Sanya Smith: Transformation in Every Layer
The marks Sanya Smith carries mirror the way she has learned to see herself more clearly: With fewer apologies and a better grasp of her own wiring.
Perhaps the most striking tattoo on 41-year-old model, DJ, and host Sanya Smith is the snake that winds across her left upper arm. “Snakes in media and religion are often seen [in a] negative way [like] temptations and evil,” she says. “But in spirituality, it means rebirth, growth, transformation–-shedding of the skin.”
Smith, who stands a statuesque 5’10”, has a commanding presence that softens immediately when she starts talking. Somehow, she relates to snakes, which she describes as “one of the most misunderstood creatures.”
Jerick Sanchez
Tattoos, for her, symbolize phases of her life. Each one tells a story: where she was, what she felt, and what she’s learned.
She points to a small puzzle piece tattoo beside the snake. “I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021,” she shares. “It made so much sense.” After years of feeling behind, the diagnosis became her missing puzzle piece. “It was like somebody handed me a flashlight and I can finally see, because I felt like I was in the dark for the longest time.”
The tattoo now serves as a gentle reminder to be kind to herself. “I’m not stupid, I’m not behind, my brain is just wired differently,” she says, with evident grace she did not have for herself before the diagnosis.
Art direction by Nicole Almero. Beauty direction by Leira Aquino. Makeup by Booya. Hair by Patty Inojales. Styling by Geno Espidol and Jermainne Lagura of Qurator. Nails by Extraordinail.
