Tanya’s got the Look - and so much more...Winner Of New Model Reality Show Reveals All

By Walter Greene

We recently did a piece where the original supermodel, business woman Beverly Johnson talked about the new reality show for models over 35. Today, we are pleased to reveal to you the woman who won the `She’s Got The Look’ model search. Meet 45 year-old Tanya Hutchison, a businesswoman and mother of five from Orange County, California. Tanya beat out the top ten finalist in the dramatic finale of `She’s Got The Look’ which was aired weekly on TV Land. She credits her strong belief in God and self, coupled with an awareness of the `Phenomenal Beauty’ concept that she’s carried most of her adult life. Tanya even wrote a book about her `it’ factor -`Phenomenal Beauty: It’s a Journey Not a Destination’

BLACK CINDY CRAWFORD
I caught up with Tanya and she talked about winning the model competition, as well as revealing the ups and downs of her life that shaped her into the phenomenal woman she has become. “When you tell the universe what you want it opens up. The most difficult part of the competition was trying to read the judges and giving them what they wanted. I had a better feel of giving them what they want, it’s a built in awareness of a woman with confidence, one who thinks quickly on her feet. During the competition, I became more confident and I took risks.” Tanya said that a girlfriend sent her an e-mail saying that she should enter the competition. “I have a mission and passion of beauty. I went to an audition then another judging procedure. I’ve had some modeling experience in the past and they called me the Black Cindy Crawford. So, when I went in they were asking questions about beauty. I feel most beautiful at home mopping the kitchen floor. My husband thinks I’m beautiful all the time,” she laughed. It was with that confidence, Tanya moved through the ranks and beat out her closest rivals to win the competition. But, she was not always the confident self-assured beauty that she turned out to be. Originally from Detroit, Michigan Tanya came from a tormented childhood, overcoming major challenges in her journey.

RAN AWAY FROM HOME AT 14
Tanya ran away from home at 14 from a mother who had a history of drug abuse. She did not know her father, was abused and was attacked by a gang of girls resulting in seven stab wounds. “I became insecure and withdrawn as a teenager. My mother was not a role model, my grandmother was very old school. I was searching and became a tom-boy, I became very athletic, girls judged me and from a teen I never really fitted in.” Over the years with lots of soul searching and a solid relationship with God, Tanya was able to overcome several other hurdles that she candidly discussed in her boo k. She leaves no holes barred, Tanya wrote about everything from her birth in the back of a police car to a dramatic abortion at 19, and her successful marriage to her dream guy. The book is a chronicle of her memoirs growing up against all the odds.

MRS CALIFORNIA INTL.
“I was `Mrs. California International’ in 2005 and I went on to compete in the `Mrs. International.’ I didn’t even make the top ten. I came back home and started to think about the book. I refused to let five judges determine who I was...I started to reflect on my life and the things that I’ve overcome...beauty is not physical, it’s a balance of mind, body and spirit.” I asked Tanya why did she enter `She’s Got the Look,’ even after not placing in the `Mrs. International’ and already having the `Mrs. California International’ title. Tanya assured me that she’s a very competitive person who is always looking for the next challenge to share her story or improve herself. “I’d met the man of my dreams, raising kids, everything I do is always second to home life. So, I believe life happens in stages. I believe in God, that is my hope. I had that ounce of hope that the impossible might happen. What if I had given up and stopped after the `Mrs California?’ God has a plan: Whatever is for you - you will have. You’re not finished when you loose, you’re only finished when you quit.”

LET GO AND LET GOD
Tanya moves with an air of confidence which intimidates a lot of women. “I know this because of my presence, my posture and my beauty. But fact of the matter is that I came from a mother of seven children who had different fathers. I was an outcast. Now, when I stand before people with my attitude, plus my perfect balance of mind, body and spirit, that `it’ factor shines through, that’s my `Phenomenal Beauty’ and it’s a rare moment when it all comes together. Even when it came to the ten finalist that moved into the New York Loft for the series of weekly challenges I never knew it was a slam dunk. When it came to the final episode, all sorts of things ran through my mind I did not know who the judges would pick, but `I let go and let God!’”

WINS MODEL CONTRACT
As the winner of this the first televised competition for models over 35 years-old, Tanya won a contract with the prestigious Wilhelmina modeling agency based in New York City, plus a cover shoot and spread in Self Magazine to jump-start her career, as her top prizes. She recalled Judge Sean Patterson, the head of Wilhelmina Models noting that he touched the debts of her soul; “He is absolutely amazing. We went from being terrified of the judges to being excited to see how well we took instructions and how we’d grown. It became a transformation, no matter what point you were eliminated you grew with every challen ge. Sean looked beyond the beauty and saw our soul. The tears you saw on the show were not tears of sadness. With all the defection, I’ve broken the cycle of defeat and I want to share that. People judge you on how you look. People are always thinking I’d had a charmed life. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to share my story, because I was willing to take a risk, no matter the outcome.”

THE `IT’ FACTOR
She’s Got the Look judge Robert Verdi refereed to it as a friendlier beauty. “Any good model is beyond what she actually looks like. That’s why we described that we’re looking for `that certain something.’ We were looking for an awareness that you don’t see in a 20 year-old.” “Beverly Johnson said when she was young and modeling, editors always said `You got it’ but she never found `it’ Now I’ve found `it’ and when it came down to the top three, it was a spiritual something that we all had. We didn’t care who won because we shared that spiritual aspect of what we all had.”

 

Fall 2008 MENSWEAR FORECAST

By Walter Greene

A peek at the new menswear coming out for fall, focuses on a slimmer silhouette in lush fabrication with lots of shine and a throwback to the era of stylized glamour. It’s an old story made new again, men can look forward to more freedom in terms of color choices. Look for more embellishments and bold contrasts. Clashes of texture also makes a comeback, as the season of layers come our way. It’s a simple, elegant way in presenting glamour as designers trim the looks down to go with the minimalist nature of the times we live in.

In a huge empty, downtown loft, menswear designer Tim Hamilton showcased his Fall 2008 collection on a bunch of boys perched on three plinths. Editors, photographers, fashionestas and gawlker walked around sipping cocktails as they scrutinized the teenage models who looked more terrified than anything else. But, this was the vision of the designer to showcase his latest creations on the youngest and newest crop of un-shaved New York youngsters.

The designer reportedly said his inspiration came from Vaslav Nijinksy, star of the Russian Ballet....OK! How does that relate to the modern man of this century? That was an on-going question among guests present, but this is fashion and as we know fashion and the logistics around it has no boundaries. The designer showed a well made collection that included great cardigans shown over tight sweaters or shirts. Shawl collard jackets came with elastic bottom pants. A great single button flannel suit caught my eye.

It was a glamorous collection as shown by fur trim cardigans, fur trimmed jackets and car-coats.=2 0A lounging robe was shown with a delicate fringed scarf and the Mongolian Lamb lined leather coat was shown with a roll neck tunic. Stripped tights under shorts, plus sweater and vest combinations sparked the exuberant collection of this talented designer.