What is the definition of a Renaissance person? They are a person with wide interests and expertise in several areas. Brooklyn born, Nigeria raised, Tinu is a Renaissance person being a Billboard-charted singer, model, publisher, a skilled pole fitness practitioner and a devoted wife and mother of two young children. If this were not enough she also adds collector, brand ambassador, trendsetter, and admitted “shoeholic” and couture addict to the mix. She was celebrated at her glamorous birthday party by many friends including several Who’s Who in the entertainment and fashion industries.
Tinu exuded confidence as she made a grand entrance wearing couture designer, Diana Mahrach’s gorgeous gown. She states “I live life colorfully and expressively. I cannot be a wallflower.” She couldn’t if she tried!! She changes her look like she changes her shoes. “I can go from Metallica to Giambattista Valli,” she said. “I wear clothes that reflect my innermost expression. I like the outfit to speak before I speak. I can enter a room without saying a word, and the party becomes electrified.”
She adds, “The environment dictates the outfit. You need to dress accordingly,” she said. “If I’m going to an event downtown at Mr. Purple, I’m wearing hot pants, big earrings, and an afro. For an event on the Upper East Side, I will choose something like Hermes or Chanel. You don’t want to insult the host.”
Friends and notable guests from the music, arts, science, film and fashion industries came out in droves for the brilliant evening. VIP’s included Stylist to Beyonce, Ty Hunter, Nigerian visual artist, Musician, singer/Songwriter, and former human rights attorney, Laolu, Olympian, Howard Lindsay, media liaison for famous brands and artists, Lucky Church, Bravo TV Personality, fashionista and entrepreneur, Mica Hughes, film producer, manager of major stars and author, Ramon Hervey II, photographer to the Stars, Dustin Pittman, Celebrity Stylist, Ty-Ron Mayes, Comedian and Author, Jeffrey Gurian among many others. A sumptuous dinner, dancers and DJ Robert Jones made the evening beyond extraordinary.
To be a Renaissance person you have to have boundless energy and you can be sure that she does. She had recently returned from the Barbie conventions saying “I love dolls,” she said. “I might have more dolls than shoes. I rent an entire storage space to house them.” Not only is she an ardent collector, but she is also an ambassador for Mattel.
“I have an Instagram page, and a YouTube channel called Dollicious Life,” she said. “I dress like my dolls and post photos of us twinning. I also shoot them to look like they are life-sized.” An executive at Mattel saw her YouTube videos and asked her to review their products. “This all started during the lockdown,” she said. “I found ways to get my creative juices flowing.”
This fearless, fun female is brimming with creativity also being an accomplished singer-songwriter. She ventured into the music world around the same time Beyonce debuted and was quickly recognized by the industry. “Billboard magazine did a story on me as an unknown artist rising on the charts through grassroots promotion,” she said.
Her Second album, “Addicted,” featured a catchy, confessional tune called “Shoeholic.” The video went viral and was constantly played on MTV, VH1, and Europe. “All of the shoes in the video are from my personal closet,” she said and admitted having over 1000 pairs. The video started a craze, which inspired Tinu to start the Shoeholics Club
She published a book and launched Shoeholic magazine in 2012. “The magazine was very successful,” she said. “Barnes & Noble picked it up immediately and stocked it until Covid hit. I’m excited to say it’s coming back in print and digital format.
One might ask themselves how did this NYU Stern business graduate and former banker fall into the fashion scene? “I returned to New York for college against my father’s will,” she said. The determined teen paid her own way and stayed with her uncle while attending school. “One day, I was window shopping along Fifth Avenue, and I was actually scouted by an agent,” she said.
Despite being a successful model in the fashion world, Tinu credits her mother as her greatest inspiration. “I remember growing up, my mother was so elegant. She was a fashionista with a closet full of Valentino and Chanel.” Tinu is part of an exclusive and clandestine couture club. “Couture collectors don’t want to be known to the outside world because spending that kind of money is considered taboo,” she said. “I used to buy at least one piece from four different houses every season.”
For many years she was a regular at the Paris couture shows. “I was always the youngest person and the only black woman in the front row,” she said. People were naturally intrigued and impressed with her. Bill Cunningham photographed her often. He captured an image of her at the Dior show, just after 9/11, with a flag on her arm. When the photo appeared in the New York Times, it started a trend. “The next thing I knew, Gilles Bensimon and so many others were wearing flags too,” she said.
Dior is among one of her many favorite labels. Her good friend, John Galliano made her wedding dress. In the past, she and John vacationed together in Mexico while he was doing research for a collection. “We had a great time. I was dancing on the table in a Galliano couture piece,” she said. “This was before selfies. We just lived in the moment.”
Picking a favorite designer is hard for her but Karl Lagerfeld is one of them. “I miss him,” she said. It was always so much fun to visit him at the office on Rue Cambon and have tea and a chat.” Tinu covets her Chanel pieces and fondly recounts the time Mr. Lagerfeld made her a pair of custom thigh-high boots, a handbag, and a matching jacket.
Tinu has fond memories of attending the last Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent shows at the Pompidou. One of the more amazing events was a private sale for Givenchy, years after McQueen left the distinguished house, where she acquired some of her most treasured pieces. “I received a VIP invitation, and, honey, you fly to Paris for that!”
This dynamic dynamo has already realized many accomplishments at a relatively young age. It is clear she is someone to watch since the skies the limit!
For more on Tinu go to www.tinuonline.com
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