INTERVIEW with Tara Shohet || Island Haus Runway 2026 Runway Model

SD: Hi, Tara. For my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?

TS: I'm Tara, 40, a cosmetic tattooist, or, as I like to call myself, the Brow Whisperer. I'm neurodivergent, a friendly weirdo, fashion hoarder, chronic thrifter and really just a bit of a silly goose.

I own my own cosmetic tattooing business, which gives me the freedom to be creative, meet all kinds of wonderful humans and, importantly, turn up to work dressed however the mood takes me.

SD: Describe your personal style of clothing.

TS: I like to describe myself as a bit of a style cuttlefish. My wardrobe is extremely eclectic, largely thanks to my slightly problematic thrifting addiction, which has helped me curate the wardrobe of my dreams.

There really isn't one particular aesthetic I subscribe to, as I find the notion a little self-limiting. One day I might be dressed quite feminine, and the next I'm in something completely avant-garde, looking like I'm ready to disappear into a Berlin nightclub.

I don't pay much attention to seasonal trends. I dress according to my mood because I've always felt that personal style should be an extension of your personality rather than a uniform dictated by the fashion zeitgeist.

After years of experimenting, I feel like I've finally found my vibe. Ironically, it turns out my vibe is not having just one.

SD: When did you know you wanted to be a model?

TS: I actually did some modelling in my late teens and early twenties, but the industry was a very different place in the early 2000s.

There was still this incredibly narrow idea of what a model was supposed to look like, typically six-foot-tall, waifish and fitting a very particular mould. I quickly realised I wasn't interested in reshaping myself, physically or otherwise, to fit someone else's idea of what I was supposed to be.

My priorities shifted. I travelled, worked across a diverse range of careers, collected a lot of life experiences, became a mum and generally got on with the business of living.

I didn't step back into the modelling space until I was 38.

By then, I could see the industry beginning to embrace a much broader spectrum of humanity: different ages, bodies, identities, aesthetics and stories. That made modelling interesting to me again.

Coming back to it later in life means I'm approaching it very differently. I'm not trying to become whatever I think the industry wants me to be. I get to turn up as myself, and that has been equal parts challenging and rewarding.

SD: If you could talk to your ten-year-old self, what would you say?

TS: It's okay to be different.

Don't make yourself smaller to fit someone else's standard, and don't spend so much energy sanding down the parts of yourself that stand out just so you can hide in plain sight.

The quirkiest parts of you will eventually become some of the best parts.

SD: What has been your favourite photoshoot to date?

TS: This is a hard one. I've had the privilege of working with some incredible photographers in a very short amount of time, but one of my favourite shoots comes with a bit of a backstory.

I was at a rave when this beautiful, statuesque woman named Alisa complimented my outfit. Naturally, we ended up diving into a whole conversation about circular fashion.

It turned out she was an incredibly accomplished photographer, and her husband an equally accomplished hairstylist, and she invited me to shoot with her.

Her work has this brutalist quality to it: strong, architectural and beautifully contrasted. The images feel more like pieces of art than conventional photographs, and I absolutely loved being part of creating something like that.

It was one of those wonderfully random moments where a chance encounter somehow turned into an artistic collaboration.

SD: What are you most excited about for Island Haus Runway?

TS: I love clothing that tells a story rather than simply looking beautiful, although obviously it's pretty great when you can have both.

What excites me about Island Haus Runway is that the designers aren't just showcasing beautiful garments. They're bringing their cultural heritage, identity and storytelling into their work. Fabric is simply their medium.

Fashion can be incredibly powerful when you look beyond the garment itself. It can carry history, culture, craftsmanship and a sense of belonging.

As a model, you're being trusted to become a small part of communicating that story to an audience. To be invited to wear someone's work when it holds that kind of meaning is genuinely a privilege, and that's what I'm most excited about.

Tickets will sell out fast. Follow Island Haus Runway on Instagram to be notified when tickets are live.

Island Haus Runway:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandhausrunway/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586227610162
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@islandhausrunway

Tara Shohet:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.tarashohet/

Photo Credits:

First + Second Photo: Hair by ZuHair, Makeup by Tara Shohet and Photo taken by Alisa Poturavea