Who is Tila Tequila? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Nguyễn Thị Thiên Thanh, Tila Nguyen, Tornado Thien

Age: 42 Years, 42 Year Old Females

Family:

siblings: Daniel and Terri

Born Country: Singapore

Reality TV Personalities American Women

Height: 4'11" (150 cm), 4'11" Females

Ancestry: Singaporean American

City: Singapore, Singapore

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1

What reality TV show was Tila Tequila best known for?

Tila Tequila was best known for her appearance on the reality TV show "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila."
2

How did Tila Tequila gain fame?

Tila Tequila gained fame through her presence on social media platforms such as MySpace and later transitioned into reality television.
3

Did Tila Tequila face any controversies during her career?

Yes, Tila Tequila faced controversies related to her controversial statements and behavior on social media and in the public eye.
4

What other ventures has Tila Tequila been involved in?

Tila Tequila has dabbled in music, modeling, and writing in addition to her reality TV career.
5

How has Tila Tequila's public image evolved over the years?

Tila Tequila's public image has undergone significant shifts from being a social media influencer to facing backlash for her controversial statements and actions.

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Childhood & Early Life

She was born on October 24, 1981, in Singapore. Her parents were boat people who arrived in Singapore from Vietnam after the war. She has an elder brother named Daniel and an elder sister named Terri.

Her family moved to Houston, Texas, when she was a year old. They lived in a strict Buddhist gated community till she was 8 years old. She was nicknamed “Tila Tequila” by her friends because it was believed that she was allergic to alcohol.

In her adolescent years, she took to writing poetry to release her emotions. She ran away from home at the age of 16 and lived in Queens, New York City, for several months. She experienced a drive-by shooting during this period. She even got pregnant and had a miscarriage.

She graduated from ‘Alief Hastings High School’ in 2000 and relocated to California to become a model in 2001. She attended college but did not complete her education.

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Career

Tila was offered an assignment to model for ‘Playboy’ magazine when she was 19 years old. She was featured as ‘Playboy’s ‘Cyber Girl of the Week’ in April 2002 and soon became the first Asian ‘Cyber Girl of the Month.’

She started her own band named ‘Beyond Betty Jean’ when she was 20 years old. However, the band did not survive. She later became the lead singer of a band named ‘Jealousy’ that released a few songs online before they, too, broke up.

In 2003, she appeared on the ‘VH1’ reality show named ‘Surviving Nugent.’ She also gained popularity when she was featured on the cover of ‘Import Tuner,’ an automobile magazine, and in other shows about cars.

She hosted the ‘Fuse TV’ dance show ‘Pants-Off Dance-Off’ and signed a contract with ‘A&M Records’ in 2006. This was followed by the independent release of her first single, ‘I Love U,’ through ‘iTunes’ in February 2007.

She appeared on the ‘NBC’ game show ‘Identity’ later that year and also made a cameo appearance on the show ‘The War at Home.’ Her debut on the big screen was as a ‘Hooters Girl’ in the movie ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.’

Her second single, ‘Stripper Friends,’ was released via ‘Yahoo! Music’ in February 2008. This was followed by the single ‘Paralyze’ on ‘Yahoo! Music’ and ‘iTunes.’

In 2010, she changed her stage name to ‘Miss Tila’ and released the single ‘I Fucked the DJ’ along with another version, ‘I Love My DJ.’ The single received negative reviews. She then started her own blog, ‘MissTilaOMG.com,’ and released the EP ‘Welcome to the Darkside.’ The EP fared better than her previous project. However, her performance during the ‘Gathering of the Juggalos’ music festival was greeted with stone-pelting.

She participated in the 16th season of the ‘Channel 5’ reality show ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ but got eliminated on the first day due to some controversial views stated by her.

Tila started various websites and blogs featuring celebrity gossip and fashion that received mixed reviews. Currently, she sells artwork under the brand name ‘Tornado Thien.’ She is planning to release a comic book titled ‘The Saint Sinners.’

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Major Works

She has released five music videos, two EPs, and five singles. Her EPs are ‘Sex’ and ‘Welcome to the Darkside.’ Some of her notable singles are ‘I Love U,’ ‘Stripper Friends,’ and ‘You Can Dance.’

Tila has appeared in the films ‘I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry’ (2007), ‘Masterminds’ (2013), and ‘24/7’ (2016).

She has launched various websites. In 2008, she released the book ‘Hooking Up with Tila Tequila: A Guide to Love, Fame, Happiness, Success, and Being the Life of the Party.’

Awards & Achievements

She was named the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at ‘The Soup Awards’ in 2007.

In 2008, she won the ‘So Hot They’re Famous’ award and the ‘A-List Drama Queen’ award at the ‘Spike Guys’ Choice Awards’ and the ‘Bravo’s A-List Awards,’ respectively.

Family & Personal Life

Tila has created controversy due to her pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic views. Her status as a lesbian or bisexual has also led to a lot of debate. Her name has been linked to both male and female partners, including Bobby Banhart and Dani Campbell from ‘A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.’

She was allegedly choked by former boyfriend Shawne Merriman. She once attempted suicide by an overdose of pills. She was diagnosed with brain aneurysm and had to undergo rehabilitation.

She has dated heiress Casey Johnson and musician Thomas Paxton Whitaker. She also has two daughters and has decided to bring them up under the name “Tornado Thien.”

In March 2018, Tequila claimed that she had only pretended to be bisexual to ensure good ratings for ‘A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.’

Facts About Tila Tequila

Tila Tequila was a contestant on the reality show "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila," where both men and women competed for her affection.

She released a single titled "I Love U" in 2007, which reached number 75 on the Hot Digital Songs chart.

Tila Tequila is known for her active presence on social media, where she shares updates on her life and thoughts with her followers.

She has authored a book called "Hooking Up with Tila Tequila: A Guide to Love, Fame, Happiness, Success, and Being the Life of the Party."

Tila Tequila has also dabbled in acting, making appearances in films and TV shows such as "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" and "The Cleveland Show."

Tila Tequila Biography

You wanted to know

What reality TV show was Tila Tequila best known for?

How did Tila Tequila gain fame?

Did Tila Tequila face any controversies during her career?

What other ventures has Tila Tequila been involved in?

How has Tila Tequila's public image evolved over the years?