Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Brown.
Hi Tamara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Austin, TX, a young Black American raised in a family of four with my twin brother and parents in the secluded hills of Westlake. I began my academic studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson and graduated Cum Laude from Texas State University with a degree in Advertising and Mass Communication. While various forms of advanced writing and musical performance have always had significant roles in my life, I did not begin my fashion journey (outside of watching popular shows such as Project Runway or Americas Next Top Model) until I was a post-graduate. What began as a simple model casting flyer went on to launch a multidisciplinary artist who now specializes in arts, mixed media, and visual stimulation.
It was the Fall of 2023 when I walked as a model in my first-ever runway, a bridal show in San Antonio in partnership with a fashion magazine named B. ECLECTIC MAGAZINE. (I would later go on to work with this brand as a published author contributing to their online and print magazine through lifestyle articles and reviews). One showcase turned into seven, and within five months the rest of my 2023 year was booked with runways throughout Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. Most of 2024 was spent in high pursuit of any and every fashion opportunity I could get myself to. In addition to working a full-time job, I traveled religiously between Austin and San Antonio to attend castings, mixers, fashion shows, and network events – many of these days included 3 or more hours on the road in between cities. One thing I understood was that I needed to be in the room to set myself up for the highest chances of success. It took the dedication of long days, and the perseverance through longer nights, to build and maintain the network of creatives and fellow artists I now operate within and work alongside. Volunteering for events such as SXSW- Film & TV, NYFW, TEXAS FASHION WEEK, and AUSTIN FASHION WEEK emboldened my networking skills and gave excellent lessons in leadership and insight into the behind the scenes of production work.
My professional styling career began in the spring of 2025, kicking off with an in-person Style Masterclass in Dallas, TX, with Celebrity Stylist J.BOLIN of House of BOLIN. Prior to this workshop I only had experience styling myself, but the guidance and mentorship provided here gave the education and business foundations of turning my personal interest into a career I could pursue with intensity. I started being more serious about offering my services to other models, designers, photographers and ended up on the set of several photoshoots acting as Lead Fashion Stylist. It was around this time I began conceptualizing the idea behind T.A.M.R – To Achieving Modern Regalness – about how to turn my styling and design services into a legitimate business. In October of the same year, I won a San Antonio based styling competition called KLASSI KOTURE – the moment provided both confirmation and encouragement to continue.
This has led to successful events and partnerships such as “Riches Art Gallery 5 Year Anniversary Show” (June 2026) – my first fashion show presenting my collection as a designer; “The Texas Met Gala Experience” (May 2026) – my first time creating and co-hosting a fashion show; “The First Annual Survivors Ball” (April 2026) – my first time presenting spoken word for a Mental Health conference, and teaching several model posing and runway workshops with Asuri Art Studio in Austin (February-March 2026). Participation in these events varied from acting as show producer, co-hosting, model, performance artist, designer, and teacher. Most recently, I attended New York Fashion Week (February 2026, September 2026) as a stylist, model, and fashion attendee at multiple shows. I look forward to what the remainder of the year carries, and I accept the challenge and responsibility of growing in these pursuits.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road – no. Has it been worth traveling anyways – absolutely. Obstacles and challenges either benefit or detract from you, based purely on the perspective in which you choose to view them with. It is possible to view any obstacle or any challenge in a positive way if you have faith in yourself and you believe you can create a solution; on the flip side (if perceived as negative) they have a nasty habit of confirming your own worst beliefs. While I would like to say that I have always viewed obstacles from the lenses of how they could benefit me, and how effortlessly I’ve overcome them over the years, it is more honest to admit that I have let them hinder my progression more often than I care to admit. Over the years trials and tribulations have taught me how to create strategies that work best for my own specific learning process, and how to find peace with life at all levels and in every season of the journey.
The first and most important step to overcoming a challenge is to admit that it does exist. We can waste so much time pretending that challenges will simply disappear on their own over time with no intervention or plan to work around the problem; and unfortunately, procrastination to action will only exacerbate the situation. The best recommendation I have learned to intercepting this problem is to make the problem plain – write it down. What sounds like a simple solution can save so much time because it allows you to view the problem as something separate from yourself, and that distance can allow for you to create multiple plans of action in a more organized and successful way. Once you have identified exactly what the challenge is, and you’ve created a blueprint defining the characteristics surrounding the challenge, it becomes much more manageable to start implementing strategies to address it. I recall once having a meeting with my creative director about styling looks for a photoshoot, and we were so engaged and passionate during the conversation that I forgot to take notes while we talked. While it was not an immediate problem, as the days passed it became increasingly difficult to recall specific details and eventually, we had to review them again at another point – essentially wasting time and resources. The challenge I had to learn to overcome was realizing that not everyone needed to take notes to remember things – but I did. Not only did my notes help me to recall and memorize important details, but it also highlighted inner connections between the looks and themes I would have otherwise missed. It was important to recognize the tools available to me that could make future circumstances more manageable.
A second critical part of this process is the need to believe in yourself despite any circumstance, and to know for yourself that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you pursue it consistently and passionately. I love the Arts – music, singing, painting, fashion designing, writing, – creativity in all forms, but it is not the reality I live in day to day. I work a full-time, 40-hour-a-week, Monday-Friday, 8AM – 5PM desk job as a clerk for tickets. Literally the complete opposite end of the spectrum from my dream job. I clearly remember as a child saying, “I am not the kind of person who works in an office sitting behind a desk in front of a computer answering phones all day,” – even then I knew my spirit called me to be on stage, in performances, around art and artistic people.
Having to survive in the world doing something you are not passionate about is extremely difficult for anyone… my biggest challenge? Finding peace with it in the interim. I use my time off to attend shows and castings, I spend my lunch reviewing collections and fashion style guides, after work ends, I hustle to get clients and work on curating projects. I must fight for time in my day to spend doing the things I love, and it’s been my biggest challenge to simply sit on be okay with life looking like this for now, when I fully know my purpose lies elsewhere. However; more-so than the level of my frustrations, I believe it has all been a challenge of patience and faith. Yes – I know what want to do, but – no – it doesn’t mean I get to just quit the thing that pays for my necessities (for now). It takes planning, dedication, discipline, confidence, and a bit of audacity to truly live your dreams. Believe you can and believe the obstacles along the way are there to help and provide guidance and a chance eat evolution, not there to dissuade or discourage you. Have faith in yourself and you will succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a successful and commanding creative in multiple artistic spaces – Fashion Stylist / Designer, Model, Writer, and Singer- I am passionate about building immersive experiences that combine intimate design details with visually stunning layouts to create impactful moments on stage and in everyday life.
My brand T.A.M.R – To Achieving Modern Regalness – is an impact-focused organization that encourages authenticity, boldness, and individualism while defining itself through memorable and impactful fashion choices, powerful and well-written stories, intimate musical performances, and the ability to connect with people through a shared love and appreciation for the transformative power of art. We put the idea of impactful storytelling under a microscope by challenging the belief that success in any art form is limited to only having the knowledge and skills associated with that specific disciplinary. T.A.M.R strives to prove that it is the unique combination of all our artistic tools that leads to missions, projects, and people that unquestionably charge and elevate the conversations happening around them. others.”
My years in the fashion and modern art scene developed a strong eye for complimentary detail, unique design concepts, color theory, and storytelling ability through transforming physical space and clothing into unforgettable and inspired experiences. The commanding force of a professionally styled outfit curates not only an inspired conversation about What the individual is wearing but simultaneously sparks an interest about Who they are. It shifts focus from the brand-based nature of an outfit to the individual as a whole and what they represent. Teaching people the art of styling pours power, authority, and confidence back into an individual’s own hands – using materials already within their possession. My abilities focus on curating excellently styled wardrobes and outfits by starting with the smallest of details in the planning stages, and evolving into masterful editing and accessorizing until the final vision is brought to life. Power can also be reclaimed when an individual discovers and uses their voice through written forms of communication to provide safe and intimate spaces to connect with others.
As a published author, both online and in print, I understand the power a few well-placed words can carry. Using poetry, articles, spoken word, and literature, I connect with my digital audience through black and white typography. I invite readers to meet a hidden part of themselves, to give language to add to their own stories, or recap an exciting show or event by putting the reader into the lived experience. Music itself notably works alongside both visuals and written commentary to become a source of relief and understanding for many. I take my artistic expression one step further by performing live spoken word and a Capella (singing) shows for local and virtual communities in my free time.
Being multidisciplinary artist myself, I understand first-hand both the complexities and intimate nature of working with artists of mixed backgrounds to accomplish specific personal, professional, and social goals. Being able to creatively adapt to the vision and needs of a wide range of consumers, I make the most of opportunities to develop strong networking and interpersonal skills, strong critical thinking skills, and discipline when maintaining a high-caliber work environment and client relationships.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk and reward are compliments of each other; you cannot have one without the other. When I begin to think about what risk looks like in action I think of the word sacrifice, and the concept of having to give something away without the possibility of it returning to you. Now we can look at this word though multiple contexts – perhaps the risk of self-injury, the risk of getting your heart broken, the risk of losing a job or position… all variations of loss. However; when considering the word risk as it is related to Art, I believe its definition becomes one that encourages pushing boundaries, reinvention, and self-sacrifice to the authenticity of the craft. I would like to introduce the idea of risk as necessary to any individual or creative person who wants to change the trajectory of their life through the pursuit of their craft. Risk is speaking your truth and presenting your work regardless of critique. Risk becomes synonymous with courage and doing what others won’t, and risk can look like betting on yourself by placing yourself into rooms you are not qualified yet to be in. When considered through the lenses of achievement and success, risk looks like facing the scary thing head on and doing it anyways.
My journey has been full of risks and rewards, startups and failures, first-times and do-overs. Each pair of words I just mentioned contrast and differ from each other in their base definitions, but when combined they leave a detailed blueprint of what does and doesn’t work, and how to best utilize the things that do. When working in fashion, or any creative industry, there is an ever-present challenge to reimagine and reinvent what already exists. Art is naturally built upon imitation and inspiration from others, but to continue pulling it into the future – artists must make risks to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Back in February of 2025, I attended a big model casting in Dallas, TX for a well-known celebrity designer. Over 700 models showed up, and the line was over 3 hours long in the Texas sun and heat. Still a new model at this point in my career, I attended the casting with several friends who were more experienced in their own modeling journeys to gain knowledge, engage with my community, and take a shot at an amazing opportunity. When asked what advice he had for the models in the days prior to the casting, the designer said, “Be Authentic, Be Yourself,” – and in that moment I devised a plan to combine my modeling and styling skills during my walk by crafting an outfit change to take place on the runway. The entire drive to Dallas I thought about this idea – the plan was to wear a removable shawl as a skirt and do a big reveal on the runway – and how it would separate me from everyone else while staying memorable to the design team themselves. As I stood in line admiring the people around me, I became increasingly nervous about the performance of my idea – I could tell I stood out and I became less confident minute to minute.
Shortly before it was my turn to walk, I decided to take off the shawl, and dismissed my own idea because of the perception of being unique. My number was called and I walked – I finished – and I knew immediately I had made a mistake. I felt so disappointed in myself and believed I had wasted my time coming because I did not complete the mission I had set for myself. I was so upset, I cried in my car and called my brother for advice. After explaining what had happened, he asked, “Well, can you go back inside and try again?” I said “Maybe… I don’t know… I guess I could ask.” He responded, “Try and see – it can’t hurt.”. I gathered myself up – my head was pounding with a headache and my stomach felt nauseous – but I went back to the end of the line and asked the staff if the judges would let me go once again. By their grace they said yes; and I was allowed to walk a second time with my outfit change. I thanked them for the opportunity to be Authentic and although I was not ultimately picked, I at least could leave having felt accomplished. I told myself I would never let the fear of standing out stop me from doing what I believe. Going back was a risk – and it didn’t have to work in my favor – but by putting myself in a position to potentially be rejected, I was instead welcomed with open arms. Three months later I ended up in the room with this designer again, but this time for a stylist workshop. High risk, high reward.
Pricing:
- • Signature: 2 looks + consultation – $150
- • Deluxe: 3 looks + moodboards – $300
- • Elite Weekly: 5–7 looks – $500
- • Professional Event Styling: 1 look for award shows/red carpet – $250.
- • Packages: 10-15 looks – $1000 – $1500
Contact Info:
- Email: tambrown@tamrstyle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tam_brown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamara.brown.547/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tamrstyle
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tam_brown
