In entertainment, much has been said about so-called “triple threat performers.” Being able to sing, dance, and act at a high level is highly impressive and marketable in the hypercompetitive world of Hollywood. However, not enough has been said about the other types of multitalented individuals in the media, who have risen to the top of several competitive fields.
Elizabeth TenHouten is one example of a Renaissance woman who has seen results in multiple artistic pursuits, specifically in modeling, writing, and music. As a poet, she has channeled her emotions into heartfelt meditations on love, loss, hope, and heartbreak. As a musician, she has translated many of these same themes into the universal, soul-stirring language of music. As a model, she has used her body and face as a canvas for visual storytelling in different mediums, including art, photography and even sculpture
Elizabeth’s relationship to all of these art forms began at an early age. At just 10 years old, she began memorizing, analyzing, and writing poetry. At the age of 12, she began learning to play popular rock tunes on her Alvarez guitar. As a teenager, she was scouted by an agent for a modeling contract overseas. While eventually modeling extensively, she chose not to sign the modeling contract at that time. These experiences laid the groundwork for her involvement in all of these fields throughout her life.
Elizabeth’s initial foray into writing books came after she had worked on her craft and collected a vast repository of knowledge as a beauty expert. Her first two books were the recipe books and beauty tip collections Cooking Well: Beautiful Skin – Over 75 Antioxidant-Rich Recipes for Glowing Skin and Natural Beauty: Homemade Recipes for Radiant Skin and Hair. Eventually, she returned to her first love of poetry by publishing the poetry collection The Stars Fell into the Ocean in 2022.
Through The Stars Fell into the Ocean, Elizabeth aimed to create a multimedia piece of art, with artistic and evocative photographs of herself accompanying each poem in the book. This book was the perfect example of her expertise in multiple mediums, as her experiences in modeling served her well during the making of The Stars Fell into the Ocean.
As a model, Elizabeth has worked on a diverse range of projects with creative visionaries in multiple fields, such as with renowned photographer Tyler Shields, fashion designer Natalia Fedner, and multi-media artist Emma Ferreira. Notable works featuring her image include a photo displayed in the lobby of the Hotel Danieli in Venice, Italy and a photograph in Emma Ferreira’s book TROMI.
Elizabeth was also able to put this experience to good use during the filming of the music video for her single “Broken Dreams,” which was released after her first album, Broken. Through her performance as a heartbroken lover in the music video, she was able to bring the story of her song to life in an emotional and immersive way.
Her work as a singer-songwriter is also built on the foundation of her work as a poet. The themes and poetic style observed in her poetry often influence the lyrics and subject matter of her music, as many of her songs come from her poetry. Her melodies and lyrics often originate from vivid dreams, so powerful that they often wake her in the night, which then become poems before taking shape as songs. She sees no end to this beautiful creative process that she loves so much of turning poetry into song. The songwriting process represents the perfect fusion of all her talents and passions.
Elizabeth’s story serves as an affirmation to other artists who might feel as though they are being forced to choose between different artistic mediums. Her experiences show that different mediums can simply be different avenues for expressing the same feelings and ideas in different ways. Furthermore, artistic mediums can be complementary, adding depth and texture to multimedia, creative projects. As a result, aspiring artists should pursue their varied creative interests with a spirit of freedom and neverending curiosity.
Elizabeth TenHouten, Author, Model, Musician
