Meet Tara Chandra, Aussie QT And Star Of The New Converse Billboards

Tara Chandra is fully goals. She edits her own magazine called Easy Mag; she runs a fresh YouTube channel that explores travel, DIY, how she dresses for uni, copping free stuff, and identity in a really cool way; her instagram is pure magic; and she’s casually worked with huge brands such as Gucci and most recently Converse. Pssst: she’s only 20!

She’s part of the Converse X crew, which means she has a solid group of creative people around her to share and bounce ideas off. Effective, obviously, because Tara is the star of the new Converse billboards that you’re about to see everywhere. Hayyy!

Name: Tara Chandra

Nickname: T or Ta – but my name’s short enough to just call me Tara.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Born, raised and living in Sydney, Australia!

What were you into in high school?
I was obsessed (‘dedicated’) to One Direction in 2011–2013. I also loved anything creative whether this was collaging, polymer clay or scrapbooking in my earlier years, and fashion, video editing and photography in my later years.

In what ways have you changed since then?
My creative style has changed and developed a lot in the sense that I’m more focused on detailed video editing and personal styling, alongside making/painting clothes, and editing my magazine; Easy Mag. I’ve definitely become way more confident in social settings and situations, and developed my opinions and sense of style. To be honest, I feel like a completely different person from the person I was in high school.

If you had to describe your internet aesthetic in five words, what would you call it?
My IRL aesthetic but URL.

Do you remember the first time you went on the internet?
Oh man, I don’t remember the exact first time as I was pretty young when the internet first came to life. But I remember loving the Lilo & Stitch Burger Making flash game, Moshi Monsters, Stardoll – and the like. Growing up I loved YouTube – Community Channel was a hit. Asian Australian representation at a young age, right?!

Are there any other content creators that inspire you? Or is it too competitive for that?
I’m definitely inspired by other content creators in a collective sense. I can’t pinpoint a specific person, but I think the young creative community is incredible. I see creativity as a means of supporting others, rather than a competition to do better than one another.

Can you tell us a bit about your work with the Converse X group?
Converse X have been awesome tapping into the young Sydney creative community. They’ve really touched base with everyday people and gotten them involved in a brand that has been around for generations. My dad repped Converse as a teen, and I’ve been repping Converse since I was 10. Being able to see the creative efforts in photo and video content people have made has been incredible. Additionally, most of my friends I’ve met on Instagram have been a part of Converse X. Converse X sent my friend Denilson and I to London for a week for the opening and launch of the One Star Hotel in Shoreditch. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’m so grateful to have lived.

Who are you hanging out with and how has it boosted what you do?
Most of my friends are creatives – using ‘creatives’ as an umbrella term for my fellow fashion pals, photographers, artists, musicians, designers, etc. It’s been awesome being able to collaborate on various levels and continuously support each other, as cheesy as that sounds. I’m currently doing an exciting fashion/clothing project with one of my friends in music!

And you’re about to have your face on billboards! Are you stoked?
Yeh! It’s actually surreal that I’ve been given this opportunity. It’s weird having people DM me photos of essentially, a big poster of me, around Sydney and Melbourne.

You describe yourself as a fragile princess, why is this? Examples?
It’s actually a kind of funny/wack back-story. I’m literally fragile in the sense that the smallest thing will effect me… I’m always sick/feeling sick, having body pains, or fainting here and there. My ears have been blocked for the past 4 months… :’( It’s a bit of a joke with my friends about my inability to be 100% healthy.

And you say you sit a lot. Where’s your favourite place to sit and watch the world?
I seem to always take photos of me sitting… but I think anywhere in nature is so calming to me. I’ve been able to travel quite a bit in the past 5 months. Being surrounded by mountains and desert in Arizona, sitting at the end of a pier surrounded by water in Hawaii, and being at the edge of a Pine Forest cliff in Indonesia have been some standout places. Lying down in Hyde Park is always nice too. But I feel like sitting on a trash can probably defines me the most.

If you could stay a certain age forever what would it be?
That’s hard, because I feel like I haven’t reached my peak age yet. 20 (my current age) has been pretty incredible so far though.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
A baby dinosaur that stayed a baby forever and also wouldn’t attack me?!?!

What scares you most?
It’s morbid, but getting older and everyone around me dying.

Best piece of advice you ever received?
I feel like people give me great advice everyday but I can’t think of anything right now…

What is a skill you wish you possessed?
Being multilingual!! Also, being able to spark up a conversation with anyone.

What fictional character do you most relate to, and why?
Daria and her sister Quinn mixed into one… Daria’s the dead-pan teen we all relate to, and Quinn is just me on all levels.

What celebrity do you have a crush on?
Dev Patel is a gem.

Best YouTube clip you’ve ever seen?
Oh, I watch way too much YouTube. I love anything on NOWNESS though. Their architecture and My Apartment series are my favourites.

Which three people (dead or alive) would be your dream party guests?
Willow Smith, Adwoa Aboah and…

Do you prefer crowds, small groups or being alone?
Small groups 100%, especially if I want to have a conversation with everyone.

What’s on rotation on your Spotify at the moment?
I’ve been obsessed with Charlotte Dos Santos and playing her radio on Spotfiy. Kali Uchis, Brent Faiyaz and Raveena are awesome too.

What are your personal rules for posting on the internet? For example, are there thing you won’t do / things you always try to do?
That’s an interesting question! I guess more-so for my parents’ sake, not posting anything to revealing or ‘provocative’… my parents are super traditional and they’ve made me delete some posts that weren’t deemed as appropriate in their books haha. They’re super supportive of everything else though. But, normally in an outfit photo I aim to show a full body shot and details of my outfit. I love details.