From Disney Princess to Dream Weaver: Tawny’s Journey into the World of Trade Shows and Ethereal Content Creation

In this exclusive feature, Tawny shares her enchanting journey from bringing Disney princesses to life to captivating the world as a tradeshow model and fairy-tale content creator.

Discover how her unique path shaped a career that blends the magic of storytelling with the art of engagement, inspiring a new generation of dreamers and doers.

Tawny, can you share your journey from working at Disney to becoming a tradeshow, convention model, and content creator? 

I started working for Disney as a “friend of” the Princesses in 2006. My first job with the mouse was at Hong Kong Disneyland, where I was part of the opening-year cast. I moved there for a nine-month contract. It was an incredible experience and still one of my favourite memories. I was explicitly “friends of” Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (Aurora), and Belle (my favourite being Belle).

I did parades and meet-and-greets. After my contract in Hong Kong, I moved back to the States and did special events for Disney at the El Capitan in Hollywood as “friends of” Aurora and Belle.

I spent about three years with the company, and it’s still my favourite job. From 2008 to 2016, I actually got into the fitness industry and became a personal trainer and a group class instructor.

Getting into that industry is how I fell into the trade show world. In 2014, I had a friend who did trade show modelling full-time and mentioned that one of the nutrition companies she worked for was looking for another girl to add to their roster. Preferably someone who was in the fitness industry.

So, I jumped on board with them and travelled to nationwide fitness shows. I soon realized that there were many more trade shows and conventions spanning many industries looking for models and lead generators.

 So I left the fitness industry for good in 2016 and started working as a trade show model full time. This year will mark ten years since I’ve been in the industry. In 2020, when covid hit and everything shut down, I had to take a break from work (since my job wasn’t something I could do from home) I needed to find something to keep the creative juices flowing.

I have been dabbling with Instagram and social media since 2013, but not in a severe way. In 2020, I decided to rebrand myself and find a niche on social media that would set me apart. Cue the #princesscore aesthetic.

Ever since I was little, I have loved dressing up in beautiful gowns. I guess I never really got over it. So, I started curating my social feeds to reflect those same vibes. I started working and collaborating with fantasy-type, fairytale photographers and LOVED creating. We would find castles and whimsical locations to shoot at, and we would spend LOTS of hours researching. Since then, my feed has been nothing but that.

I focus mainly on showcasing beautiful gowns shot at fairytale-type places. It’s been about four years now since I started curating my feed that way, and it has genuinely been so much fun to watch it evolve.

I love collaborating with many talented photographers and incredible dress designers I have admired for so long. 

How do you infuse whimsical, modern-day princess vibes into your content, and what inspires your creative process? 

I am fairly picky about what goes on my social media walls. I try to keep with the same type of vibes and make it fluid without making it too repetitive. I try to work with a handful of photographers who understand my vision but will also have slightly different takes on it.

I am inspired by their work, and I am still constantly inspired by Disney. I also find a lot of inspiration in travelling.

Mainly travelling to places that have those same fairytale-type vibes. Europe is one of my favourite places because it has that old-world feel and feels magical everywhere you go. 

What challenges did you face transitioning from working at Disney to your current career path? 

When I came out of working for Disney, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. It felt like a lifelong dream had been realized…where do you go after that?

It’s a little tricky to leave a job that feels so magical every day and then be thrust into a real-world job.

I was never cut out for a regular 9-5 job. Before becoming a personal trainer, I tried a few things fresh out of Disney, but they never lasted very long. I think the beauty of what I’m doing now is that I kind of get the best of both worlds. I can be creative as a content creator but also have a relatively regular and consistent job. It’s a good balance. 

How has your experience working at Disney influenced your approach to content creation and modelling? 

Disney taught me to dream big, even before I worked with them. If you can dream it, you can do it. It might sound kind of corny, but I’m a firm believer that dreams do come true. I suppose it’s a little bit of a head-in-the-clouds mentality, but I would much rather think that way than the alternative… 

What strategies do you employ to stand out in the competitive tradeshow and convention modelling world? 

Being a hard worker, and that truly is my secret to success. Being in this industry is so much more than having a pretty face.

There are plenty of those out there. The problem is that this type of work requires just that—actual work. You have to be a lead generator, you can’t be afraid to talk to people, you can’t be daunted by hours of standing, and you can’t be scared to learn as much as you can in a short amount of time about whatever product you are representing.

Most of my clients always hire me back, and the reason is always the same: I work extremely hard. Laziness is something I never understood. As far as social media is concerned, there has definitely been a saturation recently of whimsical, cottage core, princess core, fairytale, and magical accounts.

However, I would like to think that the one thing that does set me apart from the rest is the fact that I actually was “friends with” the Disney princesses at one point in my life, and I’m just continuing to carry those same vibes through my social media channels now. 

Can you elaborate on the role social media plays in your career, particularly in promoting your content and modelling work? 

Social media plays a massive role in the promotion of my content. However, to be honest, I’m trying to find other ways to promote it and not be so reliant on things like Instagram, etc. I’m currently working on a website and trying to find different avenues to showcase my art, for lack of a better term.

Also, I keep my social media pretty separate from my corporate stuff. They are two separate entities. Social media is my creative, whimsical side, and the trade show jobs are my corporate, more realistic side.

I don’t interchange them, though. I don’t post much about the corporate style work on my social media. Again, that’s all exceptionally curated. Most of my trade show work comes from word of mouth and networking in other ways outside of social media. 

How do you balance maintaining your brand while meeting client and convention expectations? 

Both “jobs” so to speak are more part time (compared to your typical Monday-Friday 9-5) so there is a good balance. To be honest, though, I didn’t start my social media brand to make it a job. It was something I did for myself. I’m honoured that there are people who follow me and resonate with the content I’m putting out there. But at the end of the day, I do it for me and to fuel my creative side. Some weeks are busier on social media, and other weeks, my schedule is jam-packed with shows and the corporate side of things. It ebbs and flows on each side. But somehow, the balance always feels relatively equal. 

What advice would you give aspiring models and content creators looking to establish themselves in the industry?

BE TRUE TO YOU. Never be someone you aren’t. Find your niche and stick with it. I realized who I was from a very early age, and I NEVER apologized for it.

There will always be someone who doesn’t approve or has a negative opinion. You cannot please everyone.

So, as long as you are true to yourself and who you are, you will always feel like you succeeded. One of my favourite quotes is, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” 

How do you navigate any stereotypes or preconceptions associated with your career choices, particularly as a former Disney employee? 

People probably think my head is in the clouds half the time (or more). I’m sure there’s a particular image that my feed gives off. However, you must remember that social media is often the highlight reel. Just because I am constantly promoting fairytale narratives and happiness doesn’t mean that every day looks like that. But people can think whatever they want.

As far as career choices go, things have changed dramatically over the last ten years, especially for women.

We have so many opportunities to do so many amazing things. We should never let stereotypes or preconceived notions stop us from chasing our dreams and doing the things we love. 

Are there any particular experiences or moments from your time at Disney that have stayed with you and continue influencing your work today? 

The kids—the way they genuinely believe with all their hearts in the magic of it all. I would catch myself getting watery-eyed so many times on set. Feeling like you are a small part of the magic is so special.

I still carry those moments and how they made me feel to this day. For example, I shoot a lot now at the Bellagio Conservatory in Vegas. Their setups are genuinely like a Disney garden and incredibly magical.

I usually wear a princess gown to shoot there, and I have had so many people come up and ask for photos because their little one thought I was an actual princess. I always stop and take them.

Sometimes, we have a full-blown line! It reminds me of my time at Disney and how special it was. I never wanna take those moments for granted, and I’m grateful whenever I get a glimpse of them still… 

In what ways do you see your career evolving in the future, and what goals do you hope to achieve? 

Right now, I hope to travel more, specifically to places that align with my aesthetic. Switzerland is at the top of that list. I shoot a lot of content, but it’s been very localized for the past year. I’ve travelled a lot over the years, but I want to travel more for content purposes and places that speak to my brand. I’m ready to expand a little more in that sense. I’m hoping for more of that in the next year or so. 

Lastly, can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations your fans and followers can look forward to? 

I have a few in the works right now…I don’t want to give too much away, haha, But I have one that will be debuting at the end of April. I’m working with someone who creates some magical, show-stopping pieces I’ll be wearing to a fantasy ball, so I am extremely excited about that project!

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