From Parisian suburbs to California’s golden light, Noa Taieb has followed curiosity like a compass. Former consultant turned creator, founder, and now actor-in-training, he’s building a life that blends ambition with authenticity, where vulnerability, laughter, and a little bit of spice all have a place. In this exclusive for Yummyzine 8, Noa opens up about reinvention, chosen family, and the joy of chasing every version of yourself.
The images are cropped/ made safe for online purposes, full images available inside Yummyzine 8
Photo story by JESSE TAM, interview by Adrian Gomis Exposito
An Intimate Interview with Noa Taieb
AGE. To start, could you briefly introduce yourself? Who is Noa behind the camera? Tell us where you grew up and how your story began.
NT. I was born and raised just outside Paris with North African heritage. I was always the kid who wanted to try everything. One day I’d be sketching jewellery or fashion designs, the next I’d be mixing “perfumes” in my bedroom or flipping around at gymnastics practice (how did I ever doubt I was gay…). Some would say I was indecisive; I’d call it curious. At 17, I moved to the US to study Economics at UC Berkeley. I then worked in management consulting in New York before eventually making my way to Los Angeles. What started as a creative outlet online became a full-time career. I then launched my own swimwear and lifestyle brand, Sunny Days. Most recently, I’ve started training in Method Acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and that’s a new chapter I’m super excited about.
AGE. What inspired you to move from Paris to LA, and what made LA feel like the right place for you? Was it difficult for you to adapt, moving from Europe to the US?
NT. I grew up obsessed with American movies and TV shows. When I finished high school, I decided to take a leap and follow my dream to move to the US for college. I moved to New York City after graduation for a job offer and really fell in love with the city. I loved the version of me I uncovered there, but the pandemic cut things short. That summer, I spent more time in Los Angeles and realised how deeply the outdoors and sunshine affect my mood and my productivity. The hardest part of moving from Paris wasn’t really the culture, but the language and the food definitely required an adjustment. Experiencing the world in a second language changes you, but I almost feel like my English personality represents me better now.
AGE. You started your professional life in consulting before shifting into creative work. What triggered that change, and what did that transition look like for you?
NT. My consulting years were amazing. I worked with financial services companies on operations, branding, and digital transformation. It was fast, challenging, and I learned a lot about business administration. But I still had some shitty moments. Long hours, feeling too young or too gay to be working in finance, tough clients and cutthroat co-workers. And there was this voice in me that wanted something more expressive and personal. I loved consulting, but I didn’t want my life to be measured only in KPIs and slide decks. Social media had always been my creative outlet, so when the timing and finances aligned, I made the jump and turned it into my full-time career. In hindsight, it could have been a little early, but I’ve made it work.
AGE. Your content mixes lifestyle, fashion, food, fitness, travel, and a very personal sense of humour. How would you define the “Noa Taieb” universe?
NT. I’ve always refused to pick a lane or niche. My content is just a reflection of my life as it is in the moment, almost like letting people tune into a TV show and follow its different arcs. My goal is to be both relatable and aspirational. Someone you can see yourself in, but who also inspires you to try new things or chase something different. If I had to describe my universe, I’d say it’s built on curiosity, enthusiasm, and following the sun.
AGE. Let’s talk about Sunny Days, your swimwear and lifestyle brand. How did this project come to life, and what does the brand represent for you?
NT. Sunny Days was born from a mix of passion and data. As a creator, I saw firsthand what products resonated with my audience. After looking at engagement and conversion rates, swimwear consistently came out on top (we’ll call this the power of thirst traps). I always knew I wanted to build something of my own, and swimwear felt like the perfect entry point. I spent every summer of my childhood on the French Riviera, and those memories shaped who I am today. The warmth, the time spent with loved ones, that feeling of being free to do whatever you want… Sunny Days is my attempt at bottling that feeling and giving it back to people all year long.
AGE. What’s been the most rewarding part of building your own brand? What’s the biggest challenge you didn’t see coming?
NT. Having to learn everything from scratch, from design, production and manufacturing to e-commerce has been incredibly rewarding. I’m a problem-solver at heart, so it’s been super exciting to learn so many new things. The biggest challenge definitely came from trying to do it all alone. What started as a little personal project quickly became a full business, and there were many times when having a partner or team would’ve changed everything. Someone with more experience in fashion or e-commerce, or even just someone to share the weight of building something from the ground up, would’ve made things feel a lot lighter. I’ve had my share of meltdowns and fuck-ups, but that’s part of the process.
AGE. Your storytelling feels warm, intentional, and very real. What inspires the way you share your life online?
NT. Thank you! Social media encourages us to show the highlight reel, the parts of our lives we’re most proud of and happy with. But I learned pretty early on that vulnerability is where real community forms. People connect to the cracks, the question marks. You wouldn’t watch a TV show where the main character’s life is flawless, and nothing ever goes wrong. So I try to give people a more nuanced picture (within reason…), even if that means letting go of some control over the narrative. I’ve definitely slowed down on the crying videos a bit though…
AGE. You’re also diving into acting now. What drew you to it, and what kind of characters or stories excite you the most?
NT. Film and TV were my first escape as a kid. I also started theatre in France when I was in elementary school and stuck to it pretty much until high school. But when I moved to the US, I didn’t feel confident that my English would be good enough to act and, having then realised I was closeted, I didn’t want to expose myself too much, so I gave it up and focused on other things.
When I moved to LA in 2020, I told myself it would be the perfect opportunity to finally give that dream a shot. I felt more confident in my English and in my identity. But life, self-doubt, and fear of not being good enough got in the way. Five years later, I started The Artist’s Way and finally got myself to take it on. That’s not to say my inner critique isn’t still there at times, but I’ve learned to just listen to him and move on. Diving into acting also meant being a beginner again and learning something new, which is something I had been craving.
Storytelling is a powerful tool. It can heal, educate, and shift entire mindsets. I’m excited by queer stories that feel honest and complex because seeing them on the screen helped me figure myself out a lot. A fun role on an HBO or Netflix limited series would be a dream, though.
AGE. Paris, LA, travel, creation, entrepreneurship, you have many chapters in one life. What does “home” mean to you today?
NT. This is going to sound cliché, but having lived in so many different places and done so many different things, home became wherever my people made me feel safe and loved. I’ve gotten to build a chosen family all around the world with people who inspire me, challenge me, and remind me of who I am, no matter what I’m going through at the time.
AGE. You shot a beautiful story with Jesse Tam for Yummyzine 8. How was this experience for you? Was this your first naked shoot?
NT. It was, and honestly, I think it was my favourite shoot we’ve ever done. Jesse and I have been friends and working together for seven years. I’m most comfortable with him, and I trust his vision and his talent completely. So when Yummyzine reached out, I knew instantly I wanted him behind the camera. It was just the two of us on set, no pressure, no spectacle. We played our favourite album, Oasis by Darius, and just experimented and captured images we both loved. I’m really proud of them and of Jesse’s growth over the past few years.
AGE. Are there any fun moments that happened behind the scenes you could tell us about? Any funny or memorable moment.
NT. We used a mix of glycerin and water in a tiny spray bottle to create the “sweat” look. Having him spray it all over my back took a good 5 minutes. Very humbling moment.
Quick-Fire Questions
AGE. What’s something people would never guess about you at first glance?
NT. Probably how sensitive I am. I always get told I look confident and self-assured, but the smallest emotional moment gets me ugly crying. You should’ve seen me at the end of Wicked For Good…
AGE. What’s a smell that brings you back to your childhood?
NT. I’d say fresh-cut grass. My dad took amazing care of our backyard growing up, and I spent a lot of time outside with my brother and my friends.
AGE. When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do?
NT. Cuddle with my pup, Crash, until I have to drag him out of bed to go outside.
AGE. What’s a small thing you do every day that feels like a luxury?
NT. Maybe not every day, but I try to cook most of my meals at home throughout the week. It’s a bit of a time commitment, so it does feel like a luxury, but I get so much joy and satisfaction from creating something from scratch and listening to my daily cravings.
AGE. If you could teleport anywhere for 10 minutes, where would you go?
NT. A street market in Thailand. I’d grab something yummy to eat and teleport back home full and happy.
AGE. Something you’re surprisingly good at? And something you’re hilariously bad at?
NT. Surprisingly good, I’d say, cooking. I had no real training, just loved to experiment and spent a lot of my childhood watching my parents and grandma cook. Embarrassingly bad: dancing. No rhythm, no coordination, no spatial awareness… It’s actually pretty sad.
Unveiling His Yummy Side
AGE. First off, what does “yummy” mean to you? The word, the magazine, the vibe, whatever comes to mind.
NT. It makes me laugh because I actually say yummy all the time. To me, “yummy” is anything delicious or super satisfying: a nap, a night out, a song, a kiss. Anything that just feels great.
AGE. What’s your favourite underwear to wear daily? And what’s the one you pick for “special” occasions?
NT. Every day: boxer briefs through and through. For special occasions, it’s between a jock and a tanga brief, depending on the occasion.
AGE. When do you feel the sexiest, fresh out of the shower, dressed up, or in nothing but a towel?
NT. After a beach day. Shirtless, skin warm from the sun, swim brief still a little wet. Or after a good pump at the gym.
AGE. If we opened your underwear drawer right now, what would we mostly find: comfort, spice, or chaos?
NT. A healthy mix of comfort and spice. I basically wear the same kind every day because I like efficiency in the morning, but the spice is there when I need it.
AGE. What’s the biggest “green flag” for you when it comes to intimacy?
NT. Intimacy is a conversation, whether it’s verbal or not. When someone can express what they want and feel what I like just as effortlessly, that’s a big green flag for me.
AGE. Do you prefer someone who takes the lead, or someone who lets you take control?
NT. Both. I take control in many areas of my life, so it’s nice to be with someone who can take the lead when the moment calls for it. I like a little push and pull.
AGE. What’s the first thing you notice physically when you look at someone? And what’s the one thing that drives you absolutely crazy?
NT. It’d be between the eyes and the scent. If you can grab my attention with just a look, it might be over for me. Confidence drives me crazy. Someone who knows what they want and goes for it.
AGE. Describe your style as a lover: are you slow, intentional, and sensual… or do you dive straight into intensity?
NT. I’d say it depends on the moment. I love intensity, but there’s something incredibly sexy about slowing down and setting a mood for someone. Thoughtfulness is for sure my love language.
AGE. As you keep growing as an actor, building your brand, and figuring out life with Crash by your side, what kind of future are you hoping to create for yourself, both on screen and behind the scenes?
NT. I want a future where I get to bring myself into everything I do: in my roles on screen, in my work, in my relationships. It took me a long time to figure out who I am, so I want to bring a little bit of that with me everywhere I go.
