Mimi Tao
Thai fashion model
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mimi Tao (born 19 March 1993) is a Thai fashion model. She is best known for being the first transgender model to appear on the reality television series, Project Runway.
Mimi Tao | |
|---|---|
| มีมี่ เทา | |
Tao at the Bangkok International fashion Week 2019 | |
| Born | Phajaranat Nobantao[1] March 19, 1993[2] |
| Occupation | Fashion model |
| Television | Project Runway |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (2 m)[3] |
| Hair color | Dark Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Agency | Super Red Modeling |
| Website | Mimi Tao |
Early life
Tao was born and raised in Khon Kaen, Thailand.[4] She is the middle child of three, with an older sister and a younger brother, all born one year apart. At eleven she became a monk, but left the monastery after six years to help her family, who had been bankrupted by a financial crisis. She left for Pattaya and there she was offered a job as a cabaret dancer. After working for three months she left Pattaya to search for a better paying job in Bangkok. Tao successfully applied to work for the renowned Calypso Cabaret show and held that position for another couple of months. A TV documentary about the Thai supermodel Rojjana “Yui” Phetkanha which she came across while working there, sparked her interest in modelling.[4][1] She was a fan and after some persuasion, convinced Phetkanha to help her learn modeling.[4][5] Yui taught Tao everything she knew: catwalk techniques, posing skills, how to get in the best light at a photo shoot, and how to book jobs. Tao spent three months studying under Yui until she was ready to enter the modeling industry on her own.[1]
Phetkanha’s story was what touched me and made me want to become a model. She came from a poor family and, like me, had tanned skin, high cheekbones and a squarish face—all of which weren’t features that Thai people would traditionally consider beautiful—yet she was still able to make it and become so famous. That’s when I decided I wanted to be like her, and I set out looking for her, hoping that she would teach me to model.
— Tao for Tatler Asia.[5]
Career
Tao moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue a modeling career after failed attempts in Thailand and Singapore.[5][2] In 2018, Tao appeared in 24 shows at New York Fashion Week.[6]
In 2021 Tao became a regular model on season 19 of Project Runway.[5][4] She was the show's first transgender model.[7][8] She also was a regular model in 2023's season 20.
In 2019, Tao was represented by the Los Angeles modeling agency Slay, which represents only transgender models.[4][2] As of 2024, Tao is represented by Super Red Modeling.[9]