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Meet Gina Tomaine, Deputy Lifestyle Editor for Philadelphia Magazine and a woman we love. To her, our motto "reality is extraordinary" reminds her that a life well-lived is one where we find joy in the everyday. Read on to get to know why being creative is important to her, her plans for a nonfiction book, and why she believes being powerful and feminine can happen at the same time.
What's your short biography?
I've lived in Fairmount for the past five years. Before that, I was in an MFA program at Emerson College in Boston, where I got my Masters of Fine Arts in writing. I moved to Boston for 3 years after graduating from Saint Joseph's University in Philly in 2010. I've worked previously at Boston Magazine, and at Rodale where I wrote for Organic Life, Prevention, Women's Health, and Runner's World. I'm a writer and editor by trade.
Currently, I work at Philadelphia Magazine and edit the Scout section of the monthly magazine, which is a guide to living stylishly in Philadelphia, including culture, trends, style, shopping, and beauty.
What do you do?
Deputy Lifestyle Editor at Philadelphia Magazine
What do you love about what you do?
I love meeting talented, passionate people in the Philadelphia area who are starting their own businesses. They are risk-takers and dreamers who are bringing the things they imagine to life. It's people like this that make
our city a brighter and more creative place, and I love shedding light on that as often as I can. I also love being creative myself every day, writing and editing and planning hoto shoots and fun illustrations with our art team. It's invigorating to be a part of a dynamic creative team that comes up with a totally new concept and executes it every month.
Where are you from?
Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Education?
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Emerson College, Bachelor's in Economics and English from Saint Joseph's University.
Sign?
Scorpio.
Favorite Americae items and why?
I love the Velvet Satin Reversible Kimono Coat because it is feminine and sweet, but at the same time powerful in its bold representation of the feminine. I also love the interior with the rainforest print. I love the raw emerald ring because it is such a statement piece of jewelry, which speaks to a maximalist aesthetic but can also dress up a simple ensemble.
Who do you think embodies the Americae Woman, living or dead, and why?
Sonia Sotomayor. As the first U.S. Supreme Court Justice of Hispanic descent, she represents a strong, bold woman claiming her place in what is often a man's world and one which often lacks women of color in strong positions of power to boot. She also wrote a children's book so that she could inspire future generations, which I think is the most important thing is living our values, and then passing them on to the next generation so that they can be better.
Describe your style and why is it authentically you?
I'm all about a simple look amped up with fun accessories. (Like a pink kimono!) I prefer dangling earrings, big rings, and a colorful scarf or a long jacket to set it off. It's me because I like to stick to basics, but I think every look can also have a little something extra.
Our ethos is reality is extraordinary. What does that mean to you?
Americae's ethos of "reality is extraordinary" is what attracted me to the brand in the first place. To me, it's inspiring and resonant because it's about finding joy, passion, and creativity every day, not just when you're traveling or in a new situation. I love this concept. I try to bring excitement and energy to my daily life my relationships, my job, my writing and that is what makes a life well-lived.
What's on your bookshelf?
The Idiot by Elif Batuman and Brene Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection, both of which I highly recommend, but for different reasons. I'm also reading The Yamas Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele, as part of the 200-hour yoga teacher training I'm currently enrolled in at Yoga Habit in Fairmount. After I'm finished reading those, I want to re-read local author Carmen Maria Machado's Her Body And Other Parties. It was just optioned for an FX show which I can't wait to watch once it comes out.
Next or favorite travel destination?
I went to India last December with my fiance and we had such an incredible trip. Seeing the Taj Mahal during a misty sunrise was mind-blowingly beautiful. I'd love to return to Chennai and Jaipur to see more of the cities and of course, to eat more Indian food.
What's next for you?
I'm thrilled to be a part of Philadelphia's creative and style community. I plan to keep writing and telling stories for the rest of my life and hope to write a nonfiction book or novel one day.
What's your personal motto or what message would you like to share with women?
I'm going to pull from Brene Brown's book, which I mentioned above: "Get deliberate. If creativity is seen as a luxury or something we do when we have spare time, it will never be cultivated. When you make creating a priority, everything in your life will work better."
