We recently connected with Tiffany Anderson Leo Ra’Chel and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tiffany Anderson thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I’ve always been a creative, even as a child I was always making something or participating in something that helped me to always be in my creative space. I was in choir, drama club, took coming classes and I absolutely loved writing; but even with all the things I did, I NEVER thought about doing them on a professional level.
Most of the things I loved I just knew I would always do them because of my love for them as hobbies……. But eventually I realized that I could really make money from my talents and began doing so a few years ago and I wish I would’ve had the encouragement and mindset to start doing so years ago.
I think if I would’ve started long ago that my creative journey now would look much different. At any rate I’m glad I started when I did because of my ability to truly be in the freedom of the creativity that flows through me!
Tiffany Anderson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the CEO of The Phat Girl Chronicles blog and podcast, and author of several self published projects which include, The Phat Girl Commandments. I am also an amazing artist and founder of Royal Outkast Artistry and the Lead Stylist of Royal Outkast Styling Academy fashion and wardrobe styling company.
I was blessed with a mission to help those around me to embrace their bodies where they are, while teaching the importance of LIVING OUT LOUD!!! Seeing people being their truest self, looking their best, and accomplishing their goals successfully is my passion. I am a Speaker, Podcast host, Producer, Radio Personality, Author/Writer, Designer, Artist, Mentor, Coach, and Fashion Stylist.
I started my business as a stylist because as a full figured woman clothing was minimal, and that left us with no way to express our true individuality through style. As I’ve grown……so have my businesses which made me dig deeper into my life’s purpose and what I would be able to provide to the world. I expanded my business to provide a plethora of services that was not only about the clothing but about the transformative emotional and spiritual power that clothing and the arts are capable of providing.
I began my journey as a podcast host in which I decided to speak from the perspective of a plus size woman on all aspects of life from finances to relationships, to travel and fitness, and I’m a major advocate for mental health awareness…. My goal is to always give a voice to those who feel unheard, underappreciated and left out!
My artistry began initially as an outlet for myself to deal with grief, depression, and anxiety and as I continued to create, the more I wanted to share it with the world. I create intuitive paintings, fashionable one of a kind fashion pieces, and I also also help others to create and publish their stories which in turn helps people to find their freedom through books.
All of my brands are about self expression, self love, self appreciation, and growth!!! I’m proud to say that as I’ve built my brands that I’ve remained true to my why and to the person I am becoming. With each brand, we aim to redefine beauty standards, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusivity in the fashion and entertainment industries. Through authentic representation, uplifting content, and a supportive community, we strive to inspire self-love and confidence, promoting a world where every individual feels valued and embraced for their unique identity.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive platform that champions body positivity and celebrates the beauty of all shapes and sizes.
Through engaging content, meaningful storytelling, and diverse representation, we aspire to challenge societal norms, dismantle stereotypes, and foster a culture of self-acceptance.
By amplifying voices and experiences of the plus-size community, we aim to ignite a movement of empowerment, ultimately redefining the narrative around body image and promoting a more inclusive and accepting world.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
The one thing I think most non-creatives don’t understand is the creative process. Sometimes creativity can flow like water and other times it flows like mud, there’s no rhyme or reason of why it happens but it does and it makes finishing projects one of the hardest things to do.
Creating takes a lot of energy and a lot of thinking even when it may seem like creating comes easy to someone; most creatives are often multi-talented and often have a hard time focusing on one protect at a time as well. Creatives might revise and refine their work multiple times before reaching a satisfactory result. Non-creatives may not realize the iterative nature of creative endeavors simply because THEY may see the project as complete when the creative may see that it’s missing something. For creatives, their work is often an expression of their inner world. Non-creatives might not always see the deep personal significance behind creative projects.
Creatives can be deeply emotionally attached to their work, and criticism or rejection of their creations can be difficult to handle, impacting their self-esteem. Constructive feedback is vital to a creative’s growth, but non-creatives might not understand how feedback can significantly shape the creative process and the final outcome. Creatives often require uninterrupted time and space to focus and get into their creative flow. Non-creatives might not realize the importance of these uninterrupted moments for producing their best work. The creative environment can also significantly impact a creative person’s output. Non-creatives might not fully grasp how certain atmospheres or stimuli can affect creative productivity. And it can get messy……. Sometimes creatives think better that way lol.
Creatives may approach problem-solving or ideation in a non-linear manner, which can be confusing to those who prefer more structured and logical approaches. Creatives often navigate the fine line between artistic freedom and working within constraints, which can be challenging for non-creatives to comprehend. Non-creatives might also not understand the concept of creative burnout, where creatives feel mentally and emotionally drained due to prolonged creative efforts.
Be patient with the creatives in your life, we may be difficult to understand but just think, we’re also trying to understand ourselves in the process.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/leorachel__?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealleorachel?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ThePhatGirlChronicles
- Other: https://youtube.com/@PGCMediaCo https://www.facebook.com/thephatgirlchronicles?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://instagram.com/thephatgirlchronicles?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Image Credits
Michael Hanna