Tomiyo; Beauty And The Books

Tomiyo is fluent in four languages; she’s an accomplished dancer and pianist and wants to dedicate her life to strenthening the Black community.

[Our Model Of The Day]


Where She’s From:
Tomiyo Williams, a Scorpio, was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, and was primarily raised in suburbs outside Atlanta. “My parents taught me at an early age that you have to work hard for what you want because no one is ever going to give you anything,” she tells The Black Star News. “My parents celebrated my beauty but also instilled in me the value of a quality education. I was inspired greatly by my father, a perfectionist.”

Where She’s At: Tomiyo currently attends Harvard University. “I am double majoring in English and Political Science,” she says. “As far as modeling, I began modeling at the age of 12 for JC Penney.  My mother was a former model for Anne Klein and she introduced my sister and me to the modeling industry.”

The 5’10 Tomiyo’s heritage is a stew of African American, Japanese, Irish, and Native
American blood.

Tomiyo is fluent in four languages; she’s an accomplished dancer and pianist and wants to dedicate her life to strenthening the Black community. “That is my first and foremost priority,” she says. “We cannot depend on anyone else to do it.

“My focus right now is my education,” Tomiyo continues. I use modeling as a tool to reach communities. Unlike many models, I don’t focus on the monetary and fame aspect of the industry. The industry has many doors for opportunity. I channel my energy by going into inner city schools talking to children about the value of education. My modeling career makes it easer for me to do that because I immediately get the attention; however, it is my goal to reach beyond what their eyes can see and pierce through their minds, leaving a resounding impression that will follow them. I enjoy volunteer work and I love serving my community.”

“My greatest challenge is within myself,” continues when asked how she handles challenges. “I strive for perfection in everything that I do. I leave very little room for error. I am learning that I don’t have to be perfect just as long as I’m not settling for mediocrity. Another great challenge that I encounter is encouraging more people to give back to the community in which they live or grew up in. I try to combat that by creating fun volunteer opportunities that encourage and rewards those who are willing to help.”

Even with all her school work, Tomiyo finds time to establish her modeling career.

“I appeared in a national ad campaign for Bronner Brothers and I’ve had the opportunity to be featured in calendars, countless websites and magazines nationally,” she says. “I’ve also been invited to speak on radio stations about brainpower and beauty. I believe that beauty is nothing more than a faceless glory if it contains no substance. A beautiful person, lacking intelligence or any real marketable skills, doesn’t have very many options. Beauty is often redefined by societal standards. With that in mind, that which may be considered as beautiful today might be obsolete tomorrow.”

“Therefore, it is wise to have an education or some kind of skill to fall back on,” she continues. “I look ahead and I try to plan my future.  I expect from myself, what I would seek ultimately seek in a husband. I think it would be rather redundant and hypocritical to say, ‘I want an intelligent and successful husband’ if I’ve not met my own expectations.”

So how does this young activist, educator, model and future leader prepare to step out?

“I like nice, clean lines and I’m not into the ‘trendy’ look. My favorite brands are: J. Crew, Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle and I like The Black Label by Ralph Lauren. I have a little bit of Gucci, Chanel and Prada in my wardrobe. I think that every woman needs a pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans as well as Rock And Republic jeans. UGG boots were one of the best creations. I use a pair for house shoes. They are so warm and cozy. As far as beauty products, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is a must have. I love makeup. MAC, Urban Decay and Smashbox cosmetics are my favorites. My favorite fragrances are Bulgari, Envy Me by Gucci, Issey Miyake, and Light Blue by Dolce and Gabanna. I consider these to be high quality brands and I think that they are all well worth the money. Other necessities: A strand of Mikimoto pearls and diamond earrings by Tiffany & Co. Next year I intend on purchasing a Baume & Mercier watch.”

Tomiyo’s Words Of Wisdom: “Give. You cannot expect to receive if you don’t give. However, if you give for the sole purpose of receiving, you have not truly given.”
Tomiyo’s Secrets Of Success: “I am a hard worker. I live by the principle ‘Work hard when you are young so that you can play hard when you are old.’ I embrace the concept of working hard and surrounding myself with positive, ambitious, and successful people. By doing that, I am not deterred or distracted. Good work ethic is not a habit; it’s a lifestyle.”
Tomiyo’s Favorite Three Movies: “Love and Basketball, The Pursuit of Happyness and The Freedom Writers.”
Tomiyo’s Favorite Three Books: “I enjoy Non-fiction books. I love to read about the lives of other people. My favorite books are: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki; Why we want you to be rich by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Donald Trump and finally Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun? by Reginald F. Lewis and Blair S. Walker.”
Three Leaders That Have Most Inspired Tomiyo: “Dr. Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis and Mark Mathabane.”
The First Three Things Tomiyo Would Do As President: “My overall plan would be to put an end to Generational Poverty and to focus on the ‘us’ in USA. First, I would appropriate a percentage of government funding towards urban renewal projects. This would include improving the housing conditions of America’s government housing projects as well as the quality of education in inner cities. Second, I would implement a genuine affordable healthcare program for children. Quality healthcare should not be a privilege, it should be a right. And finally, I would disperse funding for adult literacy and job training programs. We need job training programs that focus on computer technology because that is the direction that society is going in.”
Tomiyo’s Favorite Cars: “My favorite car is the Ford Mustang Roush Edition. It must be in black with a black leather interior. Other favorite cars include the Maserati, BMW 750Li, and Corvette. These cars represent beauty, power, strength and individuality. In that respect, they are a reflection of myself.”
Tomiyo’s Five Favorite Entertainers: “John Legend, Alicia Keys, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald. To me, these are all legends who define the meaning of soul and inspiration.”
A Short Tomiyo Story: “I had the opportunity to take my daughter to Ms. Rosa L. Parks’ funeral.  Although my daughter was only four at the time, it was a very profound and meaningful experience for her.”

To find our more about this talented beauty please visit www.myspace.com/tomiyo


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