At some point in our lives, we all experience a moment where we would rather just…fly away. And Tanyka Renee is among the few who have become actual pilots to do just that. Having traveled to 111 countries, Renee creates inspirational content to encourage others to join her in the never-ending journey of self-discovery. Renee also works with brands as a cultural content strategist, marketing maven, and travel consultant, championing representation of Black and Brown creatives.

Renee’s travels are not merely for pleasure (although that is certainly a perk), but each destination serves as an opportunity to build community, connect people across borders, and spread her message of love, self-acceptance, and courage. Statistically, women of color are the least traveled in the world and Renee is here to change that. As the founder of multiple philanthropic organizations such as the Global Citizens Mentorship Program, Teach One Teach Many, and Take Flight, Renee guides underprivileged pilots, entrepreneurs, and content creators through aviation school and career opportunities. When it comes to chasing your dreams, the sky’s the limit…and for Renee at least, not even.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember? 

The first creative project I remember was myself! I was definitely that kid who always wanted to be different. I look at childhood photos wondering what I was thinking. I went to a very boring school and I did everything possible to not be boring. I was creating mood boards before I knew what a mood board was, cutting up teen magazines, admiring the fashion, the style, getting inspo for my room from my grandmother’s JCPenny and IKEA catalog. My childhood was this huge creative project of me trying to figure myself out.

Describe your aesthetic in three words. 

Notable ​recreatable visions. Growing up I watched movies like James Bond and Lara Croft and I wanted to be them. I wanted to embark on these magical journeys and explore the world. I would let my creativity take over as a child and act out movie scenes, jump on my bike and explore neighboring towns, people watch, and make up narratives about the strangers. I would take a mental note of scenes that evoked emotion whether good or bad. And this is how my aesthetic was created. My aesthetic is a recreation of notable scenes, it takes you to a familiar place. Maybe you’ve seen the scene before or watched it in a movie. My aesthetic is a guaranteed equation that results in viral content. One part relatable, one part recreatable—guaranteed to flood social networks.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on? 

I recently launched my “Take Flight” program and had the opportunity to collaborate with the organizations United Aviate and Women in Aviation. I’m big on always reaching back to help others achieve their goals. I know firsthand that finding the knowledge and funding for aviation school can be a headache. 

As a content creator, it is very important to me to not only give others opportunities, but also help brands recognize cultural moments and create content around these moments. I have a deep understanding of how culture works and what makes content resonate with people. United Aviate trusted me to recommend content creators to highlight and recognize. It’s a blessing to be able to work with brands whose core values mirror my own. These brands have become my family and my social media family has become theirs.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
In one of my recent projects, I was given a huge budget that allowed me to hire the exact team I wanted to fully execute my vision. This project showed me what it is like to be able to create freely and not be in survival mode. Creating is my full-time job. I don’t have a trust fund lying around or a backup source of income. The pressure of creating for a living can cause me to not always create at my greatest or allow me to experiment. This project taught me that the possibilities are limitless when you’re given the resources to do whatever you want. I often wonder what my creative process would be for myself and others if I was allowed to experiment, study different artist methods, and just have fun with my creativity during my late teens and early 20s. Many of us were not allowed this experimental period or a time to figure ourselves out and tap into the unlimited methods of expressing ourselves. How do you know you’re good at something if you couldn’t afford or don’t have the time to try and do it?

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?
Yes, we were born with creativity. We were created from creativity. Creativity is all around us. Creativity is an energy and that energy is our birthright. It’s an expression, it’s how we express the divine, express ourselves, express our level of evolution, and express our feelings. We communicate through creativity. Our creativity is how we entertain ourselves and others, and how we solve problems. To be creative is to be alive.

What’s the last dream you had?  

The last dream I had was to become a pilot. Quarantine took a toll on my mental health and my therapist recommended I take a class. Jokingly, I said I want to take classes to be a pilot since I wasn’t able to fly. She recommended I look into it and I did! Becoming a pilot was a dream that I didn’t think I could accomplish and I did it! As a multifaceted woman, I can now add “pilot” to my list of titles.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
Legacy is very important to me. I come from a long lineage of trauma and I feel it’s my duty to overcome generational curses and also inspire others to do the same. I hope one hundred years from now people will say, “she lived, she loved, and her work inspired many others to do the same.”

Follow @tanykarenee on Creatively.

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