Latania Booker’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Latania Booker. Check out our conversation below.

Latania, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been really excited about playing dress up and sharing on social media. I have wanted to be a fashion creator for a while now, but I never gave myself permission to do it because, as a doctor, fashion just wasn’t meaningful enough. After losing the medical practice I opened right before the pandemic, I found myself depressed, feeling like a total failure. I pivoted into creating health and nutrition content, but I struggled to connect with the audience that needed it the most. Finally, my therapist told me to relax, and I stopped spinning my wheels trying to force content that wasn’t natural for me. I started playing dress up and sharing my journey of curating a capsule wardrobe. The content hit, and I found my community! I even started booking paid collaborations with brands, which was a dream come true.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Tania, a board-certified internal medicine hospitalist with an unapologetic love for fashion. From runway shows and magazine editorials to YouTube fashion creators, I’m endlessly inspired by the art of personal expression. In my free time, I enjoy playing dress-up and finding new ways to style old pieces. I reinvented my own personal style after turning 40, and I’m passionate about showing other women that it’s never too late to reimagine yourself and show up as the woman you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a dreamer, a writer, an artist, and a scientist with a dream of saving the world. I was an overachiever, but I quickly recognized that my achievements made others feel uncomfortable, so I learned to “minimize” my accomplishments instead of celebrating them. As a little girl, I never got the chance to style myself because I was too busy putting on the facade of “being tough”. I often dressed more masculine because I believed that if I dressed femininely, I would be perceived as weak and get picked on. This is still evident in my personal style today. The other challenge was, my mother wouldn’t buy the clothes and handbags that I wanted because they were too expensive. My early childhood taught me not to think too highly of myself or stand out, not to celebrate my wins, and not to waste time trying to save a world that didn’t want to be saved.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being seen is the fear that has held me back the most in my life. I was bullied in elementary school for being the “quiet, pretty” girl. I even had family members who taunted me and said things like, “You’re book smart, with no common sense,” simply because my brain processed things differently. Both were damaging to my young psyche and reinforced that I wasn’t enough and needed to be different to be accepted. I was 40 years old when I recognized that those early childhood experiences shaped the woman that I had become, too afraid to stand out or be seen. That said, it’s interesting how being smart was more acceptable than being pretty, and in spite of that early programming, I still went on to become a medical doctor. They say, when you turn 40, something clicks and you stop caring what other people think and start doing things without fear of judgment. I’ve been testing this theory lately, and so far, it seems to hold true. When I started showing up as my authentic self and allowed myself to be seen, I found other women who were breaking free of early childhood programming who dared to be bold.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that when we’re inspired to create something, that spark is actually a divine download from God. He plants ideas in our hearts for a reason, and if He gives us the vision, He’ll also make provision for it to come to life. The problem is, too often we question what He’s placed inside of us. We start overthinking, doubting our abilities, and letting fear talk us out of what was meant for us all along. But every time we ignore that nudge, we silence the very thing that could bless others as well as ourselves. Creation is an act of faith. It’s saying, “I trust that if God put this idea in me, He’ll guide me through it.”

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I only had ten years left on this earth, I’d stop dimming my light. I’d take action on every idea that stirs my spirit and celebrate every single win, big or small. If you’re reading this, take it as your sign to finally do *that thing* you’ve been too afraid to start. The thing that keeps tugging at your heart, whispering that it’s meant for you. For me, that thing was becoming a fashion content creator. Will playing dress-up and sharing my love for style on social media change the world?
Maybe. When we choose to shine and show up authentically, we permit others to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/doctortaniamd
• Instagram: @doctortaniamd
• Youtube: @doctortaniamd

Image Credits
All photos are original taken by myself or my husband Ron Booker