A career built on passion, reinvention, and intuition
In this sixth episode of The Heels Forward Podcast, hosted by Francesca Vanthielen, we sit down with Tiany Kiriloff: fashion icon, entrepreneur, influencer avant la lettre, and mother of three. A conversation full of energy, humor, honesty and a deep love for style with substance.
Tiany's story is anything but ordinary. Born in Venezuela to a Chilean mother and Dutch father with Russian roots, she moved to Belgium at the age of 13, a bold shift that would shape her curious, resilient nature.
Her big break came with a self-created fashion program on JIMtv, despite having no experience and still learning Dutch. “I had always been told I didn’t speak Dutch well enough,” she recalls. But she pushed through, driven by her lifelong passion for fashion and storytelling. From there, her career unfolded organically: from TV to digital platforms to founding her own label, Coco y Maria.
* Throwback to Christmas in Venezuela – Tiany together with her two brothers, celebrating the holidays in true family style.
On influencing, motherhood, and staying true to yourself
Tiany doesn’t just follow trends, she sets her own path. Long before the term 'influencer' was mainstream, she was sharing fashion inspiration on television and in magazines. Now, her platform is Instagram but the essence remains the same: authenticity, creativity, and a commitment to conscious choices.
She speaks candidly about the behind-the-scenes reality of influencer work: deadlines, contracts, feedback loops, and the constant balancing act between brand alignment and staying true to personal values. “If it doesn’t feel right, I don’t do it. Authenticity is everything.”
At the same time, she juggles motherhood, travel, entrepreneurship, and household life. “We all do everything at once,” she laughs. Her secret? Letting go of perfection. “You don’t have to dot every i and cross every t. If you feel good, you’re doing fine.”
* A young Tiany in one of her mother’s flamboyant boutique outfits
From vintage treasures to launching a fashion brand
Fashion runs in Tiany’s blood. Her mother – a style icon in her own right – ran a boutique in Venezuela. As a child, Tiany would try on new arrivals straight from the US. Later, as a teen in Belgium, she explored alternative styles, discovering her identity through clothes.
Today, she channels that heritage and experience into her brand Coco y Maria. Together with two co-founders, she designs comfortable, elegant pieces with a nostalgic twist. Pieces women want to live in. “We’re not chasing fast fashion. We produce in small batches, in Europe, and only launch two collections per year.”
Sustainability is a core principle: low-impact production, no overstock, and the encouragement to re-wear and re-style pieces. “It’s okay to be seen in the same outfit twice. That’s what fashion should be.”
* A family moment in Venezuela – Tiany together with her stylish mother and two younger brothers.
Dreams for the future
The ambition for Coco y Maria is clear: grow slowly and thoughtfully, starting with Belgium and the Netherlands, and then expanding internationally. "We don’t want to produce too much, we want to create with intention.”
The episode was recorded on the second floor of a Montea building at Blue Gate Antwerp, just above the warehouse of none other than Dries Van Noten. With a smile, Tiany jokes: “Who knows… maybe one day we’ll take over this second floor.”
Life lessons and lasting energy
When asked what advice she would give to young, ambitious women, Tiany keeps it simple: “Don’t overthink it. Just do it.” Success, for her, is about listening to your gut and learning something new every day, no matter how small. And above all: “The sky is full of stars. There’s space for everyone.”
Though she thrives on movement and doesn’t need much rest, Tiany recharges in her own way: through moments of late-night quiet when the house is asleep, long walks in the countryside, and press trips that energize her through new encounters and ideas. Her husband, Didier Engels – DJ and CEO of Engels windows and doors – often notices the spark she returns with after these trips.
A global soul with strong roots
Tiany’s multicultural background shaped her worldview; Chilean warmth, Dutch directness, Russian intensity. Though her daughters speak Dutch and the youngest no longer answers in Spanish, Tiany remains proud of her roots and the stories they carry.
From second-hand treasures to fashion weeks, from family dinners to creative brainstorms, Tiany embraces it all with curiosity and drive. “I just really appreciate a lot. Maybe that’s my secret to happiness.”
Why listen to this episode?
Tiany’s journey is a celebration of identity, self-expression, and trusting your instincts – even when the odds are against you. This episode is a vibrant portrait of a woman who turns curiosity into courage, fashion into storytelling, and everyday life into something worth sharing.
Listen to the full Dutch-language episode or watch the vodcast with English subtitles.
Montea created The Heels Forward Podcast to give a platform to inspiring voices – and to show the people behind the job titles.
Tiany Kiriloff is a vibrant example: a creative force who blends entrepreneurship with authenticity, and who shows that staying true to yourself is the most powerful form of leadership.
