Today we’d like to introduce you to Isna Tianti.
Isna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My voyage began with very humble beginnings. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, I am the youngest of 4 children reared by my late Queen-Ma Darlene. Growing up in Cleveland I learned the importance of family, community, and faith at an early age. We started out living in the projects on Central Ave. And at the approximate age of 5, we moved on up like the 70’s sitcom show “The Jefferson’s,” Lol… so I thought.
Though we were not deemed wealthy by the measurements of society, my mother always made us feel we were rich. We may have lived in the projects, but my mom’s (project) for us was to daily keep her house clean, and we did! 🙂 My beginning childhood I deemed as normal, we played outdoors with our friends, had family dinners at the table as a family, had family gatherings with all my great and great-great relatives.
My mother kept us around our elders, and so I learned early to respect and value family ties. What I didn’t know though was everything that had become so familiar to me would all change by the age of 8. Early in my 3rd-grade year, my mother decided to relocate us 3,000 miles to Southern California with her then boyfriend. I thought it was a joke until my mother sold everything but the clothes, family photos, and a few toys we could fit in our suitcases.
Having no ability to readily visit family, and no clue as to where our new home would be, caused me grief I never knew a child could experience. For a child, being uprooted from everything they knew and love was very traumatizing! As I look back in hindsight, I realize that although I wished my mother hadn’t moved us it was the toughest lesson turned ‘BLesson” in disguise.
Living in California was not without challenges. We endured homelessness, many food-less nights, cut off utilities, and abandonment by my mother’s boyfriend who promised to take care of her, my siblings and me. Once her boyfriend left us to fend for ourselves, we struggled like never before.
There was a time I recall my mother taking me to her friend’s apartment and her sending me to the back room while they talked. My mother began crying saying, “My children deserve better than what I am giving them! I may have to give them up.” Listening with my ear to the wall when I heard that, I darted in the room where she and her friend were and hugged her as tightly as I could crying uncontrollably, “Keep us, mommy! PLEASE keep us!”
Telling this story is still very emotional, but I am so grateful for eavesdropping because she kept all four of us. We had lost our apartment and was forced to sleep in the back of the U-Haul truck she had to rent to store our few belongings. The “behuetiful” Blesson in that lesson was we were all together. That wouldn’t be the last time, but each time we experienced struggle I became mentally and spiritually stronger.
At the age of 11, we finally found a townhouse in the city in which we remained till I graduated High School in Rialto, California. I met my godmother Carol Thomas, the sister of actor Philip Michael Thomas. She was my rock in a time where I was still trying to find my place in the world. I began babysitting my god sisters at the age of 11 and all my god auntie’s children. I began entrepreneurship at the age of eleven. I began teaching the neighborhood children 1st grade and under how to read and write.
By the age of nine, I had done print modeling in Miami, started my first job for low-income children at the age of 15. I entered my first modeling competition with Face Finders Modeling Competition at our local mall at age 16. I was a self- taught runway model. I used to watch Elsa Klenshe back in the early 80’s on my 13-inch color T.V. I would turn on her show every Saturday and watch the models walk on the runways of New York and Milan and mimic them until others were convinced I had gone to modeling school.
My eldest brother Derek always took pictures of me modeling so that I could submit them to modeling agencies with his Polaroid camera. It may not have been the best camera, but it did the job. Lol, I was chosen as the second runner-up in the competition. Elated that I had placed at all, I recall the head recruiter of the agency coming to me and asking me to have my mother bring me to Los Angeles which was 60 miles from Rialto to come to take photos and model for them.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have a car to take me to Los Angeles so that opportunity passed me by. I promised my mother and my brother that I was going to one day become a famous model and we would not want for anything. I graduated high school early and enrolled at Valley College before deciding to relocate to Los Angeles to live with my older sister Diondra. I enrolled at EL Camino Jr. College in 1990 and was active in the fashion program as an illustrator and model.
My Fashion illustration instructor referred me for several model calls, and I go them all. I later was asked in 1990 to participate in a pageant sponsored the hair care line to become Miss Pro-line 1990-1991. My sisters’ boyfriend at the time suggested I enter. With little to no hesitation and a renewed confidence; I entered the pageant with my 5’7′ tall 105 frames which I had been taunted and teased for years because of my thinness. I was finally quieting all my naysayers. Out of roughly 12 ladies who participated in the pageant, I was crowned Miss Pro-line 1990.
The head designer of the pageant was none other than Queen Ahneva-Ahneva. The designer my best friend Karriema’s mother Sheba had told me about for years as young a teen that she said she wished I could meet. Who would have ever imagined nine years later and 60 miles away, our paths would cross? Not only did I become one of Ahneva-Ahneva’s top runway models, but she chose me to manage her showroom located then in the renowned area of Leimert Park in Los Angeles.
Interning as a manager of a showroom allowed me to meet so many prominent people. I worked with Cross Colours clothing line and was selected to do their video. Met Marla Gibbs who owned a theater up the street from the showroom not to mention many more entertainers. In 1991, I was crowned Miss African Times 1991-92 and won a week all expense paid trip to Dakar, Senegal. I chose to take my mother as my chaperone, and she was so excited to be going.
In 1991, I was chosen by BET to be their poster girl for Africa to America Fashion Preview where actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph was the host and singer Christopher Williams was the host of BET’s first televised fashion preview. My mother was at the time had just graduated with honors as a Psyche-Technician. She had never seen me model on stage and promised not to miss this one on January 13, 1992.
Two days prior to the show’s airing on January 11, 1992, my mother and I were out trying to get my modeling pictures I had taken to get comp cards created, Afterwards, we left to have lunch at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles on Gower St. in Los Angeles. After receiving some disturbing news about a guy I liked at the time, I asked my mother if we could shorten our lunch date and head back home. With no hesitating, my mother agreed, and we packed our food and left.
As we got in the car tears began to fall as I thought I had the worst betrayal. My mom understanding heartbreak encouraged me to lay my seat back and that she’d let me know when we arrived back home. In obedience I did. I laid my seat completely back, hand over the face to block tears and as we proceeded on the 110 freeway to merge onto the 110 South headed to Lomita, my mother yelled loudly, “Oh S#i+!!!” and before I could look up, we were headed into the center divider on the freeway.
My mother was knocked instantly unconscious, and I was spared by the seat belt stopping me from a laying position from going through the windshield. January 11, 1992, was the last day I heard my mother’s voice. She had to have the Jaws of Life done to remove her from the vehicle yet I was able to walk out as if I had not been right next to her in the same car. My injuries were so minute that you would’ve assumed an angel removed me prior to the impact.
For six weeks, my mother was in a coma and transitioned only hours after conveying to her that we were going to be ok if she was tired of fighting. So, on February 18, she allowed herself to be free, and my sister and I laid her ashes in Senegal- which is when I took my trip as Miss African Times in November 1992. Since my mother’s transition, I went into autopilot mode. I didn’t allow myself to mourn or cry. I kept going on like I knew she’d want me to.
I went on to be cast for Janet Jackson’s hair model in the movie Poetic Justice Directed by John Singleton, (although my scene was not used I felt so honored to have an icon like Janet Jackson act like my hair stylist.) I eventually stopped modeling to pursue my longtime love of Early Childhood Education. I became a Pre-k teacher at the Torrance YMCA and was married a year later. After marrying in 93, I moved to his hometown in Alabama.
I became very dissatisfied with my job offerings there and wanted to open an in-home daycare. That didn’t transpire, so I decided to enlist in the Air Force. After enlisting in the Air Force on my birthday, after basic training and tech school, I was stationed at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. It was while I served in the service that I realized I could recreate my end story. Not knowing it would get worse after having another MVA, totaling my car while seven months pregnant while carrying my first child. This accident indeed was traumatizing and re-triggered me.
I was not given medical care for injuries I sustained to my neck and back but was in turn given three days off from an already stressful job. Not being one to complain, I was trained to endure the pain and continue “marching forward like a good soldier” So, I did for four plus years. It wasn’t until four years later; in November 2001 that everything I was made to endure once in the military and now once out, took a mental toll on me and my family that I thought I would ever recover from. I became very depressed and despondent.
Not being able to discuss my traumas related to that and other incidences in the military-kept me in fear of speaking due to the then stigmas of being deemed “weak.” I think that is why I am so vocal now. I have been officially diagnosed with PTSD and have for years been misdiagnosed and erroneously medicated. If I intended on surviving and not just thriving, I knew I had to get help and seek counseling. Once I did I found myself turning my pain to help myself again. My confidence in self and my abilities were shot! I knew before I could help others I had first to help myself.
I began using my artistic abilities as therapy. Writing, making jewelry, painting and speaking all became therapy for me. After I realized, I went through a 7-year drought of not creating, I had to reset, restore and renew self. From 2001-2004, I had been greatly affected with the symptoms of PTSD, so my then husband and now three children relocated to Georgia to be closer to the family. Since being here it hasn’t been without challenge because traffic serves as a trigger for me. However, I am not one to give in or up. I face my fears daily behind the wheel.
It is my drive for living that keeps me being driven. I know my life was spared that I might share. It was in 2007 when I got my zeal back after meeting face to face my favorite poet and Spiritual Mother Dr. Maya Angelou on the same day 15 years later on the exact I last heard my mother’s voice (January 11, 2007.) I was kissed by her on my cheek, and I was able to bless her with a framed poem I had written five months prior, trusting our paths would one day cross.
I have since gone on to become a sought-after Spoken Word Artist and Motivational Speaker. I have authored two books and co-authored one. Fo’Ur Seasons’ Stories of Poetry in 2010, Quoetically Speaking in 2018, and Lessons I Learned From My Grandmothers Lap in 2018 with 12 other authors paying tribute to our late grandmothers.
I have had the honors of being featured as a Spoken Word Artist in my community as well my local library displaying my visual art in the Library for Women’s History Month this year in Conyers, GA. Community is everything to me, and I look forward to continuing shedding my light amongst to our youth and world at large. I know I was brought here in this earthly realm on purpose, for purpose with purpose.
It is my mission to not only position me to succeed for my three seed but anyone who desires to follow and be inspired by Isna Tianti.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Most definitely my journey and roads have not been smooth in the least bit! I have come to realize that roads much like life isn’t intended to be smooth. It’s not about what we go through in life but the lessons or Blessons we take from what we go through on those bumpy roads. I have dealt with the loss of close loved ones since the age of 6 every other year till last year. I have dealt with suicidal ideology after taking prescribed medications that counteracted with my mind and body.
I have been hospitalized more than 7 times, sexually traumatized, put out of cult-like churches for asking questions, dealt with my child who once had severe epilepsy and was cured through prayer spoken in faith, divorce, betrayal, loss of a brother unarmed-killed by a police officer, loss of home, mortgage fraud and identity theft, bankruptcy, diagnosis with fibromyalgia and PTSD from MVA’s in and out of military.
Yet, through it all I stand. Some days it’s harder to smile, but I do and continue to INspire and INcourage. I spell them both with an “IN” because it has to begin from within. For us not give in or upon ourselves…
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I specialize in making people feeling “special” Whether it’s reading the books I’ve written, or hearing the poetry I’m Spyt’n (Speaking YINtelligent Truth Now) to my audience., making them feel behuetiful wearing Istian’s one of a kind jewelry that makes them feel unique, also when they wear Isna T-quotes shirts and artwork that I create and design, ITS all done with my customer/client in mind. I aim to Inspire Through Sharing my Unlimited gifts. Hence my business name ITS Unlimited.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was extremely sensitive to others. My first best friend as a 6-year-old child was a thirty-year-old downs syndrome relatives neighbor named Shirley. I found myself attracted to INergy others deemed oddly unique. My childhood consisted of individuals who had struggles like my own to the extreme of friends who knew absolutely nothing about my struggles until we became adults.
Arrogance and Injustice was something I’ve always loathed and still detest today. As far as my creative nature, that was something my mom always encouraged and supported. My mother was a writer and artist who created ceramics. Although not reared by my father I inherited his artistic abilities of painting and love to build. Seeing how passionate I am now is only indicative of who I was then and amplified now.
Pricing:
- Fo’Ur Seasons-Stories of Poetry $10.00 plus tax
- Quoetically Speaking (Personally Autographed Copy) $20 plus shipping (Unsigned Online) $15,99
- CD-“111” $10,00 (Personally request hard copy)
Contact Info:
- Address: itsunl2me@gmail.com
- Website: www.followisnat.com
- Phone: 7708758377
- Email: isnatianti@gmail.com
- Instagram: its_isnatianti
- Facebook: ITS Unlimited Isna Tianti
Image Credit:
Hakim Wilson, Kevin L. Parker, Nukola Herndon
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