6 minute read

COLOR BOOST

from GENLUX Spring '23 - Click to View the Issue

from GENLUX Spring '23 - Click to View the Issue, page 120

Time Machine

PHOTOGRAPHER MARC BAPTISTE TAKES MODEL LEXIE TAPPER TO THE NEW WATERMARK WESTWOOD— THE SUPER LUXURY LIVING COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO GREW UP ON THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, AND THE STONES.

Photographer: MARC BAPTISTE @marcbaptistephoto / Cerutti and Co.

Model: LEXIE TAPPER @lexietapper / TheIndustryLA.com

Stylist: COCO DIGIAIMO @ cocodigiaimostylist

Makeup: ANGIE PARKER @angieparkerbeauty / TheVisionariesAgency.com

Hair Stylist: ROBERT STEINKEN @ robertsteinkenhair / C elestineAgency.com

L ocation: T he Watermark at Westwood Village / watermarkcommunities.com

Art Direction: STEPHEN KAMIFUJI @genlux

ALICE & OLIVIA ‘WILLA PLACKET’ TOP, $375, DEANNA HIGH WAISTED VEGAN LEATHER PANT, $330, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, BEVERLY HILLS, 310-275-4211 AGL ‘ALISON’ SLIDES, $585, AGL.COM

SILVIA TCHERASSI‘CHARLIZE’ HIGHLOW JACQUARD DRESS, $1800, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, BEVERLY HILLS, 310-275-4211

GUESS GOLDEN ROCK MINI HOBO HANDBAG, PUR, GUESS.COM

AGL MULTI BUCKLE MULE, $570, AGL.COM

JONATHAN SIMKHAIMAIZE COCKTAIL CREPE COLLARLESS BLAZER, $745; AKRIS PUNTO SHORT SLEEVE STRIPE PULLOVER, $596; CORNELIA COCKTAIL BOOTCUT PANT, $545, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, BEVERLY HILLS, 310-275-4211

GUESS HOT PINK SATIN HOBO BAG, PUR, GUESS.COM

SPRING 2023 GENLUX 77

Taste Maker

TOKYO-BORN ACTRESS TANISHA HARPER, WHO PLAYS JORDAN ASHFORD ON ABC’S GENERAL HOSPITAL, SHARES WITH OUR STEPHEN KAMIFUJI THAT ASIDE FROM ACTING, HER TRUE PASSION IS FINDING PRIZED PIECES OF FURNITURE AND JEWELRY.

Photo: RAGAN WALLAKE @ raganphoto

Talent: TANISHA HARPER / Manager: Maxx Management; Agent: NTA @ntatalent

Stylist: COCO DIGIAIMO @ cocodigiaimostylist

Makeup: LUIS CASCO @luiscascomakeup / CloutierRemix.com

Hair: ROBERT STEINKEN @robertsteinkenhair / CelestineAgency.com

Nails: AMBER STUDER @polishedbyamber

Digitech/Lighting: ROBERT MORRIS @ romocam007

Post-Production: SAM TABRIZI / digitalheadshotretouching.com

L ocation: Special thanks to: TOMMY SALVATORE

Art Direction: STEPHEN KAMIFUJI @genlux

You’re wearing? A tan vintage Valentino suit with cropped pants, a Valentino leather belt, and Bottega Veneta wedge pumps. Lately, I’ve been dressing more simply—adding accessories to make it pop!

Your breakfast? Every morning, I have a concoction of fresh ginger mixed with hot water, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric for overall health and a glow. Turmeric is excellent for inﬂammation and resetting the body first thing in the morning. I also make fresh green juice five days a week—my main beauty hack.

Handbag contents? Cell phone, car keys, CHANEL wallet, two lip glosses from Hourglass. I love their names, ‘Inﬂuencer’ and ‘Achiever.’ Charlotte Tilbury ‘Pillow Talk’ lip liner, Altoid mints, and chapstick from dentist, Dr. Dorfman.

Early years? I was born in Tokyo, Japan, where my family lived for quite a while. My middle name is Mariko. I’ve been back several times. I love Japan. It’s so inspiring, and I feel connected with their culture and décor. My father was a civil engineer in the Air Force. We moved to California and then Arizona, where my parents still live.

Childhood bullying? Kids bullied me for being too skinny. Even when I moved to LA to model, I had to gain weight because I was too thin. I think I got lucky there.

College life? I finished high school early and graduated from the University of Arizona at Tucson. I studied media arts and marketing and initially looked to be in medicine.

Modeling career? At 14, I came in second during a Cosmopolitan Model Search. From 5000, they whittled it down to five of us who got to go to New York and shoot with Patrick Demarchelier. I appeared on Oprah and the Today Show and wanted to make modeling my career, but my parents insisted I finish college first. After college, I moved to LA and signed with LA Models.

Acting start? Back in the day, my actress girlfriend went to audition for a new show and got a callback. She overheard they were looking for a beautiful black girl who was a model and could act. She said, ‘Come with me to the audition.’ I went and sat in the lobby, and the casting director came out, and asked if I’d auditioned yet. I said, oh, no, I’m just waiting for my friend. So she said you should audition and handed me a script to memorize. I landed the role as a series regular on Desire, a 52-episode show.

Pandemic years? A friend of mine encouraged me with some great advice. He said, ‘Tanisha, while everybody is just sitting around, take this opportunity to prepare, so when auditions start up again, you’ll be ahead of the game.’ I took new headshots, he helped make three reels, and we built a website.

Beauty secret? Eye cream. The one thing I always put on in the morning and the evening. I change up my brands every six months.

Success advice? Put a vision board together and be very specific. Put in the work and take steps to manifest your goal. Med- itate on it. I envisioned booking a series-regular role on a major network in a position of authority, like a doctor or a lawyer. I auditioned to play a lawyer on General Hospital on ABC. They said it was for a lawyer, but it was actually for the police commissioner. I’m in my first year of my three-year contract.

Binge-watching? White Lotus—everybody watches that. I have many: YOU, Shrinking, Mosquito Coast, and Echo Three on Apple.

Guilty pleasure? Dateline on NBC before I go to bed. You are...? I’m fun, loyal, positive, and encouraging. We all need people around to champion and motivate us. I often retreated and needed to be more confident because many people said I could never achieve certain things, which I thankfully achieved. It just takes one person to believe in you and keep that positivity going. So I try to be that for my friends.

Spiritual path? I grew up attending church and my mother always wanted me to have faith. I grappled with what I believed in and tested many things before realizing that I’m a spiritual being and all about positive energy.

Your superpower? I’m a huge manifester.

Three blessings? My extraordinary, generous, and supportive family. My friends who I’ve had for 20-30 years. And my career.

Best advice? My mom told me always to be grateful. My parents instilled in me the importance of being humble and respectful.

Friend group? My best friends are essential. One’s in PR, one is a writer, and another is an actor. We get together once a month at Pace in Laurel Canyon. My one friend, who used to scour the couch for drinks money, is now super successful. I love that we’ve all grown up and supported each other.

Your heroes? My mother. She’s inspiring. A businesswoman and philanthropist. Strong-willed and determined. I’m blessed to have a lot of her qualities.

Rebellious years? Mom kept things in line. I once told her to shut up. You don’t say that to a black mother; she just gave a look that said, you better not say that again. Believe me, I never did.

Philanthropic work? My mother had cancer, so it’s an important cause for me. I support Living Beauty, and today I attended their Stella McCartney event at the Simon House. I work with organizations at home in Arizona and on a mentorship program for historically black colleges and universities in Chicago.

Biggest regret? Early on, I listened to other people’s opinions and didn’t trust my own. I let outside noise dictate my energy, beliefs, and my future. That said, I don’t regret things too much because I believe in all things as learning experiences. Boyfriends? Let’s just say I’m dating.

Any pets? Cosette—she’s French—part pitbull and part Weimaraner. All she wants to do is snuggle and be loved.

Your passion? Home design, architecture, and furniture. Since my 20s, I’ve gone to estate sales and collected Charles Eames and other mid-century and art deco designer pieces. Designers would come and buy from me. I started going into interior design during the pandemic and designed three homes. It comes naturally and easily. Next week I’m going to jewelry shopping in Paris, and I’m constantly on 1st Dibs [1stdibs.com]. That’s all I do.

Vintage retailers? My favorites are Pop-up Home off Western. The owner, Trisha Benitez, gets excellent pieces. There’s THE DEN [shopden-la.com] over on Fountain in East Hollywood, and another is Nickey Kehoe on Beverly Blvd. For vintage jewelry, I go to Carney Couture [carney couture.com]. You’ll find her at Pickwick downtown at the Row— this cool downtown area with arcade shops that carry luxury vintage [pickwickvintage.com]. It’s a gathering of vintage dealers once a month on a Saturday.

Pop-Up Home 619 N Western Avenue, LA, popuphome.com

Nickey Kehoe

Radius Coffee Table, From $6200, 7266 Beverly Blvd., LA, 323-954-9300 nickeykehoe.com