Queer Eye’s fashion expert Tan France has one of the most memorable hair cuts in reality television history. He’s also one of the sweetest stylists ever, employing empathy and grace while instructing subjects about how to dress better. “As a stylist, my goal is to help people be the best version of themselves,” he explains on the show.
Long before Tan became known as a member of the Fab Five, he made a name for himself as a retail fashion designer. This gay British gentleman knows how to dress people in clothes that suit their body types. Instead of relying on what he thinks is best, he adapts, individualizing each look he curates on Queer Eye. From dress clothes tailored for a trans man to french tucks designed to slim waists, Tan is always ready with the best clothing ideas. Below are ten facts about Tan France’s journey from South Yorkshire, England, to Netflix’s award-winning, inclusive makeover series.
He Was Born Tanveer Wasim Safdar
Tan was born in 1983 to Pakistani parents. His parents emigrated from their home country to England before he was born, and he’s British by birth. Still, Tan considers himself an immigrant, and he is proud of his Middle Eastern origins.
Regarding his ethnic heritage, Tan shared with HuffPost, “I have to battle so many issues, and the biggest is racism.” He’s also talked about what he learned from his family and his cultural traditions. As he told Conde Nast Traveler, “I learned to cook when I was ten, and I could cook a whole meal for my family by thirteen—and I’m talking the chapatis, as well.”
He Grew Up In A Strict Muslim Household
His parents are strict Muslims, and this was difficult for Tan as he became more and more in tune with his own sexuality. “I was raised in a very Middle Eastern household, and modesty was very important, and dressing to not be desirable or provocative was very important,” he claimed to W Magazine. His parents refused to acknowledge his sexuality, and it was only after Queer Eye was released that they started to embrace this part of Tan.
Due to this, it wasn’t until much later in life he understood what it means to be proud of his identity. “Being ‘out and proud’ can feel like a real luxury of Western culture, where people are often white and see existing white gay people in their culture,” he also told HuffPost. “That’s a kind of privilege people don’t know they possess.”
His Grandparents Owned A Clothing Factory
At his grandparents’ clothing factory, Tan jumped on the line at a young age. As he told Disney in an interview, “M\my granddad founded a manufacturing company in Northern England—a place called Bury—that manufactured denim, and one of the brands they created denim for was Disney.” This was a seminal experience for him, and it helped him accept his love for apparel.
He still looks fondly upon Disney as a style icon. “I think Disney plays a really important part in fashion!” he exclaimed to the company’s interviewer.
He Worked For Zara After College
After college, where he studied fashion, Tan worked for a series of large-scale fashion lines. First, he worked for Zara. Then, he worked for Selfridges and Chanel. “I wanted to diversify my experience, learning everything from design to delivery to wholesale,” he shared with Out Magazine. This business-minded wardrobe expert became a manager in his early 20s.
By studying the ins and outs of mainstream fashion lines, Tan developed a flexible definition of style. “Style is dressing the way that you feel confident and what is appropriate for you, your age, your body type.”
He Founded His Own Clothing Line in 2011
In 2011, when he started Kingdom & State, Tan already had a decade of experience under his belt. “I love women’s fashion and have worked in ladies’ clothing for over a decade,” he shared at the time with a local paper in Utah, where he started the company. “I find ladies clothing more interesting than menswear, as the possibilities are limitless.”
This line of modest, classic clothing, which Tan sold after getting hired by Netflix.
He Didn’t Move To The United States Until 2015
Although he started working in the United States much earlier, Tan didn’t officially move there until 2015.
After the first season of Queer Eye was released on Netflix, Tan explained his grueling traveling schedule to Mic. “I’ve been traveling to the U.S. for nine and a half years now. For six of those years, I lived in the U.S. for six months every year. And for the last three and a half years I’ve lived in the U.S”
He Lives In Salt Lake City, Utah
Not one for glitz and glamor, Tan lives a quiet life in Salt Lake City, Utah. The transition from unknown to megastar has been a strange one for him, and he wants to remain in his comfort zone.
“I was a very private person. I never had an open social media account,” he told AOL. “So, for me to walk down the street and have people say, ‘Hey, Tan!’ I turn around thinking, ‘Do I know you?’”
He’s Married To Rob France
Tan met his husband on an online dating site, and he took his last name after they were married. Rob, a freelance illustrator, grew up in a strict Mormon household. Their religious backgrounds brought the pair together.
“It made it easier to date somebody who had similarities to me,” Tan explained to The Sun. “I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke. We practice some of our religions’ practices. We don’t practice them all. We practice what works for us.”
He’s Appeared In Nailed It!, Lip Sync Battle, And Big Mouth
Since Queer Eye debuted, the Fab Five have made numerous group and individual appearances on other television shows. One of the most memorable was when Tan, Antoni, and Bobby dressed up like pop diva Britney Spears for Lip Sync Battle and performed a rendition of her famous hit, “Work Bitch.”
The trio was given ultimate makeovers, each one representing a different look from Britney’s career.
His Memoir, Naturally Tan, Was Published In June 2019
Tan can now add published writer to his resume. In June 2019, he published Naturally Tan. It was met with critical acclaim. In it, he describes how difficult it was growing up in a conservative Muslim household, opening up about having to forge his own path.
Despite the success of Queer Eye, Tan still believes homophobia is a major problem across the globe. He takes his role on the show very seriously and understands what it means to be a gay Middle Eastern man in the spotlight. “I’ve never dreamt of being on TV,” he said to Fashionista. “I had never tried to be in the entertainment business at all.”
