The Black Tape Project is a body art and alternative fashion movement that uses black tape to create body suits. The project was founded by Joel Alvarez in 2012, and it has since grown to become a global phenomenon.

Black Tape Project models are typically young, fit, and attractive. However, the project is not limited to a certain body type or age group. Anyone can participate in the project, regardless of their physical appearance.

The goal of the Black Tape Project is to challenge traditional notions of beauty and body image. The project aims to show that beauty can be found in all shapes and sizes, and that it is possible to be confident and sexy without being naked.

Black Tape Project models are often featured in photoshoots, fashion shows, and art exhibitions. They have also appeared in magazines and on television. The project has helped to raise awareness of body positivity and has inspired many people to embrace their own bodies.

List of Black Tape Project Models

Mariana Sirena

Mariana Sirena is a model and influencer from Colombia who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2019 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a singer and songwriter who goes by the stage name Mari Sirena.

Instagram: @mari.sirena

Kaye Cox

Kaye Cox is a model and actress from Los Angeles who has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020. She has appeared in several magazines, commercials, music videos, and films. She is also a dancer and choreographer who has performed with artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, and Chris Brown.

Instagram: @thekayecoxway

Anouk Eman

Anouk Eman is a model and entrepreneur from Aruba who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2018 and has traveled to over 20 countries with the brand. She is also the founder and CEO of Anouk Swimwear, a luxury swimwear line that features eco-friendly fabrics and handcrafted details.

Instagram: @anoukeman

Carmen Carrera

Carmen Carrera is a model, actress, activist, and reality TV star from New Jersey who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has made history as the first transgender model to walk for the brand. She is also known for her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 3 and for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness.

Instagram: @carmen_carrera

Zita Vass

Zita Vass is a model, actress, producer, and director from San Diego who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2019 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also known for her roles in films like Supermodel, The Love Witch, The Last Stand, and Californication. She is also the founder of Zita Vass Productions, a film production company that focuses on female-driven stories.

Instagram: @zitavass

Kate Citrone

Kate Citrone is a model and influencer from New York who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a fitness enthusiast who shares her workouts, nutrition tips, and lifestyle on her social media platforms.

Instagram: @kate_citrone

Nicole Allegro

Nicole Allegro is a model and influencer from New Jersey who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a singer and songwriter who goes by the stage name Niki Cole.

Instagram: @nicoleallegro

Celina Smith

Celina Smith is a model and influencer from Atlanta who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a dancer and actress who has appeared in films like Step Up: High Water, The Hate U Give, and The Christmas Chronicles 2.

Instagram: @itscelinasmith

Ann-neika JC

Ann-neika Jean Charles is a model and influencer from Haiti who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a nurse and a mother of two who balances her career, family, and modeling.

Joanna James

Joanna James is a model and influencer from New York who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2019 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a dancer and a singer who performs at various venues and events.

Instagram: @joanna.james

Daylon Muenzner

Daylon Muenzner is a model and influencer from Canada who currently lives in Miami. He has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. He is also a fitness trainer and a nutritionist who helps people improve their physical and mental health.

Instagram: @daylon_muenzner

Valentina Gasca

Valentina Gasca is a model and influencer from Mexico who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a student and a traveler who loves to explore new places and cultures.

Instagram: @valgasca

Ashley M Vallandingham

Ashley M Vallandingham is a model and influencer from Ohio who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also an actress and a host who has worked on projects like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Ellen Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Instagram: @ashleyvallandingham

Taylor Gallo

Taylor Gallo is a model and influencer from New York who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also a singer and a songwriter who goes by the stage name Tay Gallo.

Instagram: @taylorgallo__

Simone Henderson

Simone Henderson is a model and influencer from Jamaica who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2019 and has appeared in several shows and photoshoots. She is also an entrepreneur and a philanthropist who runs her own clothing line called Simone Henderson Collection and supports various charities that help children in need.

Instagram: @simone_henderson

Julia Corbridge

Julia Corbridge is a model and influencer from Utah who currently lives in Los Angeles. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2020 and has participated in several shows and photoshoots. She is also an actress and a dancer who has appeared in films like The Greatest Showman, La La Land, Pitch Perfect 3, and High School Musical 3.

Instagram: @julia.corbridge

Zona DeSouza

Zona DeSouza is a model and influencer from Brazil who currently lives in Miami. She has been working with the Black Tape Project since 2019

Black Tape Project Models List

What is Black Tape Project models?

Black Tape Project models are individuals who collaborate with the Black Tape Project, a fashion brand that creates clothing and swimwear designs using black electrical tape as the primary material. The models showcase the brand’s designs in photoshoots and runway shows, often at various events and venues.

Model Submission

To become a Black Tape Project model, one has to fill out a model submission form on the brand’s website, providing personal information and photos. The Black Tape Project team reviews the submissions and contacts the applicants if they are interested in working with them. The applicants may have to provide more information or attend an audition or a casting call.

Model preparation

Black Tape project as the name suggests, the models have to be comfortable with wearing tape as their only clothing and be able to pose and move in a way that highlights the tape designs. They also have to be professional and cooperative with the Black Tape Project team and be willing to travel to different locations or events where the brand is featured.

Model performance

The models perform as part of the Black Tape Project by wearing the tape designs and creating art and stories with their facial expressions, body language, and poses. They also interact with other models and celebrities and promote the brand on their social media platforms. The models celebrate diversity and beauty in all shapes and sizes and express themselves with confidence and pride.

History of Black Tape Project

The Black Tape Project is a fashion brand that was founded by artist and designer Joel Alvarez in 2008. The brand creates clothing and swimwear designs using black electrical tape as the primary material, applied directly on the models’ bodies. The brand aims to highlight “the natural beauty of the human body” and experiment with new designs and styles.

Origins

Alvarez started the Black Tape Project in 2008 from a run-down home in Miami, where he was living in his car and struggling to make ends meet. He inherited a small property and a box of money from his late grandfather, which he used to buy a camera and start his photography career. He began working with local models and cars and eventually came up with the idea of using tape as a clothing material. He experimented with different types of tape, such as duct tape, masking tape, and electrical tape, and found that black electrical tape was the most suitable for his designs. He also discovered that the tape adhered better to the skin when it was heated by a hair dryer.

Development

Alvarez continued to develop his skills and concepts and started to showcase his work on social media platforms such as Myspace, Model Mayhem, and Instagram. He gained popularity and recognition for his unique and provocative designs and attracted the attention of various magazines, celebrities, and directors. He worked on projects with Michael Bay, Rick Ross, Billy Ray Cyrus, Playboy, Maxim, and more, in over 40 countries. He also showcased his work at various events and venues, such as EDC Vegas, Ultra Miami and Singapore, Cannes Film Festival, and Miami Swim Week.

Rebirth

In 2023, Alvarez announced that he was retiring his name Joel Alvarez and reborn as Drakhan Blackheart, the new King of Tape. He held his final runway show at New York Fashion Week, where he featured over 50 models wearing his tape designs and chains. He stated that the chains represented breaking free from his past struggles and limitations and embracing his new identity and vision. He also introduced new elements to his designs, such as metallic tape, body chains, and LED lights.

Summary

The Black Tape Project is a fashion brand that creates unique and provocative designs using black electrical tape. The brand was founded by Joel Alvarez, who is now known as Drakhan Blackheart, the King of Tape. The models who work with the brand are individuals with diverse backgrounds and body types who showcase the brand’s designs in photoshoots and runway shows. In this article, we introduced you to some of the models who have worked with the Black Tape Project and shared some of their short biographies. We hope you enjoyed learning more about these bold and beautiful models and their stories.