’s your background and how would you describe what you do? Tell us your story.
I’m a model, business owner, and influencer. I’m from Queens, but spent a lot of my childhood back and forth between there and Maryland. I’ve always been very into fashion and beauty and I spent endless amounts of time on Tumblr – idolizing celebrities, fashion, and people who are now my peers.
I always knew I wanted to be a part of the industry and spend my time doing something creative but I didn’t know what. Once I graduated high school, I hopped from college to college until I decided to move to New York on my own.
I had like, 3 jobs, and I would find little modeling gigs on Model Mayhem – pretty much hustled my way into modeling. I knew that modeling in itself wouldn’t support the lifestyle I aspired to have, so I became an esthetician, and started skinBUTTR.
What were you doing before “America’s Next Top Model,” and how did you get to where you are now?
Right before “ANTM,” I got fired from the last job that I had at a spa as an esthetician. I had just started skinBUTTR and was a signed model. Once ANTM came along, I knew I could take the opportunity to grow skinBUTTR and my career as an influencer and model. I took that opportunity and have been working hard ever since to remain relevant and busy.
What made you want to create SkinButtr? What do your products focus on and how long did the process of creating this brand take?
I created SkinBUTTR because I used to make little formulations and DIY body scrubs and butters for myself. My skin can get extremely dry and cracked, and I saw the difference it made on my skin. A light bulb went off in my head that others could benefit from the products as well.
I went to school for esthetics to learn a bit more about skin and how exactly to go about making and starting a skincare line, and it has grown from there. My products focus on hydrating the skin – the scrub exfoliates away the dead dry skin, and the BUTTRs lock in the moisture and deeply hydrate the skin, giving that famous skinBUTTR glow.
I developed skinBUTTR for about a year before launching and it’s been around for about 3 years.
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What was your experience on “ANTM” like? What were some of your favorite moments and what do you feel like you learned as a model?
“ANTM” was an amazing experience. We filmed for a summer and it was like being at sleep away camp – just without phones. The girls and I became really close and I was able to connect with people that I probably would’ve never met otherwise.
My favorite moment was in the beginning – finding out that I made the final 14. It was the best feeling knowing that no matter how far I would make it I was now a part of a show that played such a huge part in my childhood was an indescribable feeling.
ANTM put me in the room with some pretty amazing people that I am inspired by. It also allowed me the opportunity to watch closely on how they move through the industry, which has made me more comfortable and confident in situations as a person and a model.
Tell us about a difficult time in your life that you overcame and explain how you did so.
The most difficult time in my life was when my mom put me out after I graduated high school. I graduated a year early so I was only 16. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, my parents were pressuring me to go to college, and I felt pulled in so many directions.
I was genuinely afraid for my future, and depressed and afraid that I wouldn’t be successful. I didn’t really have much guidance, just people telling me what to do without actually explaining why and how it would benefit me. I overcame this by just pushing through.
I had to find myself and not be so concerned about others and their opinions – whether it was friends, family, parents. I learned to trust my instincts, be smart, research, and ultimately just be a genuine and happy person. Thus far, things have been working out. I’m living out my dreams, independently.
What is something about you that people can’t read about online? Something you don’t share with most?
I share most off my life online, it helps me feel more connected and have something to relate to. But, outside of the things I do share, I have really bad anxiety. I often am super concerned and worried about situations that I don’t have control over.
But, I’ve learned to flip it around into a benefit – I feel like it helps me accomplish more. I work the best under pressure. In addition to the pressures I already face, me putting that extra pressure on myself pushes me to go that much harder and get through.
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What’s your everyday skincare routine? Walk us through the process.
Every day I cleanse, tone, and moisturize with the Skin by SkinBUTTR line. In the shower, I scrub about every other day and apply SkinBUTTR body butter all over – my fave is “Pomango!”
What do you want our readers to learn from this interview?
It’s cliché, but I want people to know that anything is possible with the right attitude. It took me a long time to realize that things weren’t happening for me because I didn’t know who I was.
I had to learn how to truly be happy within myself, focus on myself, and take the necessary steps to make things happen for myself. I hope for anyone reading this to know that you can do whatever you want to do with hard work and persistence.
Photographer: O’Neil Haye
Clothing: Matte
