Tiara Kelly Entertains With Ease
The performer talks spiritual humor, personal healing and being your own advocate on set.
Words by Tierney Finster
Photos by Jess Calleiro
Tiara “Barbie” Kelly (@tiararkelly) is a dancer, actress, healer, model and influencer. “I'm just everything,” Tiara says, laughing in their bedroom while applying Fenty’s moistuizing primer, followed by Fenty liquid liner.
Tiara lives in a large house turned artist headquarters in Los Angeles. Their room is sunny and spacious and mirrors what followers see on their Instagram – a spiritual altar, stripper pole, vanity space and clothes galore. Tiara is best known as a model, dancer and “non-binary icon,” but is also a funny Instagram personality who speaks candidly and creates insightful, moving and downright juicy content. Tiara’s appeared in dozens of music videos and film and television projects, including big gigs as a dancer in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” and as a stunt performer in Black Panther.
Tiara spends their free time creating too (take this blunt-rolling ASMR video she made with 420 Queer), and uses ritual to stay attuned with their own higher power. “There’s power in being able to recognize what’s in my own heart,” Tiara tells me.
HOW ARE YOU?
I am actually doing much better in life right now. I go to therapy, which is really great and really helps me a lot ‘cause I be having sad days and I'll be not wanting to get up sometimes. But when I'm going to therapy or hear my therapist’s voice, I’m like, “Okay, I get up.” I brush my teeth, drink some water and get going. I want my therapist to be proud of me!
THANK YOU FOR BEING A TRASH ANGEL. WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT Of CREATIVE TRANSCENDENCE THAT MADE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU “EARNED YOUR HALO?”
Whenever I’m feeling down, I remind myself, “Beyonce booked you.” I remember I was going through a hard time and just looking at bookings online when I saw a casting call for a big artist who was going on tour. I knew it wasn’t Rihanna because she was already on tour; I knew it wasn’t Madonna because they would have called her pop. I had a feeling it was going to be Beyonce, but you know on these major jobs, they never tell you until you’re on set. I just showed up to some random parking lot in the valley, and someone was like, “Are you here for the Beyonce video?” It was the “Formation” shoot.
HOW DID THE BLACK PANTHER GIG COME ABOUT?
A casting person called me and said, “Hey, are you bald still? I told them that I was and when they asked if I knew certain stunt skills, I told them no but that it would be easy for me to learn.
I auditioned a couple days later and that’s when I found out it was for Black Panther.” I was confused because I thought filming had already wrapped. A few days later, I get a call saying I’m supposed to be in Atlanta the next day to film. I was like, “What?” I got a little plan together and ended up flying out, but I thought it was going to be just a couple days. It ended up being a whole month.
At first, they expected me to get my own place to stay, but I told them I’m just like any other actor on set. I needed a place to stay and all that too. I got that situated, which is always a challenge for me as an unrepresented performer who has to advocate for myself.
Whenever I’m feeling down, I remind myself, “Beyonce booked you.” I remember I was going through a hard time and just looking at bookings online when I saw a casting call for a big artist who was going on tour. I knew it wasn’t Rihanna because she was already on tour; I knew it wasn’t Madonna because they would have called her pop. I had a feeling it was going to be Beyonce, but you know on these major jobs, they never tell you until you’re on set. I just showed up to some random parking lot in the valley, and someone was like, “Are you here for the Beyonce video?” It was the “Formation” shoot.
HOW DID THE BLACK PANTHER GIG COME ABOUT?
A casting person called me and said, “Hey, are you bald still? I told them that I was and when they asked if I knew certain stunt skills, I told them no but that it would be easy for me to learn.
I auditioned a couple days later and that’s when I found out it was for Black Panther.” I was confused because I thought filming had already wrapped. A few days later, I get a call saying I’m supposed to be in Atlanta the next day to film. I was like, “What?” I got a little plan together and ended up flying out, but I thought it was going to be just a couple days. It ended up being a whole month.
At first, they expected me to get my own place to stay, but I told them I’m just like any other actor on set. I needed a place to stay and all that too. I got that situated, which is always a challenge for me as an unrepresented performer who has to advocate for myself.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’VE LEARNED IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF ON SET AS AN INDEPENDENT PERFORMER? HAS YOUR ABILITY TO SET AND UPHOLD CERTAIN BOUNDARIES EVOLVED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER?
For sure, definitely. Now I’ve observed how other people handle business and make deals and have seen how people end up in shitty situations. I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t like that feeling, so I’m very aware. I ask questions ahead of time. I’m always going to give my all, but within the agreed upon terms. So if you booked me for ten hours, but it’s getting close to 11 hours and nobody has addressed that, I am going to speak up and ask what the new plan is and how I’m going to be compensated. It’s one thing to go a little over and ask if that’s ok, but when companies just expect to stay longer without any communication, it feels like they don’t care about me or my boundaries. I don’t like having to raise these issues, but talent get taken advantage off too often, especially femmes.
I’ve been working long enough to know certain protocols, and with experience, I’ve gained a greater voice on set.
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WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEW PERFORMERS WORKING ON SETS?
Don’t wait around for anyone to speak for you or on your behalf. Speak up for what you need. Production will be quick to ignore things more often than not, so if you don’t speak up, you’re not going to get what you need, whether that’s the money you need or transportation, etc. If you need something or feel uncomfortable about something happening on set, you have to speak up. If you don’t speak up, nothing will change, but if you do speak up, someone is going to have to listen to you and hear you out.
Like, I remember when production wanted to paint me black to be Nefertiti in a photo. They showed me a photo of the reference and I was like, “That’s just a dark-skinned girl. That’s her skin.” But they insisted she was painted. It might have been edited or highlighted a little, but I knew it was her skin and knew they weren’t about to paint me, a black femme, black. Everyone onset was white, so it was hard to communicate about this and I didn’t feel totally safe or comfortable, but I wasn’t going to do that. I couldn’t speak for that.
When I saw the final project, I was so happy I experienced those uncomfortable moments in order to create beautiful images. If I had just gone with the flow, those photos would’ve been weird as hell.
You never know who you’re going to be on set with, which is also why I always bring my own makeup. There’s been too many times where I don’t feel beautiful because they’ve made me gray with makeup. They don’t bring the appropriate makeup for my skin tone and make me look gray. I’m fine with bringing my own products, but it sucks that professional makeup artists still don’t always know how to do makeup on black skin.
I also stopped bringing clothes to sets with stylists because it’s not fair. I’d rather be naked. Too many times, brands and publications pay stylists who end up asking you to bring your own clothes because you have good style, but that’s clothing you can wear in your own content. Or, ask them to pay you part of that styling fee to dress yourself.
Most performers in music videos are freelance artists. It can be stressful figuring out scheduling and transportation and receiving extra money for extra work, but it feels good to explain your needs and be treated like a valuable person. When someone’s famous, we expect them to receive super incredible treatment from everyone on set, but I believe all performers deserve to be treated respectfully and kindly.
YOU’VE APPEARED IN SO MANY MUSIC VIDEOS. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES?
Of course, DRAM. “Gilligan” by DRAM featuring A$AP Rocky and Juicy J. People really love that video so I get a lot of love for it.
Shout out to Nadia [Lee Cohen], the director, for having me as the lead dancer. I love how the video shows me smiling. I don't really smile that much while working, and I like how you see my teeth in “Gilligan.” I’ve made people who made gifs of my parts of the video, and someone dressed up as me for Halloween last year. I felt so happy, free and loved on set and was encouraged to be crazy, along with a lot of friends and fun people who I met there.
Another favorite is the Nick Jonas video I made with Mike Posner and Halsey. It was a great day working with him. Great vibes. Actually, the woman who is doing my nails later is someone I met on that set. I also got so many free clothes there. Also, almost everyone onset was black. It was just an all-around perfect day with a good video, good experience, good pay.
WHICH OF YOUR HABITS IMPROVES YOUR CRAFT THE MOST?
I think showcasing different parts of myself has helped cultivate my career and the things I have happening. I can dance, I can model, I can do my makeup, I have good taste in makeup and cannabis. But I also show that I’m a crazy person. I don’t like hiding my feelings or trying to only emphasize one part of who I am, even if people think that’s the more strategic thing to do. I don’t want to be put in a box. Sometimes people blow up in one area and when they try something in another field, people wonder why they’re trying that or going outside their line. I’m transparent. I don’t fit in one lane. If I wasn’t transparent online, I wouldn’t be myself. I would feel trapped inside.
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HOW HAs BEING A PART OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ONLINE IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?
I was gay in Virgina, so I turned to the internetto meet people at a young age. My mom would check and see me talking to all the girls on gay pages and early social media. I’ve been finding community online ever since. It’s been nice to meet other gay people from around the world. I’ve always had friends to visit in other states and places around the world because I’ve been connected to them online. I’ve always been this friendly, naked person out here connecting with folks. I feel really connected to the artsy, healing world online right now. Now I have all of it online – queer people, party people, art people, sex positive people. In L.A. I have “YourMuther” and Papa Nacho, R.I.P. That’s my family. I love how subcultures can create these families, especially for queer people who can use all the safe spaces we can get.
WILL YOU SHOW US WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR DOWNTIME IN A TRASH VIDEO?
For sure, definitely. Now I’ve observed how other people handle business and make deals and have seen how people end up in shitty situations. I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t like that feeling, so I’m very aware. I ask questions ahead of time. I’m always going to give my all, but within the agreed upon terms. So if you booked me for ten hours, but it’s getting close to 11 hours and nobody has addressed that, I am going to speak up and ask what the new plan is and how I’m going to be compensated. It’s one thing to go a little over and ask if that’s ok, but when companies just expect to stay longer without any communication, it feels like they don’t care about me or my boundaries. I don’t like having to raise these issues, but talent get taken advantage off too often, especially femmes.
I’ve been working long enough to know certain protocols, and with experience, I’ve gained a greater voice on set.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEW PERFORMERS WORKING ON SETS?
Don’t wait around for anyone to speak for you or on your behalf. Speak up for what you need. Production will be quick to ignore things more often than not, so if you don’t speak up, you’re not going to get what you need, whether that’s the money you need or transportation, etc. If you need something or feel uncomfortable about something happening on set, you have to speak up. If you don’t speak up, nothing will change, but if you do speak up, someone is going to have to listen to you and hear you out.
Like, I remember when production wanted to paint me black to be Nefertiti in a photo. They showed me a photo of the reference and I was like, “That’s just a dark-skinned girl. That’s her skin.” But they insisted she was painted. It might have been edited or highlighted a little, but I knew it was her skin and knew they weren’t about to paint me, a black femme, black. Everyone onset was white, so it was hard to communicate about this and I didn’t feel totally safe or comfortable, but I wasn’t going to do that. I couldn’t speak for that.
When I saw the final project, I was so happy I experienced those uncomfortable moments in order to create beautiful images. If I had just gone with the flow, those photos would’ve been weird as hell.
You never know who you’re going to be on set with, which is also why I always bring my own makeup. There’s been too many times where I don’t feel beautiful because they’ve made me gray with makeup. They don’t bring the appropriate makeup for my skin tone and make me look gray. I’m fine with bringing my own products, but it sucks that professional makeup artists still don’t always know how to do makeup on black skin.
I also stopped bringing clothes to sets with stylists because it’s not fair. I’d rather be naked. Too many times, brands and publications pay stylists who end up asking you to bring your own clothes because you have good style, but that’s clothing you can wear in your own content. Or, ask them to pay you part of that styling fee to dress yourself.
Most performers in music videos are freelance artists. It can be stressful figuring out scheduling and transportation and receiving extra money for extra work, but it feels good to explain your needs and be treated like a valuable person. When someone’s famous, we expect them to receive super incredible treatment from everyone on set, but I believe all performers deserve to be treated respectfully and kindly.
YOU’VE APPEARED IN SO MANY MUSIC VIDEOS. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES?
Of course, DRAM. “Gilligan” by DRAM featuring A$AP Rocky and Juicy J. People really love that video so I get a lot of love for it.
Shout out to Nadia [Lee Cohen], the director, for having me as the lead dancer. I love how the video shows me smiling. I don't really smile that much while working, and I like how you see my teeth in “Gilligan.” I’ve made people who made gifs of my parts of the video, and someone dressed up as me for Halloween last year. I felt so happy, free and loved on set and was encouraged to be crazy, along with a lot of friends and fun people who I met there.
Another favorite is the Nick Jonas video I made with Mike Posner and Halsey. It was a great day working with him. Great vibes. Actually, the woman who is doing my nails later is someone I met on that set. I also got so many free clothes there. Also, almost everyone onset was black. It was just an all-around perfect day with a good video, good experience, good pay.
WHICH OF YOUR HABITS IMPROVES YOUR CRAFT THE MOST?
I think showcasing different parts of myself has helped cultivate my career and the things I have happening. I can dance, I can model, I can do my makeup, I have good taste in makeup and cannabis. But I also show that I’m a crazy person. I don’t like hiding my feelings or trying to only emphasize one part of who I am, even if people think that’s the more strategic thing to do. I don’t want to be put in a box. Sometimes people blow up in one area and when they try something in another field, people wonder why they’re trying that or going outside their line. I’m transparent. I don’t fit in one lane. If I wasn’t transparent online, I wouldn’t be myself. I would feel trapped inside.
HOW HAs BEING A PART OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ONLINE IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?
I was gay in Virgina, so I turned to the internetto meet people at a young age. My mom would check and see me talking to all the girls on gay pages and early social media. I’ve been finding community online ever since. It’s been nice to meet other gay people from around the world. I’ve always had friends to visit in other states and places around the world because I’ve been connected to them online. I’ve always been this friendly, naked person out here connecting with folks. I feel really connected to the artsy, healing world online right now. Now I have all of it online – queer people, party people, art people, sex positive people. In L.A. I have “YourMuther” and Papa Nacho, R.I.P. That’s my family. I love how subcultures can create these families, especially for queer people who can use all the safe spaces we can get.
WILL YOU SHOW US WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR DOWNTIME IN A TRASH VIDEO?
Get the TRASH app and make edits of your own. Use the code “tiararkelly” to join our creator beta today.
Cargo Collective 2017 — Frogtown, Los Angele