Tavi Gevinson

Gevinson was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the suburban town of Oak Park, Illinois.{{cite web |author=Elisabetta Sordi |url=http://www.luuux.com/fashion/tavi-gevinson-14-yo-and-shes-worlds-most-famous-blogger |title=Tavi Gevinson: 14 y.o. and she's the world's most famous blogger |publisher=LUUUX |date=2011-01-05 |access-date=2012-01-19 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128030402/http://www.luuux.com/fashion/tavi-gevinson-14-yo-and-shes-worlds-most-famous-blogger |archive-date=2013-01-28 |url-status=dead }} Her father, Steve Gevinson, is a high school English teacher.{{cite web|last=Melouney|first=Carmel|url=http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/08/14/091411-fashion-feature-tavigevinson/|title=The veteran 'Rookie'|work=The Daily|date=2011-09-14 |access-date=2012-05-25}} Her mother, Berit Engen, is a weaver and part-time Hebrew instructor who grew up in Oslo, Norway.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2010767377_fashionplate12.html|work=The Seattle Times|first=Megan|last=Twohey|title=Petite teen becomes big voice in fashion world|date=January 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115053655/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2010767377_fashionplate12.html |archive-date=2010-01-15}}{{cite magazine|last=Widdicombe|first=Lizzie|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_widdicombe?currentPage=all|title=Style Rookie, Tavi Gevinson's fashion blog|magazine=The New Yorker|date=12 September 2010|access-date=2013-05-13}} Gevinson's father was born to an Orthodox Jewish family; her mother, who was raised Lutheran, converted to Judaism in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/thecut/2014/08/tavi-gevinson-from-fashion-to-broadway.html|title=At 18, Tavi Gevinson Is a Fashion Veteran—and a Broadway Rookie|date=10 August 2014 |access-date=20 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://beritengen-tapestries.com/bio/ |title=Bio « Berit Engen Tapestries |publisher=Beritengen-tapestries.com |access-date=2012-05-25}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/06/28/reform-rabbis-return-to-tradition/|work=Chicago Tribune|first=Julia|last=Lieblich|title=Reform rabbis return to tradition|date=June 28, 2001}} Gevinson and her two older sisters, Rivkah and Miriam, were raised in the Jewish faith; she had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony.{{cite web|url=http://tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/theater-and-dance/187288/tavi-gevinson-kenneth-lonergan|title='This Is Our Youth' Portrays the 'Pathetic Remnants of Upper West Side Jewish Liberalism'|access-date=20 November 2017}} Gevinson attended Oak Park and River Forest High School and graduated in 2014.{{cite web|author=Christopher Borrelli|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/09/18/teen-fashion-maven-tavi-gevinson-is-16-going-on-30/|title=Teen fashion maven Tavi Gevinson is 16 going on 30|work=Chicago Tribune|date=2012-09-18|access-date=2013-05-13}}

Gevinson started a fashion blog, Style Rookie, in 2008. The blog, featuring photos of the 11-year-old in distinctive outfits and her commentary on the latest fashion trends, began drawing nearly 30,000 readers each day.{{cite web|last=Twohey |first=Megan |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/living/2010767377_fashionplate12.html |title=Petite teen becomes big voice in fashion world |publisher=Seattletimes.com |date=2010-01-12 |access-date=2013-05-13}} Her father "wasn't terribly interested" in her new hobby until she asked for his permission to be interviewed by The New York Times for an article about young bloggers.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2008-08-12-girl-fashion-blogs_N.htm | title=Young fashion bloggers are worrisome trend to parents | work=USA Today | agency=Associated Press | last=Kwan | first=Amanda | access-date=23 January 2010 | date=13 August 2008}}

Because of the blog's success, Gevinson was invited to attend New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. She made overseas fashion-related trips to Tokyo and Antwerp, funded by Pop magazine, and was commissioned to write articles for Harper's Bazaar and Barneys. She styled a shoot for BlackBook magazine, acted as a muse and model for Rodarte's clothing line at Target stores,{{cite journal| url=http://www.teenvogue.com/style/blogs/fashion/2009/11/tavi-gevinson-in-rodarte-for-target.html |title=Tavi Gevinson defines Rodarte for Target | journal=Teen Vogue |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-22}} and partnered with Borders&Frontiers to design and sell her own T-shirt.[http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2009/06/bloggers_turn_designer.html Bloggers turn designers... who's next?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925063632/http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2009/06/bloggers_turn_designer.html |date=2009-09-25 }} Catwalk Queen In 2010, she spoke at a marketing conference in New York and at Idea City, a Canadian version of the TED conference.

There was a backlash to Gevinson's early success in the fashion industry. New York magazine questioned whether it was possible for Gevinson to write her blog without "some help from a mom or older sister".{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/thecut/2008/07/meet_tavi_the_12yearold_fashio.html |title=Meet Tavi, the 12-Year-Old Fashion Blogger – The Cut |publisher=Nymag.com |date=2008-07-22 |access-date=2013-05-13}} Sarah Mower of The Daily Telegraph, while conceding that Gevinson had a "truly independent, original voice", criticized her father for taking her out of school "to go to haute couture shows ... It's hard to imagine a kid being able to come back down to reality."{{cite web|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG7138882/Pre-fall-collections-herald-the-return-of-classics-brown-leather-returns-and-Tavi-Gevinson-Pret-a-rapporter.html|title=Pre-fall 2010 heralds the return of classic dressing, brown leather and Tavi Gevinson|last=Mower|first=Sarah|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2010-02-03|access-date=2013-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109162138/http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG7138882/Pre-fall-collections-herald-the-return-of-classics-brown-leather-returns-and-Tavi-Gevinson-Pret-a-rapporter.html|archive-date=2013-11-09|url-status=dead}} A Grazia fashion editor complained on Twitter that a large bow Gevinson wore had blocked her view of a runway during fashion week. Anne Slowey of Elle felt her success was "gimmicky" and commented, "She's been thirteen for, like, the last four years." Gevinson later remarked: "A lot of people on the Internet have a problem with a young person doing well. I felt like there were people who were [at fashion week] because of their name, their money or their family, and I didn't have any of those things."{{cite web|author=Laura Kane |url=https://www.thestar.com/living/article/1276235--tavi-gevinson-teenage-rookie-still-figuring-it-out |title=Tavi Gevinson: Teenage "Rookie" still figuring it out |work=Toronto Star |publisher=Thestar.com |date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2013-05-13}}

In early 2011, Gevinson decided to stop writing primarily about fashion: "Lately I've been looking to other places for a creative outlet and for inspiration ... Now I'm more intrigued by mixing fashion with the other stuff I've been enjoying."{{cite web|url=http://www.thestylerookie.com/2011/03/i-feel-like-photo-to-accompany-this.html |author=Tavi Gevinson |title=i feel like the photo to accompany this post should be a lot more intense and introspective-seeming but hey! mirrors are pretty introspective! |publisher=Thestylerookie.com |date=2011-03-27 |access-date=2013-05-13}} Her personal style also became less outlandish: "Before, dressing up was my outlet, and now I'm pursuing other creative things that take up a lot of time and energy, so in the morning I usually want to put on something simple and comfortable."{{cite web|last=Oatman|first=Hunter|url=http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/tavi-gevinson-remixes-teen-culture/|title=Nostalgia is Magic: Tavi Gevinson Remixes Teen Culture|publisher=Collectors Weekly|date=2012-11-28|access-date=2013-05-13}}{{cite web|author=Judy Berman |url=http://www.flavorwire.com/205794/lady-gaga-hates-cathy-horyn-loves-tavi |title=Lady Gaga Hates Cathy Horyn, Loves Tavi – Flavorwire |publisher=Flavorwire.com |date=2011-09-01 |access-date=2013-05-13}}

In the fall of 2011, at the age of 15, Gevinson founded Rookie magazine.{{cite web|last=Bering|first=Jesse|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2011/09/how_fashion_and_feminism_became_bedfellows.html|title=Tavi Gevinson Rookie magazine: how it combines fashion and feminism.|work=Slate|date=2011-09-13|access-date=2012-05-25}}{{cite web|last=Trong |first=Stephanie |url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/09/tavi_gevinson_explains_her_new.html |title=Tavi Gevinson Explains Her New Website, Rookie - The Cut |publisher=Nymag.com |date=2011-04-19 |access-date=2012-05-25}} The site was originally conceived of as a joint venture with Jane Pratt, but Gevinson ultimately decided to maintain sole ownership.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/08/14/091411-fashion-feature-tavigevinson/|title=New York Post|website=New York Post|access-date=20 November 2017}} Ira Glass acted as a mentor figure to Gevinson. The website focused on issues impacting teenage girls and was written mainly by teenage girls. It also featured guest contributors. A one-off print edition of the magazine, Rookie Yearbook One, was published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2012.{{cite web|author=Merle Ginsberg |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/uta-tavi-gevinson-rookie-nicole-holofcener-358599 |title=UTA Signs Web Publishing Phenom Tavi Gevinson |publisher=Hollywoodreporter.com |date=2012-06-08 |access-date=2013-05-13}} In 2012, Gevinson spoke at TEDxTeen, with a focus on representation of women in popular culture, and at The Economist's World in 2012 Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.ted.com/talks/tavi_gevinson_a_teen_just_trying_to_figure_it_out.html |title=TEDxTeen Tavi Gevinson: Still Figuring It Out |date=May 2012 |access-date=2012-08-24}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/05/tavi-gevinson-cintra-wilson_n_1130135.html |title=Tavi Gevinson and Cintra Wilson At The Economist's World in 2012 Event |author=Sarah Leon |work=The Huffington Post |date=2011-05-12 |access-date=2013-05-13}} She is also a contributing editor at Garage magazine.{{Cite book |isbn=978-1770461123 |title=Rookie Yearbook One: Tavi Gevinson |publisher=Amazon.com |date=2012-09-04 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rookieyearbookon0000unse }} In November 2018, Gevinson announced that she was shutting down Rookie due to its no longer being financially sustainable.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/30/672289786/rookie-tavi-gevinsons-online-magazine-and-cultural-touchstone-is-no-more|title='Rookie,' Tavi Gevinson's Online Magazine And Cultural Touchstone, Is No More|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}

Gevinson first acted in a short film, First Bass, in 2008, but became more visible in 2012.{{YouTube|tvWbzkgdi08|First Bass – Tavi Gevinson – Style Rookie – Debut Film – 2008}} That year, she voiced a character in the animated short film Cadavar, which was directed by First Bass's Jonah Ansell and co-starred Kathy Bates and Christopher Lloyd.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/tavi-gevinson-cadaver-tra_n_1250379.html |title=Tavi Gevinson 'Cadaver' Trailer Debuts: Teen Style Prodigy Sings Neil Young Cover |work=The Huffington Post |date=2012-02-02 |access-date=2013-05-13}} In the film, she sang renditions of both Neil Young and Pet Shop Boys songs.{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/thecut/2013/01/tavi-is-animated-and-singing-pet-shop-boys.html |title=Tavi Is Animated and Singing Pet Shop Boys for Cadaver |author=Hilary Moss |publisher=Nymag.com |date=2013-01-16 |access-date=2013-05-13}} Also in 2012, Gevinson filmed a role in Enough Said by director Nicole Holofcener. Gevinson is interviewed on screen in the 2013 documentary film The Punk Singer, talking about riot grrrl punk icon Kathleen Hanna.{{cite web |url=http://www.thepunksinger.com/press.html |title=Punk Singer Press Notes |last=Anderson |first=Sini |author-link=Sini Anderson |publisher=Opening band films |access-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150933/http://www.thepunksinger.com/press.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=usurped }} Zipped Microsoft Word file at http://www.thepunksinger.com/downloads/punk-singer-press-notes.docx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150935/http://www.thepunksinger.com/downloads/punk-singer-press-notes.docx |date=2013-10-02 }} In 2014 and 2015, she starred in This Is Our Youth in Chicago and at the Cort Theatre on Broadway.{{Cite news|url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/tavi-gevinson-on-rookie-magazine-and-growing-up/|title = Tavi Forever|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 6 June 2014|last1 = Witt|first1 = Emily}} In 2015, she made a guest appearance as Feather McCarthy on "Beware of Young Girls", the seventh episode of the American comedy horror television series Scream Queens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2015/11/tavi-showed-up-on-scream-queens-last-night.html|title=Tavi Showed Up on Scream Queens Last Night|last=Davis|first=Allison P.|date=November 4, 2015|website=The Cut|access-date=September 14, 2019}} She played Mary Warren in Ivo van Hove's 2016 production of The Crucible at the Walter Kerr Theatre.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/the-crucible-as-youve-never-seen-it/2016/03/31/76977328-f4f2-11e5-9804-537defcc3cf6_story.html "The Crucible as you've never seen it"] by Peter Marks, The Washington Post, March 31, 2016. Later that year, she played Anya in The Cherry Orchard at the American Airlines Theatre.[http://pix11.com/2016/09/14/broadway-first-look-diane-lane-leads-star-studded-cast-in-revival-of-the-cherry-orchard/ "Broadway first look: Diane Lane leads star-studded cast in revival of The Cherry Orchard] by Tamsen Fadal, PIX11, September 14, 2016

On the MSNBC chat show So Popular!, host Janet Mock dubbed Gevinson the "Queen of the Millennials".{{Cite web|title = Tavi Gevinson: 'Queen of the Millennials'|url = http://shows.huffingtonpost.com/video/tavi-gevinson-queen-of-the-millennials-519420159?context=PC:homepage:PL6373:1447411009655|website=The Huffington Post|access-date = 2016-02-05}} She then made a guest appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on a panel critiquing Sean Penn's Rolling Stone interview with El Chapo.{{Cite magazine|title = El Chapo Speaks|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/el-chapo-speaks-20160109?page=2|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112202840/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/el-chapo-speaks-20160109?page=2|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 12, 2016|magazine = Rolling Stone|access-date = 2016-02-05}}

In 2016, Gevinson recorded a duet with Hunx and His Punx frontman Seth Bogart, singing on "Barely 21" from Bogart's self-titled debut solo album.

During the 2012 US presidential campaign, Gevinson supported Barack Obama,{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/02/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/tavi-gevinson-profile/index.html |title=Tavi Gevinson may take over the world while you read this |author=Abbey Goodman |publisher=CNN |date=2013-01-02 |access-date=2013-05-13}} and appeared in a public service announcement for women's rights, mouthing the words to Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me". She organized a get-well-soon-card drive for Malala Yousafzai, the fourteen-year-old Pakistani girl whose campaigning for education rights led to her shooting in October 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2012/dec/09/tavi-gevinson-fashion-blogger |author=Eva Wiseman |work=The Guardian |title=Tavi Gevinson: the fashion blogger becoming the voice of a generation |date=2012-12-09 |access-date=2013-05-13}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine |author=Bryant, Kenzie |others=Photographs by Nick Riley Bentham; styled by Nicole Chapoteau |date=July–August 2021 |title=XOXO, Tavi |magazine=Vanity Fair |volume=730 |pages=72–81, 135 |url=https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2021/07/01/xoxo-tavi |url-access=limited }}

{{Commons category|Tavi Gevinson|nowrap=yes}}

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Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Jews

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Category:Actresses from Oak Park, Illinois

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