Confidence and Clothes: Tall Girl Talk ft. Co-Founder and CEO of Mesmerized Fashions Tabran Howard

Good morning everybody. You are currently listening to a tall Girls podcast hosted by a tall girl named India. I hope everyone who's tuning in today is doing super fantastic. We have an amazing, a very very very special guest with us today. She is the CEO of Mesmerized Fashions. Hi, Tay Brand, how are you doing going all girl? We are here period. Oh my god, I absolutely love, love, love your energy. Please just take a second to introduce yourself to the audience. Alrighty, what's up, y'all. It's your girl, Tay briand I am CEO of Messritse Fashions, a new tall women's brand. Yes, honey, I am six foot three. Just to let you know, period, period, period, Yes exactly. I am from Ksu, Missouri. Was raised in Dallas. Then I moved to New York, went to school, graduated with my associates degree in Fashion Merchandising. I modeled being InVogue and in everything I traveled to the world, been overseas. We live here in La now. So yeah, ooh, look at you got a whull list, got a whole list. I love it, And so I just want to hear a little bit about your experience growing up as a tall girl, because he did say that you were six y three. So the good, the bad, the ugly, Like, what was that like for you? Okay, So growing up, I will say that my mom and my mem definitely raised me to love my height. And my mema I would always be like, no, you know, bring your shoulder up, walk with your head held high, don't slouch like my mema was. I believe she was by rust her so six feet and she got her hair blonde. So if you you already knew he was going to come in and see her, you know, she did not care. So I always loved that about her. And like my mom too, she's six feet, so you know, it was for me growing up as a tall girl. It was actually it's actually been a great experience. The only issue that I do have is that, you know, people see me, they act like I'm like a statue or like they'll try and touch me or touch you. Girl. Yes, yes, they'll come up as if I'm like an alien sometimes and I have to, you know, kind of put them in their place, like, you know, I'm still a woman now, Still I'm not an a statue. Now, how would you feel if I came up to you and nitpicked at you and asking you questions. But I tried to. My mom taught me to make it fun because it's easy for us to get annoyed and frustrated and will kind of come off, you know me, And it's like, I'm not trying to. It's just I want you to respect my space like I'm respected your space. So I try to be like, hey girl, yes, honey, I'm six ft three, I'm a share of legs with you. You know, it's all up in the knees. You know, you'll be tall like me too. I try to make it a fun experience because some people when they see different or unique people, they don't know how to react. So you have to try and you know, kind of teach them how to treat, you know, a unique person. I just try to make it a positive thing as much as I can. Now, if someone is being rude disrespectful, they know that they're doing that, then that's a whole nother story. But other than that, growing up as a tall girl, love it, love, you know, God bless me this way. My mom and dad Mom sixteen, dad sixty five, love it. So I would never if I had the toy it. I would never change my height. Oh my gosh, I absolutely love that. I love hearing that you had good experiences with being tall, And I do want to ask, like, while you said that it is good, was there like something involving your height, maybe a question, maybe a comment that you absolutely hated hearing from other people. The question that I hate hearing the most is do you play basketball? It's like, now at my age, I'm twenty eight, So now how people approach me? Oh do you play? That's why I'm like, hello, my name's Tapran. And then they were like, oh, I'm so sorry to mean to I have to, you know, teach them how to approach, you know, people that look unique. You know, if I saw a little person, I'm not gonna oh how short are you? How you know I'm not gonna pack there. Whenever I see a unique person, I still approach them like any other person, you know, Like I still shake their hand. Hey, my name's Taprin, was yours blah blah blah. We have a great conversation. So the only issue I have with that is the do I play sports or basketball? That's very annoying, especially they just assume that all tall people have to play sports. And I've had people I had I remember, I'll never forget. At a young age, one person came up to me asked me if I play sports. I said, I used to, but I don't anymore. And I modeled at that time. I was just modeling and when I went to school and so they were like, well, I just feel like you're wasting your life. You're wasting your life if you don't play sports. You're not using your hype. And I was like, well, at that time, when I you know, as I'm getting older, I'm starting to you know, yeah, of cour it's my opinions. People. I looked at them and I said, are you enjoying your life? What are you doing to make yourself happy? Are you? Because I'm fine where I am so and they just that's quiet. But you see how I flipped it on them. You're not going to come in my space and be rude or negative because we're my aura is. This is all peace and then and good energy babies, So you're not going to ruin that. So I just like I said, we're all my tall, beautiful queens out there, the young ladies out there, please just understand that some people are just as my clothing, likee mesmerized by our height, by anyone that's unique. So you have to teach them how to treat you and how to treat others that may be different from them. So that's all I answer. Oh my gosh, that was amazing. And then you were talking about how you model. Can you tell us like a little bit about your experiences with that because there are some instances. I especially did an episode with this with two other well yeah, two other models, and they were talking about how they were called too tall, like in the modeling industry. Has that ever happened to you? Like what what were your modeling experiences? Like? Who? Now that's the story. I'm try and keep that as short as possible. But okay, So left Texas with my mom. We sold our house. She literally drove with me across country from Texas to New York for me to go to school. Yeah, but you know, give it up. All the mom was out there that support. So we drove cross country for me to go to school. Out there for fashion and modeling, so get there. It kind of started off a little slow. I started working with photographers and everything, and then I was actually suposed to sign with before actually moving to New York when I was still in Texas and I was, you know, it was my senior year. I was actually I actually flew out to New York to look at the schools, to everything, and I went to an agency that reached out to me, and it was actually one of the top agencies out there, and they wanted to sign me right then and there. But I was like, I want to finish high school. I want to you know, experience prom you know, I'm going to move out here in the next few months, later this year, so I'll see if they're still interested. Unfortunately, they you know, moved on. But that's okay, because guess what. I moved out there. I went to school. I ended up signing with a mother agency out there. I ended up being in Vogue. I ended up being I have a documentary on YouTube that talks about my story of being a model. What tonight watch? Yeah, I actually watched it the other day and I got teary eyed because all the comments. I only saw like a few little negative comments, but other than that, I don't care. All the commers were just saying, Yo, the southern tall girl, she's cool, she got energy. I know she don't make it big. And it's just crazy because now looking back, I finally did everything on my vision board and my journals. I moved to Paris, I moved to South Africa. I was signed out there. I walked for Couture Fashion Week. What else. I was actually on the list for top twenty five models to look at on BT dot com at the time with Wynnie Harlowe. So I got that. Yeah, girl, So I even though you know, I decided, I'm glad that I decided to stay home. Finished my school education. I graduated high school, went to prom, I was with my friends, and then I moved out there, and you know, that's how God wanted to be. So also, I have to add this too. I was scouted by I believe Tired Beaks. Yeah, she scattered me out on my social media at the time. That's when it started, you know, becoming big and America's next top model. One of the casting directors they contacted me and so I and I have to ask my best friend from college, my roommate, if we still have the video of my submission. Yeah. So, yeah, I've done it all. I didn't get on the show, but that's okay. So you know, we still made it out here in the mall. Actually had to six for three black women. But let's go to the dark side. So I was told I was too tall as well, which is interesting because in the nineties and the eighties they were all tall, beautiful models. So I was like, Okay, I got it. We're gonna the tall girls were out here. We're gonna be good. No, ma'am, they would rather have I would say five six to maybe five foot nine, five ten, maybe six feet, but after six feet it's a rap. It's a rap. Six five six, five seven, five seven to five ten maybe six feet. Like I said, after six feet it's pretty much a rap. It's a rap. And especially me being six ' three, black model, black features, I literally was told that I would never and from I don't even remember his name, don't matter, but I someone in the fashion industry. He told me I would never get a beauty campaign due to my black features. And it's coming from black man. I was like, oh my God, like and this is I'm in college, so I'm still a little baby. So it just like crushed me because I was like, okay, well know that anytime someone said that I couldn't do something, I would do the opposite. And so like how they'd be like, oh, you can only play basketball, that's okay. I was a cheerleader, I was a ballerina, I was on drill team. I was the tallest girl out there. But I still could kick my to my nose, I could jump the highest all that. So anytime someone said that I couldn't do it, I would do it. Overall, my modeling experience has been really good for me, being a six with three black girl with black teachers, but it definitely has this dark side as well. Just know that your girl definitely has went through a lot. And I'm just proud of myself that I didn't lose myself. I still stay true to myself. I'm still loud, I'm still goofy, even at this big age of twenty eight, Like, yeah, what you see is what you get. I'm not gonna change because it's definitely helped me to be the woman I am today and where I am and career wise. So yes, moling for tall women. I feel like it's definitely changed. Like you see girls with tattoos like that was that never happened. Models with tattoos and piercings, and like years ago that wasn't allowed. But now I feel like things have definitely changed. Now we got the gaps and the teeth, we got the crazy hair, we're ball headed, we got the tattoos. I got tattoos now, so that's not stopping. You know, are what we're gonna, what we're trying to do. But yes, as a tall six or three model, it has had its struggles. I've definitely cried on my mama's lap upset. Didn't understand why they didn't like me, And I was the model that would work hard and I would see other models not really putting in the work. Yeah, and I'm like, well, how in the world are they getting this magazine? And I could do that too, I mean, you're putting. I never understood this. Designers would put my shorter models in the longest gowns and they could not walk it. But you got me that. But overall, I've had good in the bad experiences. It's just I find it very interesting the shift because you know, as you were saying before, they're more inclusive. They have ifros, they have bald people, they have tattoos, gaps in the teeth, But you're kind of also excluding people because of their height, and it's like those it's like one of the things that it's like you more so can't control. It just makes no sense it. I'm so glad you said that I cannot control my height and even if I could, I would not. And also with me being six foot three, I am slim. But my family we got curtins for days. So as I grew up, yeah, you know, at first, I was, you know, nothing flat and all that, no hits, none of that. But when I moved from Texas to New York, growing up from eighteens t one and twenty, I started feeling out. And so as a model, they want you to be like a mannequin where they could just throw whatever on you and you walk out. So when you have hips and thighs and a little bottom, you know, breast, that's like a little bit of a no no, you know in world. Yeah, so I went through that too, not only with my height but also me feeling out. And I was like, but I love it because I want to look like you know, I want to have a figure. I'm going to a woman, a young woman, so I cannot look like a little kid anymore. So that was also something I went through as well. And I never had issues. I've never been told that I was not well. They said I was fat, but they just would be my agency at the time. You're like, your hips are spreading, and I was just like, well, I think that's a beautiful thing. You know, what if I want to have kids soon or what if you know, like I think it's a beautiful thing that my body is filling out nicely. So it just I didn't understand that at the time. Like I said, I was still young and so this is all new for me, and that was also a struggle. I'm six foot three, but I can't change my weight my shape because then I'll look really not healthy. You know. I don't want to say, but with us being tall, we cannot be under our weight, like we'll look unhealthy. And you know, it's a lot. It's a lot, and I don't like seeing that, you know. I don't like seeing young girls having to feel like they have to die in Like it was at a point where I would eat and then work out and I'm like, Okay, I gotta lose i gotta measure myself. No. No. Once I moved from to South Africa, I came back home to Texas. I took a year off from ALLI. I at one point I didn't want to go back to it because that's how mentally draining it was, unfortunately, but I just said, you know what, I'm gonna have my own clothing line. I'm gonna make sure that I'm you know, help young girls to be healthy, love their heights, feel beautiful in their clothes. I don't want girls to feel like how I felt years ago on the mall, and that was very tough. It's a lot. It's all in the world. I feel like it's gotten better, but my money this was years ago. Yeah, and then you mentioned your brand a little bit, Let's switch years to that, Like, tell us a little bit more about mes Ride's fashions, Like what is your mission? Like what do you guys sell? Like what is it all about? Okay, so Mesmerized Fashions, Well, the reason why me and my mom my mom is actually a co owner CFO businesswoman too of Mesmrized Fashion. So mother daughter duo. Whoo, how we came up with the name. I always was told when I saw you walk through the room, I was mesmerized and I was like mess. And this is when I was at a young age too, and I'm growing up real fast and everything tall than all the other kids. So I was like mesmerized, and so my mom actually came up with the name, and at first I was like, well, I don't know, like mesmerized, Like at the time, I didn't really understand, like that word is a really beautiful meaning of you know something that's unique, and you're like, it just takes your breath away. And I've always been told that when I walk in the room, not just because of my height, but my personality, my aura. So that's why we chose the name, and I'm so happy we did, because mesmurize can mean, like I said, different things, unique, beautiful, takes your breath away, all that. So I when when my tall girls wear are clothes, I want them to have that same feeling like I do when I wear clothes that fit me well, they're long, the sleeves to your wrists, and I want them to feel mesmerized. And I want them them to get those types of reactions from people, because like we already know, growing up as a tall girl, we get the not so nice reactions. So I want them to know that being beautiful and being tall is a beautiful thing, and they need to know that, they need to just love love it. I just want them to be able to love the high because you can't change it, but we can change, you know, help people change their attitude. Yeah, exactly. So I just want my girls to feel Mesrin's feel beautiful in our clothes so that I love, especially like you starting it with your mom, Like, what is it like running a business with your with your mom? Me and my mom are five sons. She's in aries. I'm sad, so you already know so I can understand. Let me not say nothing too hot, and let me not say too much. No, just playing. It's actually I actually was talking to her before hopping on our podcast interview. But it's going actually really well. I already knew it would. We always have such a close bond. I always looked up to her, Like I told her recently, I was like, mo, I don't think you realized, like when when we moved to Texas and how you would. I would just watch you get ready for work and you just had your suits on, your nails done, your hair, Like I just saw that confidence in my mom, and I was like I want that too, And I just told her, I know it sounds crazy, but the way you would brush your teeth and do your hair, I just wanted to do it the same way because I looked up to her so much. But that just warmed her heart because you know, she was a single parent, single mom. I was raised by single mom. Whoop whoop. Shout out to the single moms out here, you know, killing it doing her thing. When she had me, she was she actually got her dual master's degree in everything. She was still modeling. She actually before she had me, she was supposed to move Overseas with her agency. She found out she had me, so she decided, you know, to stay in Missouri, you know, finish school, have me, raise me and everything. So it's just really nice to have such a strong bond with someone up parent that's very supportive. I hope when I God blesses me to have kids, I'm gonna be like her. I love how she raised me to love who I am. Uh, speak up for myself, be confident, but still humble at the same time because you don't like her again, but it's you know, we need to have confidence because we're unique people. So but so far so good running with business. You know, she says something, I gotta hear her out, let her say what she needs to say, And then I said what I need to say. We also have people that come in the middle, like, Okay, we understand where Tavan is, understand where you are trying to. Let's try and come together. Yeah, it's a really healthy mother daughter friendship, business partner relationship. I will say that that's good to hear. I absolutely love that, especially like the relationship with your mom and her even being a model too, so like both of you guys have like a little bit of experience in the modeling world. So that's kind of like where I guess your your love for fashion came about. And I wanted to ask, like, what role do you think that fashion and clothing like playing the confidence of tall women? And has it even helped your confidence personally? I feel like times have definitely changed because growing up tall, I grew I had a gross for I had hit a gross forer And like I said, I was raised by a single mom who was working going to school, and I mean jeans back in the day would be like a hunt undred and twenty one hundred and fifty for a good pair, and it's like my child is just going so fast, but I can't, you know, keep up with it. So I feel like I'm just I would say, I'm just happy that a lot of women tall brands are coming out here more and making sure that they're taking care of other tall girls and women and really making sure that we get the trendy stuff too, especially oh my god, the shoes, like extended shoe sizes. Thank you guys for starting the shoe company. I'm a size twelve sometimes thirteen in shoes, and I like to wear my six inches. I don't want to do the kitten heels all the time, you know, so exactly, I will say times have definitely changed. I'm thankful that more people are coming out and with their own businesses and for tall women, extended shoe sizes. Yeah, you know. And I also think that with fashion and clothing and stuff, a lot of people talk about personal style and how that just helps them like express themselves, helps them feel more authentic. I think I even said, like in the last episode, I think I posted that as a real tooth, like wear what you want, what where? What makes you feel confident? Because confidence is the best outfit that you can wear right. So I feel like when you look your best and you feel your best, like you you know, Yeah, I agree with you. I think that what you do, what you are doing, and what other brands are doing are it's just like you're really just helping tall women like feel more confident in more ways than helping them look their best and feel their best. So I think, I just I absolutely love that. I absolutely we're trying what we're doing when we're doing yeah, and like that we're not just trying, we're doing We're doing it, not trying, We're doing it exactly. And then now for the last question, what is what is one piece of advice that you want to get to the tall girls listening right now who are struggling with their self esteem because of their height. Yes, to my sweet babies out there that are tall, mesmerizing, unique goddesses. Just know that you are beautiful and that you have a tall woman's sisterhood out here that wants to help you, wants to support you, wants to be there for you through everything that you're going through. Just know that God made you the way that he made you, and love that be confident but still humble, don't allow people it's hard, but don't allow other people's mindset telling you that you have to do this. You can't do this. Like I said, if someone said that I had to play basketball, okay, well you'll see me. I'll play the alto saxophone and the piano. I did cheerleading gymnastics. I have one of my guy friends, hey, Dwayne Jesus, he's six with seven an'estesiologists like I like he. You know I have guy friends girlfriends out here that are tall and doing other things. So just know that you're beautiful, we love you. Be confident, wake up thankful that you're waking up for another beautiful day of life. God made you the way he made you. You're unique, You're mesmerizing and your gudess. So I will say that and keep that confidence, keep that energy up. Don't listen to what anyone says. Do you and this is your life. You don't live for others. You have to live for yourself. Oh my gosh, thank you that was amazing. Thank you so so much for that advice, and oh my gosh, thank you so so much for being on this podcast and just sharing your story. Can you please like can just just like plug yourself, like, where can we find you on the interwa y'all can find me on Instagram at Tabrand, Underscore Model, t A b r A n On Score Model and also Mesmerized Fashions Baby Mesmized Fashion, because that's what you find me. Yeah, I'm gonna link it below so it's easy for y'all to just click on it and go straight there. And I'm gonna take a moment to plug myself as well. I had a Tall Girls podcast Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest. Literally you could just search up a Tall Girls podcast on Google. I'm more than like it's been years now, I'm more than likely google baby exactly. And thank you again, so so much Taybran for just joining me on this episode. I really, I really appreciate it and I had so much fun with you today. You too, I appreciate you, baby girl. Thank you for having me. Love you guys. Thank you so much audience for tuning in today. It was a pleasure. And I'll catch you guys to the next one. Good night and goodbye bye.