The Story of Tokyo Vanity – As Told by Bloveslife

Today I had the chance to sit down and enjoy a seafood boil with Tokyo Vanity from Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, and I want to share with y’all some of the fun and inspiring things she told me.

Background and Stage Name
Tokyo is actually from New Orleans, Louisiana – a place known for its rich food culture. When I asked her about the name “Tokyo Vanity,” the story was honestly so interesting. She said that when she was born, her eyes were shaped in a way that reminded people of Japanese features, so they started calling her “Tokyo.” As for “Vanity,” that came from her mom, who always said she was obsessed with her looks even as a little girl and loved entering beauty pageants.

Career Journey
Tokyo shared that her rise to fame started on Vine – that short-form video app that allowed 6-second clips, now long gone. She emphasized how a lot of today’s viral content actually started on Vine before it spread to other platforms.

From Vine, she transitioned to Instagram, where she dropped her viral hit “That’s My Best Friend” – a track that helped her connect with many people in the music industry. That song eventually led to her being cast on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta starting in Season 7 and continuing into Season 8.

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Love for Cooking and Her Family Roots
What I found especially heartwarming is that Tokyo comes from a family full of cooks. Her mom, grandma, and aunties all know their way around the kitchen. The dish she’s most proud of is something she calls “combination rice” – a kind of fried rice packed with all kinds of seafood. She said people literally line up outside her house to get a plate of it!

YouTube Journey and Hard Lessons Learned
Tokyo started her YouTube journey back in 2009, when she was just in 10th grade. She used to film interviews with classmates after school fights. But her biggest regret? Deleting those early videos.

She shared a powerful lesson:
“Never delete your videos, your pictures, or your memories, even if you feel embarrassed. Years later, you’ll want to look back and see how far you’ve come.”

The Pressure of Fame
One of the most vulnerable things Tokyo talked about was the pressure of being famous at a young age. She rose to fame when she was just 19 or 20, and now at 25, though she doesn’t have children, she feels like people expect her to be a role model for theirs.

She told me:
“People act like it’s my job to raise their kids more than it is theirs. I’m 25 with no children – why am I responsible for raising someone else’s?”

She also talked about the contradiction in how people treat her:
“They loved me for being myself, but the minute I got famous, everything they used to love became what they criticize.”

Her Philosophy and Advice
Tokyo has a very unique outlook on life. She once wanted to become a forensic photographer – taking crime scene photos and working in the morgue. When I asked her why, she said:
“Death is the only guaranteed thing in life. Everything else has an expiration date, so why be scared of it?”

For young people chasing a creative dream, Tokyo had some real advice:

• Don’t be afraid to be yourself

• If you’re working a job you hate, quit and chase your dream

• A boss will never pay you what you’re truly worth

• Having an entrepreneurial mindset is essential

What’s Next for Tokyo
Tokyo’s got a lot going on right now. She’s getting ready to launch a lingerie line for plus-size women, working on a new album, and planning an album release party in either New Orleans or Atlanta.

My Thoughts
After this conversation, I see Tokyo as more than just an entertainer – she’s a young woman with deep thoughts about life. She’s smart, insightful, and above all, real.

Even at her young age, she’s been through a lot and learned how to handle the pressure of fame. Her words about staying true to yourself and not letting others discourage you really hit home.

I truly hope I can invite Tokyo back on the show soon – maybe she’ll even cook us that famous combination rice dish so we can all have a taste!