My Journey

A Las Vegas native, church girl and avid reader from the start, my entertainment career began when I was asked to helm my own cable access talk show “Fun with Tavia” at just seven years old. After earning a scholarship to a local modeling agency, I attended the International and Modeling and Talent Association Expo and walked away with an offer from J. Mitchell Management. At just 10 years old, my love affair with New York City began.

While I started off concentrating on film & TV with early roles on Law & Order, New York Undercover and Cosby, after making my debut as the first African American child in Madison Square Garden’s “A Christmas Carol,” I fell deeply in love with Broadway.  As a teen at the Professional Performing Arts School I studied musical theatre while juggling my time in shows like “The Broadway Kids” and “St Louis Woman” with Vanessa Williams at City Center. 

I took some time off from entertainment to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from Chapman University in Orange County, CA, but soon found that my heart would always be in the arts.  Since returning to New York, I’ve had the pleasure of being part of the inaugural cast of Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy, as well as Once on this Island, All Shook Up, Hairspray, Seussical, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson One and my favorite to date, understudying the role of Diana Ross in the 2nd National Tour of Motown the Musical.