story / Orly Estrin
Starring / Tessa Brooks @tessabrooks
Photos + Creative Direction/ Raphaële Sohier @raphsohier
Stylist / Coco Emery@kinda.coco
MUA /Ghost @ghost_artistry_
Hair Stylist / Daniel @danielartiistry
Nail Artist / Mahiya @bymahiyaa
Photo Assist / Oceane Auclair @oceane_auclair
“I think mastering the power of saying “no” to things that won’t serve you is so important.”
Tessa Brooks’ tenure on social media has always been more than surface level. The American professional dancer turned influencer is in no way new to this. If you’re a young adult-maybe, particularly a young and online woman in 2024, chances are you’ll have locked eyes with Brooks through your screen at least once over the past several years.
Brooks has always been upfront about having more skin in the game than taking on a career in influencing. A dancer since before she can remember and an actress since she was twelve, Brooks has been featured in massive campaigns for enormous corporate mainstays like Coca-Cola and Sketchers.
It is, however, in my opinion, the moments in between the markers of mainstream American success that won Brooks her audience loyalty. Brooks has been consistently authentic in her voice since her first jump into celebrity. We exist in an online climate that rewards and prioritizes creators who maintain the veneer of perfection over the version of their lives they choose to share. Brooks has nailed the art of doing the secret third thing: being such a sincerely good influence that the fans who connect are the ones who are in it for the long haul. The impact is overwhelmingly positive, and it is lasting.
Chatting with Tessa over email earlier this year, we discussed the here-and-now, fashion, and the future as it unfolds for the then recently twenty-five-year-old.
Tell me about your “ins and outs” for the summer of 2024. Fashion, lifestyle, and social; it can be purely vibe-based!
In: Being overdressed. Investing intentionally in high-quality pieces. Kitten heels. Reading and trying new things. Take care of your health. Being present. Hiking. Extra dirty martinis. Caring about what anyone else thinks. Procrastination. Being late. Fast fashion.
How do you think your relationship to personal style is different now than in previous years? To what degree and in what ways has your increasing involvement in the fashion community played a role in that development?
“Everything shifted for me when I started attending Fashion Week[s]. I always liked fashion, but those weeks got me obsessed. I love messing around and being more creative with my outfits now. Before, I played it safer.”
What’s one trend you’ll be taking with you into 2025 and one that we’re seeing on the horizon that you’ll be opting out of?
I love the bloomer shorts and the reading glasses everyone has been wearing. When I was younger, I purposefully threw my eye exam so that I could get some cute glasses so this trend is perfect for me. I’m not super into ballet flats on me. That’s a trend I might opt out of. But I also see others style them fantastically, so I’m open to them!
How do you honor your creativity (be that in the realm of content creation, non-internet-based creative pursuits, etc.), and in what ways are you excited to expand your creative horizons this year?
I allow myself breaks to figure out which direction I want to go in. I have so many different interests that it sometimes becomes hard to focus on one. So it’s been good for me to step back regularly and asses where my time is going to be best spent.
How do you like to consume content online? Tell me about your habits! Do you find yourself dwelling on one niche like lifestyle, fashion, film, etc., or something else entirely? How does that intake play a role in how you find inspiration for your work?
I love watching makeup and fashion videos. And anything comedy. Anything funny. I also always watch a TV series or film before bed and an audiobook on my daily walks. I consume a lot and, without a doubt, draw inspiration from all of it.
Do you have any behind-the-scenes rituals before a shoot day (be it a formal photoshoot or a self-shoot day) that you think your audience might be surprised by? Morning rituals, self-talk, character work etc.?
I don’t think I do have any! If it’s a photoshoot, all I need is a speaker with some good music playing and a Postmates order of whatever food I’m fixating on that week.
What’s your first memory of posting yourself online? Many of us have at least one cringeworthy lipsync “music video” archived in our YouTube accounts’ depths.
My first memory of posting online was a YouTube video that I made when I was around 14, which I quickly deleted because I was embarrassed that kids at school would find it. I give myself more grace now than I used to regarding some of the “cringy” stuff I posted. In retrospect, I was just a kid going through much more than anyone could imagine, and YouTube was my outlet for that. I embrace the cringe now.
With the rise of multimedia social platforms, we’ve seen more and more creators branch out into diverse creative channels, with some even doubling back into traditional media. Have you considered exploring new forms of expression beyond your current platform in spaces like film or television?
Dance will always be my first love. I have picked up some new interests over the years, but film and television have been a goal of mine since I took my first acting class at age twelve. I always say being on set is where I’m most happy, so I want to dive more into acting this year.
You just celebrated your birthday in April. By the way, happy belated birthday! Can you share any personal lessons that you’ll be carrying with you into your 25th year?
Thank you! There are so many. I’ve learned how important a good morning routine is,i and how it will always set you up to have a good day. Another thing that I think is so important is mastering the art of saying no to things that won’t serve you.
What are you excited about this week, this month, and the remainder of the year?
This week, I’m most excited about my passion for art (and eating my leftover tacos waiting for me). This month, I’m most excited about filming something special in a fun location! For the remainder of this year, I’m most excited to see what adventures I go on and what new passions I might discover.
What’s on your vision board for 2025?
Clear skin. Lots of working out and just all around taking care of my health. Traveling to new places. All the books I want to read. Outfits I want to create. Oh, and lots of uplifting quotes!
