Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen, professionally known as Tila Tequila, is a prominent television and social media figure. Born to Vietnamese refugees in Singapore, she immigrated to Houston, Texas, as an infant. Her career began after she broke away from her strict Buddhist upbringing, eventually becoming Playboy’s first Asian “Cyber Girl of the Month.” Tequila found mainstream fame hosting Fuse TV’s Pants-Off Dance-Off and starring in the dating competition A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. The latter sparked significant controversy, particularly from religious groups like The Christian Post, due to its bisexuality-themed content. Beyond reality TV, she has released music EPs, appeared in films such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and authored a self-help book on fame and love. Known for her controversial social media presence—including inflammatory comments regarding Hitler—she is currently raising her two daughters as a single mother under the alias “Tornado Thien.”
Early Life & Rebellion
Born on October 24, 1981, in Singapore to Vietnamese refugees, Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen immigrated to Houston, Texas, at the age of one. She grew up in a strict Buddhist gated community with her older siblings, Daniel and Terri. Ironically, friends nicknamed her “Tila Tequila” due to her allergy to alcohol.
Her teenage years were tumultuous; she turned to poetry to cope with her emotions, but eventually rebelled against her upbringing. At 16, she ran away to Queens, New York, where she survived a drive-by shooting and suffered a miscarriage. She eventually returned to Texas to graduate from Alief Hastings High School in 2000 before moving to California in 2001 to pursue modeling.
Rise to Fame: Modeling & Television
Tila’s career launched at age 19 when she was scouted by Playboy, eventually becoming the magazine’s first Asian “Cyber Girl of the Month.” She leveraged this fame into reality television, appearing on VH1’s Surviving Nugent and hosting Fuse TV’s Pants-Off Dance-Off.
Her most notable television stint was the bisexual-themed dating show, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. The show generated significant ratings but also heated controversy, drawing criticism from religious groups like The Christian Post. Tila later claimed in 2018 that her bisexuality on the show was fabricated for ratings. She also made cameo appearances in films such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) and Masterminds (2013).
Music & Writing Career
Tila pursued a music career through various phases:
Bands: She fronted the short-lived bands “Beyond Betty Jean” and “Jealousy.”
Solo Work: Signed to A&M Records, she released singles like “I Love U” and “Stripper Friends.”
EPs: She released Welcome to the Darkside and an EP titled Sex (which she claimed was released without her authorization).
Rebranding: In 2010, she adopted the persona “Miss Tila,” releasing the track “I Fucked the DJ,” which was poorly received. A performance at the Gathering of the Juggalos ended in chaos when the crowd pelted her with stones.
She also authored a self-help book in 2008 titled Hooking Up with Tila Tequila: A Guide to Love, Fame, Happiness, Success, and Being the Life of the Party.
Personal Life & Controversies
Tila’s personal life has been marked by high-profile relationships and scandals:
Relationships: She has been linked to Casey Johnson, Thomas Paxton Whitaker, and NFL player Shawne Merriman (whom she accused of choking her).
Health: She has struggled with significant health issues, including a brain aneurysm requiring rehabilitation and a suicide attempt.
Controversies: Her career took a downturn due to her vocal expression of pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic views. These comments led to her immediate removal from the UK reality show Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
Current Status of Tila Tequila
Tila is a mother to two daughters and has stated she is raising them as a single mother. Moving away from her “Tila Tequila” persona, she now uses the name “Tornado Thien” to sell artwork and has plans to release a comic book titled The Saint Sinners.
Quick Facts & Achievements
Awards: “Entertainer of the Year” (The Soup Awards, 2007), “So Hot They’re Famous” (Spike Guys’ Choice, 2008), and “A-List Drama Queen” (Bravo, 2008).
Entrepreneurship: Launched multiple websites, including TilasHotSpot, MissTila, and dating/fashion portals.
Media Presence: Featured on the Maxim Hot 100 list and cover of Import Tuner.
Net worth of Tila Tequila
The estimated net worth of Tila Tequila is about $3 million.