PW: Toska, thank you for meeting me! I have been infatuated with your many photos and looks posted on Instagram. I knew I had to turn up the spotlight and watch you shine! First, I just have to clear this up. How do you pronounce your pup name?

TOSKA: Toe-ska or Tosca. It’s Russian. (Remember this opera reference.) It's pretty much a representation of loneliness.

PW: Do you always go by Toska, or do you ever use your birth name?

TOSKA: Well, most of the time, I do go by Toska. But, for those who know me, I use Damion.

PW: What part of the country are you from?

PW: Unfortunately, not everyone will get the pup persona and lifestyle. But with more exposure, your pup niche is more likely to form.

TOSKA: Hmmmm, I can see that.

PW: What advice would you give other pups who are feeling awkward being seen in public in their pup persona and their pup gear?

TOSKA: If you want to go out in public in your pup hood, and feel confident, maybe start with confidence in yourself without the hood. I know it sounds contradictory because I love working with my pup hood out in public now, but it didn't start out that way. On my campus, I never used to wear my pup hood during the daytime until about two weeks ago. There came a point when I had to make a personal choice. Do I really want to get the perfect picture on a beautiful day, or do I want to let people stop me just because I'm wearing a pup hood? So I just went out and did it. That was the moment when I realized that if wearing a pup hood in public makes the world uncomfortable, too bad. People have the freedom to avoid me and not feel bothered. This may be easier said on a college campus where people tend to be all about education and expanding their minds. But on much of social media, people are going to find you and give you problems. Eventually, you're going to have to make a choice. Whether it impacts your art or your work, there’s definitely going to be a moment. Yes, I do want to go out in my pup hood. Yes, I do want to be big and bold with this thing I'm doing. Just go out and do it! Be sure to read the room, and try to figure out the best times to do it. Not every moment is right for everything. Not every moment needs to be weighed down by the opinions of others.

PW: When did you come out?

TOSKA: I'm from the Great Plains, in Arkansas. I’m currently in central Arkansas for college. But I’ll go back up toward Memphis and the Jonesboro area of Arkansas for the off-season.

PW: So, what’s your pup age?

TOSKA: Well, I started out as a furry, and that might have been when I was about sixteen. I guess eight or nine years. The pup part came only a few years later, so about seven years as a pup.

PW: What draws you to Fashion?

TOSKA: It's the overall creation of something. I can take so many different parts and make something that's cohesive. I just love playing around with different colors and textures. I love fur and leather! Taking all those different textures, and seeing how they change with colors, and then putting it all together. Stimulation for the eyes.

PW: When did you start doing that?

TOSKA: Maybe 2014. I was still in high school. The idea was, I want to look good, and I want to look good, and I wanna look good all the time. I pretty much forced myself to buy. I threw almost everything that I had away, which wasn't much. I had a bunch of t-shirts and my parents pretty much put my outfits together. I was content to just eat, sleep, and play music. That’s about it. Then I was like, what if I actually took some time and picked out what I was going to wear? Gathering different pieces that I really liked. They were pretty dramatic pieces. "In the end, I had no choice but to always have something to wear that looks good."

PW: After expanding your craft to social media, you began to translate your talent and develop your brand. Good job!

TOSKA: Thanks.

PW: Do you work from home or do you have a studio? Your pictures show such a variety of locations.

TOSKA: I am fortunate that I do have a room to myself. It doesn't always stay that way. Sometimes I have a roommate, sometimes I don't. This semester I didn't have one, so I pretty much have a studio here where I can keep all of my clothes. I put my outfits together right before I go to class, so I don't really put a lot of new outfits together. It depends. It’s always a rush to get out the door and not be late for class.

PW: I remember those days. Your style is eclectic but very sophisticated and sharp. The way I see it, your style perspective is very theatrical. It’s about attitude and emotion. Aside from yourself, who do you put together? Do you style friends or family? Do you have clients?

TOSKA: Yeah, that's something I've been thinking about for a long time. I was saying to myself, If everyone tells me that they like my style, then who am I doing it for? Is it for the people around me so I can get attention? No, I don't do it just for attention. I do it for myself. I have one friend at school who dresses just as flamboyantly, as big, and as boldly. I guess I dress for her. Well, for her and against her. I secretly like competing with her, just to see who happens to have the better outfit. My parents don’t really understand it. They like it, but they don’t really get it.

PW: Do you see yourself eventually styling others?

TOSKA: Yes. I'd really like to get into that.

PW: Presenting, The House of Toska! You've got a designer's eye and a brilliant sense of composition. You need to believe in your abilities. Your unique style immediately catches the eye. You see that. Have you been getting noticed on social media?

TOSKA: It varies. It honestly depends on how much work and effort I put into it, and what I’m feeling in the moment. When I really want to get some attention, I'll definitely put more work out there. I could probably pull in more people. I would say that currently, the numbers are lower than before because I am placing more focus on my studies. I feel that it’s definitely more of a pull to work on school. But it’s finals time. It'll last maybe two or three more weeks, then I'll be right back to posting every day. Back on all of my socials. If I posted consistently, I would be growing like crazy!

PW: Smart pup. School is only a small window in your life, but a very important one. You’ve got plenty of time. I’ll be watching. I'm excited to see you and your brand grow. House of Toska!

TOSKA: Thank you.

PW: Have you worked with anyone in fashion or design? Modeling? Maybe in school?

TOSKA: At my college, there is a group called Ebony Models that I have walked with, but not in pup form.

TOSKA: I always knew I was something different. I always had a thing for guys, even at a young age. I didn't do anything with another boy until I was eighteen, because I was raised as a good Christian boy. I eventually came out after one of those mom-reading-my-texts moments. I remember coming to terms with my gayness when I had my first boyfriend.

PW: What do you like to do in your free time? What are your other interests?

TOSKA: I'm actually a professional singer. I perform opera, pop, and jazz with a current emphasis on opera. I always sing pieces that I know, but I also love to compose. I will improvise by taking something I've heard, breaking it down, and turning it into something completely different.

PW: I think you should marry some of your artistic power with your other abilities. I can imagine one of your original compositions being used as background music in your fashion videos. Fashion and music. House of Toska!

TOSKA: I can see that.

PW: If people want to see your photos, is Instagram the best place to go?

TOSKA: I do have a Twitter/X account, but I mostly link all my posts to Instagram.

PW: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the pups of Pup-World?

TOSKA: Be creative. Do things that make you happy. Do things that make you feel as if you're connecting to your own soul and your own energy, then push it out into the world. Just be courageous. Put your energy out into the world, and I guarantee that it will reflect back.

PW: Thank you so much. I am so impressed by you. I believe in you.

TOSKA: Thank you.

PW: I can't wait to hear more about your singing! We just might have to interview you again for our music-loving pups! When will the single be released?