Digital Cover Story: Taylor Tookes is Redefining What it Means to Be a Model

Taylor Tookes is a barrier-breaking African American fashion model, co-founder, and content creator. She has already made history multiple times in her career. In 2022, she became one of the first petite models to walk at New York Fashion Week. In 2024, she broke another ceiling as the first Black petite model to walk a CFDA-recognized show at NYFW. That same year, she became the first petite model to ever grace the cover of InStyle Magazine.

Driven by a passion for inclusivity, Taylor co-founded HeightRevolution in 2023, an Instagram campaign pushing for representation of petite women in fashion. She has walked runways in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Orlando, and appeared in campaigns for Bloomingdale’s, Walmart, and Glamnetic. Her work has also been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire. Known to her growing community as “The Manifestation Model,” she has turned her voice into a movement.

I asked Taylor about her journey and what keeps her pushing forward.

You’ve broken multiple barriers in the fashion industry, from being one of the first petite models at NYFW to becoming the first Black petite model to walk in a CFDA-recognized show. Looking back, what did those milestones mean to you personally and professionally?

“Those milestones mean everything to me because they’re proof that I don’t have to change who I am to succeed. Personally, it’s empowering to know that I’ve taken the very things the industry told me would hold me back (my height and identity as a Black woman) and turned them into the reasons I stand out. Professionally, it shows me that I’m not just walking runways, I’m making history. Every time I step out there, I’m expanding the definition of what a model can and should be and that’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”

In 2024, you made history again as the first petite model to appear on the cover of InStyle Magazine. What was that moment like for you, and how did it feel to see yourself redefining beauty standards on such a major platform?

“That cover was surreal. I grew up seeing InStyle as one of those magazines that defined beauty and fashion and to see myself on the cover as the first short model was a full-circle moment. It felt like validation that I never had to compromise my identity or shrink myself to fit into outdated standards. This just proves that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all and that the industry is finally starting to reflect the world we actually live in. I knew that moment wasn’t just about me but it was about every person who’s ever been told they didn’t fit the mold and now gets to see someone like them front and center, especially young short Black women.”

Through HeightRevolution, you’ve been a powerful advocate for petite women in fashion. What inspired you to create the campaign, and what kind of changes are you hoping to see in the industry as a result?

“I just got really sick of seeing the height requirements. I feel like we’ve come so far with other ‘non-traditional’ categories yet height remains the only barrier we have left to crush. It’s ridiculous. I obviously want to see more people like me on the runway, and not even just there, but in fashion in general. I know people are like, ‘Well, short girls CAN model!

There’s beauty and commercial print…’ and it’s like okay, well why waste your breath telling me that when clearly, I don’t care. Myself and the entire world are aware short girls can do commercial and print modeling. But we should be able to model in high fashion spaces too because the average height of women worldwide is 5’3. So, we should be able to see how pieces would look on women like us in high fashion spaces. And if the pushback is ‘clothes look better on tall people, tall people are a hanger,’ that’s not mine or other short women’s problem. Make clothes that fit us then. Duh?”

You’ve worked with major brands and appeared in top publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire. Which campaign or feature has been the most meaningful to you so far, and why?

“All of them. I can’t just choose one. All of them have been meaningful because they are all opportunities to be seen in spaces that someone like me is not supposed to have access to.”

Your followers know you as “The Manifestation Model.” How has manifestation played a role in your journey, and what advice would you give to others who are working toward big goals against the odds?

“Mindset is everything, I think. Instead of being like ‘Oh, I can’t do this.. This isn’t for me..’ For me, it’s more like ‘Yeah this is mine, thanks’ because why not? I would tell people to stop listening to other people’s opinions and stop taking on other people’s limitations and be your own deciding factor of what is and isn’t meant for you. There’s a first time for everything so it doesn’t matter if what you want to do has not been done before.”

Being fluent in multiple languages and currently learning more, you clearly have a love for culture and connection. How has your passion for languages and world music shaped who you are outside of modeling?

“I love to travel. I mean who doesn’t? I have always been really fascinated with culture since I was like 9 years old or something. I think it came from growing up around different cultures in school and discovering K-Pop when I was really young. That definitely opened the door for my curiosity. But, I think I am able to understand people’s way of living better and therefore, respect each way. It really just shows you everyone is different and we should find beauty in that instead of giving it the cold shoulder.”

As someone who’s continuing to break barriers, what are your long-term goals in fashion and beyond, and how do you hope your story inspires the next generation of models and creatives?

“My number one goal is to become a household name in fashion and I know I will be.”

“I want to keep breaking ceilings, walking shows and landing campaigns that people once thought were off limits for someone like me. Beyond that, I want to build a legacy that outlives me, whether that’s through HeightRevolution or other creative ventures. If my story can show the next generation that they don’t have to shrink themselves to fit in, that they can lead with exactly who they are and still make history, then I’ve done my job.”

Taylor Tookes is not only walking runways but reshaping the fashion industry itself. Her story is one of perseverance, faith, and refusal to shrink in a world that once tried to tell her no. With her voice, her movement, and her vision for the future, Taylor is opening doors for women everywhere to stand tall in their own truth.