Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Burnett.
Hi Tia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was a young girl I struggled with my body type I was super skinny, tall, and just no type of body awareness or style and I lacked major confidence. As I got older into my twenties I began to find myself. You know what looks good on my body type how fabrics moved and which colors looked best against my skin tone.
All through my twenties and even throughout high school people would always say I should model cause I’m so pretty, but I’ve always been extremely shy, timid, and just odd at times. I took those as compliments and kept being my hidden self and pushed it off as people just being nice to me. I begin to notice when I go into a room people would just stop and stare at me these people were different ages and genders. During this time they wouldn’t say a word just bold staring at me until I was no longer in their view.
This made me very uncomfortable friends and family would often ask what are you looking at but no one would ever say a word. I would fidget every time we go out because of these stares and really hated to go anywhere alone. Mid 20’s I realized everywhere I went people would compliment my clothing, shoes, hair, bag whatever didn’t matter how big the crowd that I was with they would single me out each time. I kind of started getting use to it even though it was strange and unexplained but I didn’t like it. Around this time I would talk to my family and friends about it and they would just say you pretty, tall, dark, and you demand attention when you walk into a room.
They didn’t understand why it made me so uncomfortable they would just say look at them back lol. I have always been very creative I can naturally write poetry, draw, design spaces and build things. What I didn’t know that I was also natural at creating statement pieces on myself. This was what made people stare, give compliments, ask questions, and even made some people uncomfortable. This didn’t come to me until I was in a relationship and my mate sat me down one day and we had a deep conversation about what we thought stood out about ourselves and vas versa. That conversation was very deep and just brought major clarity to the perplexed feelings about the viewpoint of other people perception’s of me and my existence!
Everything just clicked somehow and I began to understand the very things that made and still make me timid. Years later after this relationship I will never forget that conversation it was the start of who I would evolve to be. I started this boutique because of all the things that make me timid, odd, and shy really. The smiles, the compliments, the stares and even the uncomfortable vibes from people. If I had a penny every time someone did those things that make me very uncomfortable I would be swimming in pennies literally. My boutique is named after my insecurities I feel like I was born to be fabulous. It’s not something I like, crave, understand fully, or asked for it just is and I am naturally good at it.
I learned if you cant beat it try joining it. At 30 I remember saying one day I am going to sale the things that make people stop and stare then we all can be uncomfortable together lol (jokingly). However 7 years later that’s exactly what I did. I started Born to be Fab on insecurities but it is thriving off of the art of style and the love of people. I never thought that I would have my own business or be successful at it (I am too shy). I am so proud of the direction my business is heading it’s almost 1year old still small but not for long. It is hard work, commitment, sacrifice, and takes a lot of time, but worth every penny, and all the time to build it to the platform I would love to reach. I believe we are ALL born to be fabulous sometimes we just don’t know it! Well guess what I am here ready to pull the inner fabulous out of the world. I hope you all are ready for the un warranted stares and compliments because they are being released daily. It feels good to know people buy things from you that makes them feel good or shy (like me).
Either way, to be chosen to be in their closet, on their body, or in their home is priceless. So for the person that shops with born to be fab and don’t have the confidence to wear the outfit, or the person that wears all the outfits. The home that gets a unique piece of home décor for the first time, or the home that collects unique pieces of home décor! Remember you are fabulous just being you and whether you are ready or not people notice so just embrace it you fabulous human being you!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, not smooth. The fear of failing is what we tend to think of most when starting something unfamiliar. Money, picking the right inventory, creating the right website design. Finding people that will buy your product, come back, and tell other people about it. Not having someone to hold your hand and guide you through the process just kind of finding your own way and trusting professionals to be exactly who they say they are.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the owner of borntobefab.com an online boutique. I sale women/men clothing, home décor and accessories. I love that each time a person purchase clothes, accessories, or a custom home décor piece it brings a smile to their face and or warmth to their heart. I love fashion down to each strand of fabric that it made from. I’m a natural at creating statement pieces that look good together. Custom home décor that comes from my artistic side that you don’t get at your local retail store. Not to mention affordable clothing and accessories.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I would love to be a known boutique like fashion nova pretty little things etc. I want to create more content to show people options of styling the products they purchase or create a nice space from the home décor they purchase. Fashion changes every day so will born to be fab.
Contact Info:
- Email: borntobfab@gmail.com
- Website: borntobefab.com
- Instagram: borntobfab
- Facebook: born2befab
- Other: tik tok @borntobfab
