Tanya Gervasi HNS Model Ambassador

Tanya Gervasi HNS Industry Ambassador

Tanya Tanya is a student at the University of

Gastronomic Sciences in Turin, Italy. She started modeling at the age of 13 and had amazing success landing Italian

Vogue twice! After gaining weight, Tanya found herself out of work and took two years away from the business before

finding plus size modeling. Tanya has an all to familiar story of having model looks

and a woman’s body and finding happiness in the plus size category of

modeling. Tanya is perfect to us, healthy, happy, smart, and fun and that makes

Tanya a perfect pick for an HNS Ambassador.

“I'd like to see women not so hard on

themselves and on other women. I'd like women to listen much more to the older generations, there is a lot to learn. I hope in the future women of all sizes and looks

will be accepted!”-Tanya  

Why do you believe in Healthy is the New Skinny? I am very honored to be part of this. I believe that nowadays the industry has offered women only one example to look up to and I think is wrong, it creates a lot of unhappiness. This movement shows many different women who became successful being naturally themselves. I am a plus size model, but I don't see myself as fat... I see myself as healthy and normal! I believe in this movement because it will finally include many women who have been considered either too skinny or too fat due to the modeling industry. I believe HNS embraces all women.

Funniest thing about modeling is that backstage of any shoot usually is hilarious! I mean, I see the picture, so perfect and "natural” in the magazine, but when I think back to that shoot... well I might have had 100 pins in the back of my clothes and shoes 2 sizes too

small! lol Still I'm smiling like nothing's going on…

If you could go back to high school and give yourself a message from the future what would it be and why? What would you tell her? I would tell her not to worry for not having many friends, not to worry about others opinions, not to worry about other girls and jealousy because it's just a matter of time and you'll get all the things you want later (and even more). What knowledge have you gained from your experience in the industry that has helped you realize what is important in your life?" It took me 10 years in this industry to realize that you cannot have everyone like you, so why bother yourself with trying to make everyone else happy when you are not happy with yourself. I learned only recently to accept myself and my body the way it is now, and the moment you realize that somehow everyone else will accept you too. Before, I would always get upset when a client would tell me “you are fat” (especially when I was a regular size model), or when another one would tell me “you are too skinny’” (couple years ago in plus size modeling). I am the way I am, I'm a woman not a machine... there are times when I am a bit more and times when I'm a bit less. That's life!

Do you think if more women could better understand the industry, they would be able to have a more clear perspective of what is most important in their lives? Absolutely. If you know what's behind every picture, every show... you'd understand how we (models) are all humans. We have the privilege to do this job, but it's a job. I never mix work and personal life-style. Nowadays the image that passes through television and shows is that the life of a model is SO FABULOUS, full of parties and fun. It's not true. If people knew how lonely we are sometimes, we are constantly traveling and eating in hotel rooms on our own.

“One time when I was feeling sad, I told a man about my fear and my doubts "I used to believe I could change the world, but now I see that unless you are somebody or unless you know someone you don't go anywhere"... he answered "Do you think Mother Teresa was someone

when she started?”

What is the funniest, most awkward, or embarrassing thing that has happened to you working as a model? The funniest thing that happened to me was having to wear panties with a fake ass LOL! Two years ago I was a bit skinnier and this client wanted some bootie!!!!!! Hahahahaha Soooo I had to wear this under a dress and WOW I looked so umm lets say Brazilian :)

Think of your favorite picture of you as a child.... if you could go back to that day and give yourself a message, what would that be?"Never ever loose that genuine smile. Never stop blushing. Never forget what lights up your eyes. Never forget the child in you! When you are alone and left with only your thoughts and dreams, what do you wish for? I wish many things. Lately I've been wishing for a world without useless wars! Personally, I wish for myself, my family, and my friends to be happy. I dream of having a farm in Australia with my own family and many animals :)

“Someone told me my sparkle color is purple! I don’t know whether it is

true or not, but I like it!” J

Tanya Height: Tall"Size: Healthy"Weight: Who cares..... Representation: Milk Models London and Joy Model Management in Italy. Tell us something people would not know about you from your looks alone.... I am really shy in reality if people only new hahaha. Though with my height and my looks people tend to "fear" me. I'm a melancholic being and I don't like showing off that side of me to just anyone.  

“Beauty is everywhere, we just have to open our

eyes.”- Tanya

HEALTHY IS THE NEW SKINNY