We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Renée recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

I love this question. I want young black students to be made aware of the different creative avenues they can take in their college years. We mention the impressive but mundane careers constantly. Teaching, banking, or getting your doctorate aren’t the only avenues available for a successful life. What about becoming the top director at a creative agency? That wasn’t spoken enough in my high school years. I found out years after deciding on a major that there are schools that will help you get onto the sets of the latest Nike campaign or your favorite artists’ next video shoot. One of my goals is to make this knowledge easily accessible through creative workshops for high school students.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hey y’all! I’m Tiffany Renée, and I’m the founder of Melanin, a creative brand dedicated to inspiring and empowering young Black creatives across the globe. Growing up, I felt a deep calling toward the arts—whether it was through fashion, music, photography, or any form of self-expression. I noticed early on that there was a scarcity of spaces where Black voices and perspectives were celebrated, particularly for those who were just starting out in the creative industry and didn’t always have the resources or networks to help them thrive.

Melanin emerged from my desire to fill that gap, offering a community and platform where young Black creatives feel valued and encouraged. Through our website, melaninmagazine.co, and our Instagram page, @MelaninTheMag, we share a mix of inspiration, guidance, and resources that help creatives refine their skills, discover their unique voices, and push their ideas forward. We remind creatives, ‘We see you,’ through our social media comments as a way of encouraging them to keep creating and as a subtle hint that Melanin is thinking of featuring them in the future. The content we offer includes everything from interviews with industry leaders and showcases of emerging talents and their take on the latest creative trends. Ultimately, we aim to spark creativity and provide the kind of inspiration that drives people to create boldly and pursue their dreams.

What truly sets Melanin apart is our commitment to addressing the challenges that we as Black creatives face—particularly the feeling of being under-resourced, undervalued, and sometimes overlooked. We don’t just celebrate creativity; we actively uplift those who are breaking new ground and expressing themselves in powerful ways. Our brand is designed to be a space that amplifies these voices and makes our readers feel seen and supported.

One of my proudest achievements is the community we’ve built. Seeing young creatives from all over engage with our content, take pride in their work, and step into their artistic power is what drives me to keep expanding and innovating. For potential clients, followers, or fans, I want them to know that Melanin isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement. It’s a place where every creative idea is valued, every young artist is supported, and every story has a place.

For those ready to take the next step in their creative journey, I encourage you to visit our website, melaninmagazine.co, or follow us on Instagram @MelaninTheMag. Anyone looking to join the team can also reach out here! I’m excited about the journey ahead and look forward to continuing to celebrate and inspire creatives worldwide.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The dopest thing about being a creative is how often we can make something out of nothing. The gift of creativity, which we all have, is something not to be taken for granted. We’re able to see opportunity when for others, there usually isn’t one. I know a lot of people who have sparks of creativity (or being in the ‘flow state’) but I wish they’d tap into it more! To even have that one spark at 3 AM… that’s something. Run with it. The gift of creativity is that it keeps on giving. Through the execution of one idea comes the inspiration for my next project. It’s like a never-ending world of easter eggs and I’m constantly wondering, “What’s next?”. To be a creative means to create our own opportunities. Make time for that photo walk with your camera. If I haven’t felt inspired I’ll make time for an ‘inspiration walk’ where the sole goal is to find something that makes me feel something. I don’t let the creative spark fizz out. When in doubt, find someone or something that makes you feel something again. Inspiration is always out there, as creatives we just have to make time to go and find it.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Honestly, I undervalued the power of interviews for a while. Doing a deep dive into my favorite artists, like Tyler Okonma, makes me wonder what other knowledge is hidden in interviews unseen? It’s in interviews where I’ve gotten to ‘geek out’ on the thought processes of other creative minds. It’s dope– hearing what the drawing board looks like to them and how they get from this hypothetical blank canvas to a masterpiece. As creatives all of our tools are different. Person A may never create a project without a specific tool, and Person B may not pick up that tool once. What do you need to tap into your flow state? I’ve asked myself this time and time again, and I find myself inspired by hearing others talk about their passion. Often that in itself can be what inspires my next idea.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melaninmagazine.co
• Instagram: melaninthemag

Image Credits

Judah Iyunade, Tiffany Renée, Henry R Jones II, VeliVVS, Pia Fergus