LBL: Thomas Blackwell aka Tommy Playboy or Tommy tsunami

professional dancer, choreographer, activist and artist in New York City

1. Tell us your name, where you were born, and your first memory you have from where you began!

My names is Thomas Blackwell aka Tommy Playboy or Tommy tsunami I was born in Philadelphia PA and my first memory from where I began I guess would be when I came out of my moms vagina  2. What were the overlaying cultural themes in your family?  How did that align or differ to the communities you were surrounded by?

Well I grew up in a Christian/Muslim house hold and typically within those religions they don’t allow you to be gay/Queer and now I’m surrounded by some dope queer icons so the fact that I had to get over that obstacle I feel amazing and strong but I felt alittle bit unsupported by my family at the time 

3.  What did you like least about where you grew up?  What did you like most?

I hated the violence and shooting and killing in my neighbor hood I felt it would be hard to have dreams how do I make it out will I make it out being gay in the hood many don’t accept you shit they may try and hurt you if they ( black cis gender men or women ) feel threatened by you. what I love the most about where I grew up in philly was it taught and showed me how to have tough skin and never give up on my self it could be apt worst but it’ll get better before that.  4. What was the first big idea you ever had?  Did it come to fruition in some sense?

My first big idea was WALKING NYFW and landing in vogue I was in high school feeling just terrible about my self because people had tease me picked on me because of how I dressed or looked or because I didn’t have what they had so when I started modeling in NY and the Brand Gypsy Sport Hit me up I was shocked beyond my mind like wow this is happening I’d always talk about walking a show in NY and everyone would be there and everyone would see it so yeah 

5. Who influenced your taste in expression as a child? How so? 

My grandma influence my taste as a child she raised me so I take after they fly gal she used to dye her hair blonde and wear all the designer brands and labels and travel different places and things and I always wanted to be like that when I grew up she was a hard working women so I’m inspired by her

6. What was the first full album you purchased/found and couldn’t get enough of?  What did it make you feel?

The first full album I bought was and Adele 21 album and I was like in 9th grade the BEGINNING of high school going thru hell and I had my first heart break so singing rolling in the deep made me feel a lot better about that piece of crap boyfriend I had at the time. Every time I had listened to the album I get powerful like I don’t need a man I am a man tuhhh what I’m over him this I’m too strong for that I come to far lol

 7. What hobbies, sports, events, arts, were you drawn to before the age of 10?  Do you feel like you’re still interacting with these same genres in your current time in life? Do you miss any of them?  

When I was 9 I started going to Dance school well a performing arts school in Philadelphia named freedom Theater & I am currently still dancing til this day I recently in 2019 came off my first European Tour With Princess Nokia which was Amazing 

8. Who was your first best friend? What is your most vivid memory of your friendship?

My first best friend would have to be my grandma I tell her everything, my most vivid memory is her always asking me did I do my chores 

9. Where do you go to find your peace?  

I go to my roof top and just dance and move around to free my soul feel my movements meditate etc...

10. What is a lifelong goal you can’t wait to start? What is it about it that brings you to life?

A lifelong goal of mine is to travel the world doing what I love. Dancing & Modeling will be my life for the rest of my life I’m able to express my self when I’m doing these things so there nothing in the world I rather be doing 

11. Where do you wish to travel to that you have never been? Why? 

I’d Love to visit Paris & Brazil 

I want to visit paris and see the  Eiffel Tower and walk Paris Fashion week and just are the beautiful  architect 

And I want to dance with the beautiful people of rio and just see the beautiful water on the beach and the beautiful animals 

12. How do you connect best with other people?

I best connect best with people when I’m creative when I’m in my element I’m comfortable I’m willing and I’m just ready to recreate old version of my self to step in to the better Version of Tommy 

13.  Favorite song of the moment? 

My favorite song at the moment would be 

Girls in the hood Megan the stallion love meg real hot girl shit  14. What are you most proud of at this exact moment in time?

So I’m most proud that I get to inspire so many people and use my voice and stand in my purpose I think that it’s Important that we know what we are here to do and what having purpose means  15.  What is the thing you are most shy about? What is the worst that could happen if you did it? 

I’m shy when it comes to like letting people in and like my body sometimes but I’m working on it. If I let in every person who’d want to know me Id be a mother and these niggas would be my sons but they worst part of that is just not being able to trust everyone now adays there’s always a hidden agenda behind everything 

16.  What are the qualities that you value most in a friend today? 

Quality’s that I value most in a friend today are 

Realness and loyalty never be afraid to help your homies when the lacking period or that’s not really yo friend if you can’t tell them about they self sometimes PURRR

17. How do you find your calm in tumultuous times?

I just take a moment to stop and breathe regroup I drink cold water as well and take walks 

18.  What is your current greatest fear?  

LOL MY CURRENT GREATEST FEAR IS FALLING OUT OF THE SKY  19. What is your current greatest strength?

My current greatest strength to me would be my strength and ability to be resilient in many situations reflecting off of my actions and behaviors and watching and moderating how i choice to react to certain situations 

20. What brings you the most joy?

What brings me joy the most is performing dancing of course and walking down Long runways it like EAT SLEEP PRAY RUNWAY  21.  How does your current line of work support your core values?

IT TEACHES me to NEVER give up on my self know there’s so much room for growth I’m growing everyday and be kind to my self and don’t be afraid to explore my self in different ways  22.  What advice would you give your 10 year old self?  What advice would your 10 year old self give you?

I’d tell 10 year old Tommy Fuck what the haters say keep being you be different  don’t be afraid to think outside the box 

And 10 years old Tommy would tell me ahhh keep pushing your almost there even though I’m no where close yet 

23. What projects are you working on now that you are most excited about? Why are they so valuable to you ? 

I’m currently working on something dope something Dance Related because I love dance it’s going to be dope and big I’m choreographing it it’s going to be a dope mini production so I can’t wait to share it with people 

This project is so valuable because during quarantine I was going through a lot of difficult times so it shows the emotion of what I was going through in that time period and I’m excited to show that in a Artistic way 

24. Who would you have coffee with dead or alive? Why?

If I could have coffee with someone dead or alive it would have to be my homie Chynna who recently passed this year LONGLIVECHIZZY CHYNNAWORLD FOREVER I miss her very much she was the best we always went for coffee her in the city whenever she was around or brunch it’s the little things you know 

25.  Who do you find most inspiring at this current time in your life?

I find my self inspiring at this current time in my life because I overview the struggles and obstacles I’ve overcame and I’m still overcoming and I look my fears straight in the face and I say I’m not going anywhere I deal with thing head on right in the moment and I stay strong no matter what is holding me down I always rise to the occasion 

26. Do you have a morning or night routine? If so, why are they important to you?

My morning routine is wake up shower brush my teeth wash my face get dressed walk my dog 

Eat breakfast then Head to work for the day 

Then after a long day of work come home eat shower then watch some Disney+ or HBO they alway have some good shows on 

27.  How do you best honor yourself?

I honor my self best when I wake up in the morning it’s an honor to wake up in this skin and love it unconditionally day by day 

28.  What is the craziest thing you want to do? 

I want to sky dive I think that’s the craziest thing I wanna do 

29.  What is your favorite meal to cook when you need something fast, and when you are ready to invest in the kitchen?

My favorite meal when I need something quick hmmm I love a cute salad you can toss together or like some avocado on toast ugh bomb 

And saweeetie mamas always be in the kitchen purrr 

30.  What is your favorite question to ask others? 

My favorite question to ask others is how people’s day is going 

31. What are your favorite travel tips?

Lol I don’t really know many travel tips like that 

32. And of course, what is your go-to travel snack?

 My go to travel snack potato chips period 

Tommy currently resides in New York City. Find Tommy at @Tommy.playboy