The best friend I never had from NYFW Mariana Tatiana

I had such a fun time getting to know this girl! I had the pleasure of meeitng this wildflower in the hallway of the CROWN PLAZA in NY for Fashion week, while complaining about how long hair and make up was taking.  Brefily we spoke about our modelng expierecnces and home life And immediatly I knew this girl was like the best friend I never had. 
Here is her article! Now you can see why Marina is the girl you need to know! humbled spirits like this dont come around too often! ​

MARIANA TATIANA

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Im 21 years old, I have the biggest heart you'll ever meet. I live in Pennsylvania with my mother and father and my twin brother. We look absolutely nothing alike, hes bleach blonde and bright blue eyes and I'm dark brunette and green eyed. We're both adopted from Russia at the age of 31/2. We were taken by the Russian government at 1, spent 2 ½ years in an orphanage and then our parents brought us home. Ever sense I can remember I've always wanted to model, even before I knew what modeling was. Always was posing or being silly in pictures and have always been a really dramatic little kid (and adult) my goals are to walk massive runways, see myself laughing on a tv show one day (I would call it leave it to Marina) because I drop, spill, break things on the daily. It's almost comical how clumsy i am? I'd love to have a show that makes people laugh. My favorite things is to make people laugh.. whether I mean to or not.
I'm very ambitious and easy going, I'm kind hearted but also very strong. I like to stand tall and hold my own and I'm very outspoken

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How long have you been modeling?
When I was 16 I had a boyfriend (now ex) but I met his friend who was super into photography. I was no model back then, just a massive hearted dreamer and believer in myself and we linked up and started working together. I actually credit most of my success to Tom Donkin and all the help I got from him. We did photoshoot after photo shoot after photo shoot. And he never charged me a dollar. We always had a pact if either of us makes it and comes out on top we're gonna bring one another with us. Most of my photos came from him honestly. My loyalty lies with him as far as photographers go. I think I helped get him a lot of business, people would see my photos and ask “who shot that!” And I'd always say “tommy did” and now I feel like he's so so busy with shooting people.. and now he gets paid ;) so I would say I 'practiced’ sense I was 14 and started shooting at 16 and got signed when I was 19 to REACH model management, owned by Alycia Kaback. At 21, during fashion week in NYC of 2016 I got noticed by Luis Nunez and signed to CLAVON owned and run by Leonard Clavon. So unofficially I've modeled for 6 years. Officially (paid) only about 2 years

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What’s a typical day for you?
I live in Pennsylvania, not in NYC. So for ME a typical day is going to work and being with my family and giving my puppy kisses, a normal everyday life really. While on call though? My “model life”  if you wanna call it, a typical day in nyc for me is running around the city to be on time for various castings/go sees, anywhere from 1 to 7 within a day, subway rides, buying bandaids for the blisters I get lol, walking for designers, waiting for hours at times, eating and bookstores in my down time. I feel like I have two very different lives but I love it

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What's your favorite part?
Oh my goodness… I don't even know how to answer that.. my favorite. I would say how much modeling has personally helped me. My confidence is outstanding, it's humbled me, and it's made me proud of myself. I grew up with a lot of self hatred and internal conflict. Modeling has been my own personal therapy session in a way. I love how it's a constant push, you can't just be “good” at it.. you always have to work and work hard for it. A model is a title you have to earn, and work your ass off. You can't just be a pretty girl and do nothing with it and tell people you're a model. You're not. You have to be dedicated to travel and not having money and giving up your friends and family and life at times. You have to be willing to not sleep for days on end and you have to be willing to basically hand yourself over to the industry. So I think my favorite part of modeling is how much its opened my eyes and helped me grow up. I think it's a common misconception that modeling is “easy” .. it's not. It's hard work and it's grueling and times and very tiring. You hear no twice as much as yes, you come in contact with a lot of criticism and even some nasty comments. You give up a lot of yourself for others in a way, and it makes me kinda laugh because most people think models have it so easy. But most could not do our job. So i'm really in love with how strong modeling has made me, and all that it has taught me.

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How was home life for you growing up?
My home life was a good one looking back. Though in my adolescence I rebelled so bad. I was no good at school and I was really weird so a lot of kids didn't like me. I'm a very social human so that would really hurt my feelings and I think I took it out on my family a lot, which caused problems. My family is a little different then all the others I've been around.. not that I would EVER change it. My parents are very old school and my dad was always really strict. So naturally we would butt heads A LOT. I went through a really rough phase and ripped my whole family apart for about 4 years which took a toll on all of us. I think I always felt like I didn't belong due to knowing about my adoption, at the time I had the mindset that they couldn't possibly love me the same as they would their own and I let it harm our relationship. Now, years later I know I've never met humans who could love me more. They saved my life and I owe them all my gratitude. I would have nothing without them, including modeling. Id never have had this chance without them extending their hearts to give me a life I didn't when they met me. So my home life has been a rollercoaster to say the least. And I've hated the ride at points but never would I change it. My loyalty to them was earned in time and my family became my world.

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Were you always supported in your endeavors?
Mmmmm. I wanna say yes and no. I think a lot of people laughed at my dreams or thought of me as silly. My mom has always been supportive and has always been my biggest fan, my father was more strict and serious about it. I think he wanted more for me and didn't want me to “throw my life away” on a silly dream. I've seen A LOT of money go down the drain chasing my dream (though end result is and always will be worth it) but he hated how much id do things for free or bend over backwards for nothing in return. So, I wanna say my family was supportive though at times it caused fights and issues. I never had a lot of friends but I learned as I got older that a lot of teachers and former classmates were impressed with me for really doing it, and achieving the title.

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My biggest support system is my mama and my boyfriend zachary. Hes super relaxed about me canceling plans and he stays patient with me when things pop-up and i have to run off for days to weeks, I know there's guys who wouldn't do what he does for me. How many times I've been dirt broke from putting my money into hotels and traveling and he's paid bills for me to help me get by.. it's amazing how supportive he is. Hes always pep talking me if I don't get a call back or a casting is a bust. And how many times hes put his game controller down because I need him to take digitals of me.. he even has done photoshoots with me. And he never complains about any of it.
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If you could shoot with your favorite celebrity who would it be. And what kind of concept?
Angelina Jolie. Not even a question. I'm not big on celebrities, I hate ego and to me they're heart beats the same as mine.. were the same.. but she to me, is royalty. I'm in love with her. I'd leave my boyfriend for her.. not even joking ? I think I'd want to do a shoot with her and children of every race and color, the idea would be that we are all human and we all matter and they are all loved. I'd want it almost candid, laughing and smiling and I'd want someone to feel love through the photograph, I'd want people to see it and feel unity and cared about. I'd want the photo so be so powerful that whoever is seeing it feels something in their heart.. who better to choose then Angelina Jolie. I'm not one for idols but I look up to her tremendously for so so so many reasons. That's one person I'd pay money to have the chance to talk to. Ugh. I wish so bad.

Who is your favorite designer? .. whoever invented sweatpants honestly. Real MVP.

Any other additional hobbies?
I love to write to people. Not anything particular whatever is in my head really, but if you're in my life then you've probably received a lot of letters from me. I love to walk.. ​

What is the biggest challenge you faced in your career
UGH. There's a few answers to that. I'd say the biggest was learning that it's okay to hear no.. cuz you do. Alot. I would get so down and out on myself for not being “perfect” enough for the industry. It took some time to learn that there's always gonna be someone who doesn't want or like your look. I remember I went to a casting and the casting director was so mean.. literally picked apart everything about me, I didn't cry there, but I definitely left trying to keep it together. I just couldn't understand why he was so mean. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter. Some directors are mean and rude and some are super sweet and totally awesome to work with. I had to learn that I'm not perfect and that's okay but I'm me, some will LOVE my look and some will HATE it. But that in the end it doesn't really matter. I think I learned that it's what you present from within that matters. Not my appearance. I've landed a few jobs solely on my personality and that's a pretty big win.
What has been your biggest achievement?
I've had a couple but I'm gonna say I don't have a greatest achievement yet, I've still got to much I wanna accomplish so that's an open-ended question for me.

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Where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years.. oh no.. I feel like I'll be so old by then. I would say in 5 years I'll have international representation, some campaigns under my belt and I'll have grown enough balls to audition for the victoria's secret fashion show by then. I also hope in 5 years I'm married to the man I love, but anything can happen I guess. Also though I'm still the the thought process of how to execute my goal but I'd love to start a donation of sorts for children's homes and orphanages across the world, especially 3rd world or war stricken. Kids are my soft spot and there are so many children out there who need our help. They have nothing and nobody and they don't know what love is. My personal goal in my life is to give back to them and show them they matter and I care about them all. I wanna get an organization started to send drop boxes to the poorest of orphanages and children's homes. Fill them with stuffies animals and toys, books, clothes and diapers and especially food and formula. People have no idea how poor of nutrition these children have. Kids die everyday across the world in these homes they've been left in.. for various reasons but there's not enough food to go around for them all. You have no idea how hurt I get over the thought of their suffering. My biggest goal and ambition in my life is to save at least one life and one heart of a child with nothing. I wanna save them all, and I'm going to try, but if I can save one.. I'll die happy.  ​​

What's your favorite quote?
“All that wanders is not lost”
I think it's so sweet and simple but says so much. I find myself thinking about it a lot..

Do you have any shows or events coming up?
Yes! December 10th I walk for ClavonsWear in time square


What would you tell anyone doubting themselves?
Do it. In the end you're only gonna regret not doing it. If it's a thought you think of then execute. If it's something you really want then get it. And do whatever it is you have to to achieve what makes you happy. Unless you're killing someone or something… then don't do it…..go get help.

Who inspires you? My mother, grandmother and Angelina Jolie. All for their hearts…

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MARIANAS OFFICAL FACEBOOK

Photo credits: 
Tom donkin
New York City Photography by Dez Santana
Nadège Richards

MARIANAS OFFICAL INSTAGRAM