As a successful model, Taylor Tookes was on the cover of Glamour Bulgaria in May, with her previous cover shoots including Grazia Philippines and InStyle. Taylor was the first black 5’ 1” model to walk a runway, and in 2024, she walked the runway at New York Fashion Week with Chuks Collins. Alongside fellow model Marissa Rose, Taylor co-founded Height Revolution in 2023, and she has regularly uploaded videos to her self-titled YouTube channel, though this will soon be ending. Chatting with us, Taylor talks about appearing on the May cover of Glamour Bulgaria, walking the runway at the 2024 New York Fashion Week and co-founding Height Revolution with fellow model Marissa Rose.

In May, you appeared on the cover of Glamour Bulgaria, how did you find the experience on set of the photoshoot?

It was super fun! I had the absolute honour of working with a designer I’ve admired for such a long time named Demi (Raquel Thomas, owner of La Chenille Bridal). I got to work with a really talented photographer and hair and makeup artist. Ani, the Glamour BG editor is a gem too. This was my first time directing a shoot but I feel like it all came together beautifully. I tried to channel the older Glamour – colourful backgrounds and minimal props and nothing too busy – just letting the outfit and theme speak for itself. I feel grateful that they let me tell my story through a form of art.

You have previously appeared on the cover of Grazia Philippines and InStyle, how does it feel seeing your finished covers for the first time?

Like a huge accomplishment. I’m a short girl doing high fashion and editorial things. It always feels like a surreal accomplishment.

How do you prepare for cover shoots and do you have a favourite aspect of working with publications?

I honestly just show up. Most of the time, I really like to be able to sprinkle in my own ideas, if allowed. Glamour was the first time I was able to do that. I have a lot more publications coming out soon and for those, I was given the amazing opportunity and privilege to showcase my own themes and ideas.

What was it like walking the runway at the 2024 New York Fashion Week with Chuks Collins?

It was super surreal and exciting but also very lonely. I was the only short girl there and, while it was empowering, it felt really weird. Everyone else was taller than me and I believe the second shortest was around 5’6”.

Can you tell us about some of the other projects you’ve worked on and what are some of your stand-out highlights from your modelling career so far?

I would say becoming the first black 5’1” model to walk an official runway is definitely a highlight of my career… Definitely becoming the first short model to grace Glamour, InStyle and Grazia (and more coming soon)… I feel like I can’t choose just one because I’m very grateful to be given these opportunities. Everything high fashion that I’ve done are all highlights for me.

In 2023, you co-founded Height Revolution with your fellow model Marissa Rose, how did this come about and how long had it been in the making?

Not long at all. It was spontaneous. It was a shower thought I had after seeing a casting call that said “All are welcome” but included a height requirement. That didn’t sound like “all” to me. I was fed up and sick of the performative inclusivity. If you’re going to say all, then you should actually mean ALL. I put out a little PSA on my Close Friends Story asking if anyone would like to join me in creating this and two models reached out. Although one of them is no longer on the HR team due to scheduling, she played a huge role in helping create our logo, stance and name. Legit right after deciding we were going to do this, we created the account, logo and began posting right away.

What is it like working on Height Revolution with Marissa and can you tell us about the campaign?

It’s really chill. I think we balance each other out. I am more of the fiery business mind and she is more of the mellow creative. It’s a solid balance to have and it’s awesome to learn from each other, especially since we both have our own distinct way of dealing with the industry.

Do you have any future plans for Height Revolution that you can share?

I can’t share any but you can definitely keep watch!

You regularly upload videos to your self-titled YouTube channel, what do you enjoy most about filming content for the platform?

Since we’re being very honest here, I don’t like it. It’s super time-consuming and it’s not where my heart and interest is. I find it hard to keep up with because I’m beginning to book more and more modelling bookings. My audience knows this already though, I’m very vocal about it! I think the only thing I enjoy is seeing how much people can relate to my journey and seeing how much being totally transparent about my journey helps and inspires people to be transparent about theirs. I’m not a YouTuber, don’t want to be one and never will be one. I’m going to upload my last few videos and treat my channel as an archive.

Where do you get the inspiration from for your videos and how has it been seeing the response to your channel?

I get inspiration from myself and my audience. I think the best thing to do is share my personal journey since it’s MY channel. I try to be as transparent as possible. Sharing my thoughts totally unfiltered has actually helped way more people than I thought it would and that makes me a happy gal. Although, I will say seeing other creators steal my ideas and words bar for bar isn’t fun and if you’re one of them reading this, please put it to bed and stop trying. Immediately.

How did you get into modelling and was it always something you wanted to do?

My mom put me in a bunch of activities when I was younger and I hated EVERYTHING – ALL OF THEM. I’d quit and drop out like I was genuinely NOT having it. One day, she put me in runway classes and I immediately stuck with it. That was the only thing I was eager to go back to. Like, I’d get hyped to pop in the back of my mom’s van on the way to runway class and I would absolutely STRUT like my life depended on it.

Aside from really enjoying that, years later, I got the urge to start modelling again and I think that came from never seeing anyone like me represented in the media. Black? Sure, but never black and short and ABSOLUTELY NEVER just 5’1”.

I decided I was going to do it and be my own representation and I was not going to let anyone tell me no. The rejections would always fuel me further but I can say I actually got a lot more yeses than I expected to at the time. I don’t know what ‘no’ is when it comes to my dreams and positive change, sorry.

Were there any models that inspired you when growing up?

I’ve always been a fan of Beverly Peele and Tyra Banks, as well as Naomi Campbell’s fierce walk. Seeing black women on the runway has always inspired me but another thing that has inspired me is seeing plus-sized models make it big on the runways, covers of magazines, etc. I can remember a time where they were absolutely completely shunned and absolutely hated on – not welcomed at all! But, they kept pushing, they supported each other and they spoke out repeatedly. Look where it got them. We’re still not where we should be with their representation, but we are much further along than we were a decade ago. Seeing them thrive and push gives me hope that petites hold the same fate.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Watching shows, online shopping, meditating or sleeping. Sometimes I’ll hang out with my friends, learn a new language or go to a concert but for the most part, I like to be by myself because I don’t get much alone time with the job I have. My friends are actually the same way since they tour a lot, so match made in heaven.

What are you hoping the next few months bring for you and do you have any work coming up that you can talk about?

I can’t say much but I hope to be booked to my core 24/7. Actually, I’m going to make that a reality for myself (it already is).

Follow Taylor on:

X

Instagram