Tabia dreamt of becoming a professional model. She fulfilled her dream by facing adversity with determination throughout this challenging endeavor. Tabia was named Miss Amazing Washington 2019 through 2021 and has participated in Austin Fashion Week, National Miss Amazing Show in Chicago, Metropolitan Fashion Week Seattle, and many others. She has also competed in the Special Olympics in soccer, basketball, cycling, golf, and bowling.

Can you tell us about your journey of becoming a model?T: Since a young age, I have shown skills of an artistic: coloring, drawing, tracing, pottery, etc.
Around my 13th birthday, I started to show an interest in fashion. From magazines and YouTube, to TV shows, I was drawn in by anything pertaining to fashion.
After my graduation, I began to take more and more interest in the model industry. I found the industry so compelling! I finally asked my mom if we could look into the modeling industry. After extensive research and preparation I was given my first opportunity in the industry.
I was given an opportunity to travel to Austin TX for a fashion shoot and discovered that this really is my passion. I really enjoy having people taking pictures of me! I can follow instructions very well, and am very comfortable in front of the camera. Since then, I have been looking for opportunities where I can spread the word of inclusion with my work and show that people with disabilities can do anything if given an opportunity.

What challenges do you face as a model?T: There are a lot of challenges as a DS model. There are a lot of barriers to break down. Our society is progressing, but there is much more work to be done to further the awareness of handicap-inclusion. This motivates me to keep pushing forward even when faced with adversity.

What is the best way to promote inclusiveness in modeling?T: I think, it will be giving us more opportunities to exposure in the Media. Opportunities like Magazines, Fashion Shows, TV shows, etc. That will promote inclusion around the world.

What challenges did you face during your school days? How did you motivate yourself to face those challenges?T: I faced a lot of challenges during my school days. One was dealing with the Special Education process – the Special Education wanted me to move to a Special School away from my community, some teachers didn’t accept me…they didn’t want me in their classrooms…they said “I do not belong there”, others treated me like I wasn’t cable of achieve things,…etc. What kept me motivated was the support of my family and to see the courage of my mother facing all those people in our IEP meetings. She was always asking them for an opportunity for me…. she was always trying to teach them that both sides can learn..which means, I can learn from them and they can learn from me! One of my biggest achievements was to graduate from high school. I was enrolled in main-stream high school classes and earned my high school diploma from Graham-Kapowsin in 2013.

What are your other hobbies?T: My hobbies are: Coloring, drawing, painting… I am artistically inclined! I also love exercise! I like to workout… keeping myself healthy and ready to participate at the Special Olympics. I participate in bowling, cycling, and golfing for the Special Olympics.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?T: My favorite place is Austin TX! I love this place because it is where my career in modeling began. I did my first photo shooting and my first runway there. I love the people in Austin TX, there are very accepting!

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in modeling?T: Well, the challenges for young women who want to become models are enormous. The challenges for young women with disabilities are multiplied. So, my advice to them is, becoming a model isn’t an easy task but it can be done with dedication, discipline, commitment, and hard work.

Any special message for our community?T: I will simply ask the community to give us opportunities where we can show our work. Even with our disability, we would like to be accepted in society to do what we love to do; for me it is modeling!