Tan France
Tanveer Wasim France (né Safdar; born 20 April 1983) is a British-American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and television personality.[1] He is known as the fashion expert for the Netflix series Queer Eye, host of the web series Dressing Funny, and co-host of Next in Fashion.[2][3] His memoir, Naturally Tan, was released in June 2019.[5] Of Pakistani descent, he is one of the first openly gay men of South Asian ancestry on a major show, and one of the first openly gay Muslim men on Western television.
Also recorded as Tanveer Wasim Safdar
Tan France

MTV International · MTV UK · MTV International on YouTube · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Tan France
- Birth Name
- Tanveer Wasim Safdar
- Born
- 20 April 1983
- Birthplace
- Doncaster, England
- Education
- Doncaster College
- Occupation
- * Fashion designer
- Full name
- Tanveer Wasim Safdar.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom and United States.
- Known for
- Queer Eye and Next In Fashion.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Tanveer Wasim France (né Safdar; born 20 April 1983) is a British-American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and television personality.[1] He is known as the fashion expert for the Netflix series Queer Eye, host of the web series Dressing Funny, and co-host of Next in Fashion.[2][3] His memoir, Naturally Tan, was released in June 2019.[5] Of Pakistani descent, he is one of the first openly gay men of South Asian ancestry on a major show, and one of the first openly gay Muslim men on Western television.
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Note VALÉORINE
Tan France (born 1983) is a fashion designer and television presenter, of British and American nationality. The fashion designer was born Tanveer Wasim Safdar in Doncaster.
Tan France was educated at Doncaster College and Hall Cross Academy. The fashion designer lived in Salt Lake City.
Among the works are Next In Fashion and Queer Eye. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Tan France • Birth Name — Tanveer Wasim Safdar • Born — 20 April 1983 • Birthplace — Doncaster, England • Children — 2 • Education — Doncaster College • Occupation — * Fashion designer • entrepreneur • television personality • Years Active — 2011–present
Early life
Early life
France was born Tanveer Wasim Safdar in Doncaster on 20 April 1983, the son of Muslim Pakistani immigrant parents.[13] His father comes from a Potohari background, and his mother comes from a Punjabi background.[14] In his memoir, he discussed his feelings of alienation growing up in Doncaster in a household where homosexuality was viewed negatively, the lack of representation in media of his community (and of LGBTQ Pakistanis in particular), and his personal experiences of physical and verbal racism as both a child and an adult. He said, "Our home wasn't super religious but we had a profound connection to our Muslim heritage."[15] France's interest in fashion began at a young age, inspired by the Disney-themed clothing that was made in his grandparents' denim factory in Bury, Greater Manchester, where he spent time working.[16] By the age of 13, he had learned how to construct and embellish a denim jacket. In 2019, he learned that his grandfather had allegedly been forced to close the factory because it was turning out Disney knockoffs.[17] He attended Hall Cross School and later studied fashion at Doncaster College,[18] after which he moved to Manchester and then to London.[19]
Career
Career
France began work as a designer and director for Zara, Selfridges, and Bershka, among others, to develop an understanding of the wholesale, retail, and manufacturing elements of the fashion industry.[20] He started working in menswear before shifting his focus to women's fashion, which he majored in for his degree. France said that he would often work as a stylist if a high-profile client came into a store where he was working. France began working in the United States in 2008, initially living in New York City, and emigrated there in 2015. He was company director at Shade Clothing before opening his own fashion company, Kingdom & State, in 2011.[21] The brand included apparel designed to meet Mormon clothing guidelines, as the group represents a significant population in Utah, where the company is based. He later created two smaller apparel brands. France's designs were purchased by retailers ModCloth and Forever 21.[22] In 2016 he became co-founder, designer, and CEO of the Rachel Parcell Inc clothing line, which was sold at Nordstrom.[23] After selling his businesses,[24] France officially retired, intending to start a family with his husband, until he was contacted by Netflix. This started his journey as a media figure through his role as the fashion expert on the rebooted series Queer Eye, which premiered in February 2018. In 2019, France appeared in the music video for Taylor Swift's song "You Need to Calm Down".[26] He also appeared in 2020 in a special charity edition of The Great British Bake Off to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer, and was the episode's winner.[27] That year, it was also announced that France would be co-hosting the new Netflix series Next in Fashion with Alexa Chung.[28] In interviews with the ITV programme This Morning and with NPR, France disclosed that he had sold all three of his businesses after starting work for Netflix.[29] In 2019, France designed an eyewear line in partnership with Eyebuydirect. Since 2019, he has been a Middle East columnist for GQ. In 2020, he became Express's monthly stylist. France was nominated for an Emmy alongside his Queer Eye co-stars for Best Hosting of a Reality or Competition Program in July 2020. In September 2020, France was announced as a style instructor on MasterClass, an educational streaming video platform.[30][31] In September 2020, the Tan France x Etsy limited edition collection was launched, for which France co-designed a collection of home decor and foods with thirteen independent sellers. France presented a 2022 BBC Two documentary about colourism titled Beauty and the Bleach.[32] He was then made host of the English countryside-set series Say Yes to the Dress with Tan France (a spin-off of the TLC series),[33] which premiered on Really in August 2023.[34][35]
Personal life
Personal life
France currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.[36][37] He married pediatric nurse and illustrator Rob France in 2007,[38][39] originally in London, and again in New York City following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the US. In April 2021, he announced on Instagram that he and his husband were expecting their first child via surrogate.[40] Their son was born seven weeks early on 10 July 2021, and had to spend three weeks in the NICU.[41] On 28 May 2023, France announced on Instagram the arrival of their second son, also via surrogate.[42] France is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States.[43] He became a naturalised American citizen on 9 June 2020, stating that he had been "working towards" obtaining American citizenship for "literally 20 years".[44] He has discussed his love for cooking and baking, and learned how to cook and sew at the age of nine.[45] France has been vocal about the colorism, racism, and Islamophobia he has endured throughout his life. In September 2019, he created an Instagram account called Shaded, in which he promotes Black people, people of colour, and cultural diversity.[46][47] In September 2020, he revealed on an episode of The Carlos Watson Show that experiencing racism in the UK was one of his primary reasons for moving to the US.[51] As construction on their "dream" Salt Lake City home neared completion, France said in 2023 that he and his husband were looking into purchasing a second home in London; France was working more in the UK with Say Yes to the Dress and a forthcoming undisclosed series, and they already visited frequently so the children could stay in touch with their British side.[52]
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2018–2026 — Queer Eye — Himself — Main cast (47 episodes) • 2018 — Nailed It! — Himself — Episode: "3, 2, 1...Ya Not Done!!" • Don't Watch This — Himself — Episode: "Antoni Psycho" • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — Fett Ragoso — Episode: "I'm Making Up for Lost Time" • 2019 — The Big Narstie Show — Himself — Season 2, Episode 1 • Lip Sync Battle — Himself — Episode: Queer Eye • 2019–2020 — Dressing Funny — Himself — Host • 2019 — Big Mouth — Himself (voice) — Episode: "Disclosure the Movie: The Musical!" • 2020–present — Next in Fashion[54] — Himself — Co-Host • 2020 — The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C — Himself — Contestant • The Big Process Ep.5 — Himself — Contestant • Served! — Himself — Guest • Boost My Business By Facebook — Himself — Host • Celebrity Family Feud — Himself — Contestant • 2021 — Waffles + Mochi — Himself — Parodying Queer Eye Role • Nickelodeon's Unfiltered — Himself — Episode: "Rollin' with the Fun Guy!" • Selling Sunset — Himself — Host - Series 5:The Reunion • 2023 — The Circle — Himself — Judge • Home at Last with Tan France[55] — Himself — Homebuyer • Say Yes to the Dress with Tan France — Himself — Host • 2025 — Deli Boys — Zubair — Episode 6: Lucy Boys • With Love, Meghan — Himself — Season 2, Episode 3: "Easy as Pie"
Music videos
Music videos
• Year — Song — Artist • 2018 — "This Is Me (The Reimagined Remix)" — Keala Settle, Kesha, & Missy Elliott • 2019 — "You Need to Calm Down" — Taylor Swift
Identity
Identity
Tan France is recorded with the occupation television presenter. Recorded with the occupation fashion designer. Recorded as fashion designer and television presenter. Recorded at birth as Tanveer Wasim Safdar. Identity and origins. The authorities additionally record the heading Tanveer Wasim Safdar. His recorded language was English. His recorded confession was Islam.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1983
Tan France was born on 20 April 1983.
2022
Summary of Tan France's Naturally Tan (2022) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
France.
Country
Salt Lake City.
Residences
Doncaster.
Birth place
Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Administrative region
Books
France released a memoir, Naturally Tan, in June 2019 through St. Martin's Press. It became an NYT bestseller.[53] It is about his experience growing up "gay in a traditional Muslim family, as one of the few people of colour in Doncaster, England". The memoir starts with his childhood in England where episodes of racism – such as having to run back to school to avoid getting beaten up by racist thugs – were everyday occurrences. The book also discusses colourism across South Asia and the Islamophobia he faced before and after the 9/11 attacks.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q50379407: Tan France
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Tan France”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
- VIAF cluster 10153288253632650880 for Tan France, aggregating national library name authorities.
General reference · OCLC
Awards and nominations
• | Year — | Award — | Category — | Work — | Result — | Ref. • 2020 — Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program — Queer Eye • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • Outstanding Structured Reality Program • 2024 • 2025[56]
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ross, Sophie. The One Thing You Should Never Wear to a Wedding, According to Tan France of 'Queer Eye'. The Knot. XO. 7 February 2018.
- 2.Crummy, Colin. Queer Eye's Tan France: 'The word gay was never mentioned in my parents' home'. The Guardian. 9 March 2019.
- 3.Naturally Tan. US Macmillan. September 2023.
- 4.Peregrin, Tony. BOOKS Tan about town, 'Queer Eye' guru pens new memoir - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times. Windy City Times. 26 June 2019.
- 5.Peregrin, Tony. Books: Tan about town, 'Queer Eye' guru pens new memoir. Windy City Times. 26 June 2019.
- 6.Stroude, Will. Strictly's Dr. Ranj Singh: 'Coming out as gay to my wife was hard, but telling my family was another level'. Attitude. 5 November 2018.
- 7.Thompson, Danny. Dr Ranj Singh Gaysians cover interview: "As queer Asians, we have so much to offer ourselves and to the wider world". Gay Times. 20 November 2018.
- 8.Zane, Zachary. The Doc 'How Gay is Pakistan?' Is Now on Netflix, and It's Required Viewing for LGBTQ Millennials. Hornet. 27 November 2017.
- 9.McGrath, Rachel. 'Great British Bake Off' Star Tamal Ray Shares His Coming Out Experience: 'The Conversations Were Canyons of Awkwardness, The Freedoms They Gave Me Were Priceless'. HuffPost. 30 October 2015.
- 10.Rudolph, Christopher. When 'The Great British Bake Off' Met "RuPaul's Drag Race U.K.". LOGO News. 26 November 2019.
- 11.I cried like a baby. The Tribune India. 10 April 2020.
- 12.Sarner, Lauren. 'Queer Eye' expert Tan France lands new show 'Next in Fashion'. New York Post. 31 January 2020.
- 13.Bahler, Kristen. 'Queer Eye' Star Says Getting Dumped Helped Launch His Career. Money.com. 20 February 2018.
- 14.TAN FRANCE H! Pakistan. H! Pakistan. 26 January 2021.
- 15.Brown, Steve. Tan France says the Asian community aren't seen as 'desirable' due to lack of representation in the media. Attitude. 11 March 2019.
- 16.Melody. An interview with Tan Safdar, Owner and Designer at Kingdom & State. Omika. 8 December 2014.
- 17.Interview, Wednesday, 6 January 2020 episode with Jane Fonda; The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- 18.Thomas, Chris. Meet the Five Fab Men of Netflix's Queer Eye Reboot. Out. 8 December 2017.
- 19.Mulkerin, Tim. Tan France on his hopes for a second season of Queer Eye and the thousands of DMs about his hair. Mic. 21 February 2018.
- 20.Shores, Lindsey. British fashion in Utah with Kingdom & State. Herald Extra: The Mom Click. Herald Communications. 13 October 2013.
- 21.Kingdom & State – About. Kingdom & State.
- 22.France, Tan. Naturally Tan. 113. 978-1-250-21107-1.
- 23.O'Connor, Amy. Tan France: 'We don't really talk about successful gay relationships'. The Irish Times. 3 June 2019.
- 24.Göksenin, Lili. Queer Eye's Tan France Is Everything You Want Him To Be. Express.com.
- 25.Pasarow, Anabel. How Tan France Retired At Age 33 — Yes, Even Before Queer Eye. Refinery29. 15 August 2019.
- 26.Grady, Constance. An annotated guide to Taylor Swift's star-studded "You Need to Calm Down" video. Vox. 17 June 2019.
- 27.Fenwick, George. Tan France reveals his deepest, darkest fear on Bake Off. Evening Standard. 24 March 2020.
- 28.Bruce Haring. 'Next In Fashion' Reality Competition Will Bow on Netflix, Offering Designers $250K And Showcase. 17 May 2019.
- 29.Gross, Terry. Why Fashion Expert Tan France Nearly Turned Down 'Queer Eye'. NPR. 11 September 2019.
- 30.MasterClass. MasterClass Announces Queer Eye's Tan France to Teach Style for Everyone. PR Newswire.
- 31.Carley, Brennan. Back to School With Tan France. The New York Times. 11 September 2020. 0362-4331.
- 32.Cormack, Morgan. BBC Two's Tan France – Beauty And The Bleach: viewers react to the important documentary, which explores colourism in minority communities. Stylist.
- 33.Roper, Kerri-Ann. Tan France becomes new UK host of Say Yes To The Dress. Evening Standard. 21 September 2022.
- 34.Davis, Rachael. Queer Eye's Tan France spills on exciting new TV job away from hit Netflix series. Mirror. 8 August 2023.
- 35.Sarkisian, Jacob. Queer Eye's Tan France reacts to bride's ghost sex confession. Digital Spy. 3 September 2023.
- 36.It took 'Queer Eye' star Tan France 20 minutes to decide to move to Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Tribune.
- 37.Wolff, Natasha. Tan France's Guide to Salt Lake City. DuJour. 28 March 2018.
- 38.Sarner, Lauren. How a Muslim immigrant became the breakout 'Queer Eye' star. New York Post. 21 February 2018.
- 39.Harding, Laura. Queer Eye's Tan France: I will use surrogacy to have children. Irish Independent. 16 June 2018.
- 40.Newcomb, Alyssa. 'Queer Eye' star Tan France is expecting a baby: See the announcement!. TODAY.com. 13 April 2021.
- 41.Slater, Georgia. Queer Eye Tan France and husband Rob welcome baby son Ismail via surrogate. Entertainment Weekly. 2 August 2021.
- 42.Kayembe, Astrid. 'The greatest gift': 'Queer Eye' star Tan France welcomes second child via surrogate. Los Angeles Times. 31 May 2023.
- 43.Carley, Brennan. Back to School With Tan France. The New York Times. 11 September 2020. 0362-4331.
- 44.Kinane, Ruth. Queer Eye's Tan France becomes an American citizen, is ready to vote: 'The timing couldn't be more perfect'. Entertainment Weekly. 10 June 2020.
- 45.Hind, John. Tan France: 'I'm a nightmare in the kitchen'. The Guardian. 15 June 2019.
- 46.Queer Eye star 'bleached skin as a child'. BBC News. 5 June 2019.
- 47.Roy, Natasha. Tan France says he won't return to living in the U.K. because of racism. NBC News. 6 February 2020.
- 48.Moodley, Kiran. Queer Eye's Tan France on racism and why he left the UK. Channel 4 News. 22 June 2019.
- 49.Leighton-Dore, Samuel. Tan France launches 'Shaded': 'A place to celebrate every shade of skin'. Topics. 3 October 2019.
- 50.Tan France has something to say about fairness creams. Images. 10 October 2019.
- 51.Why Business Mogul Tan France Tried to Quit Queer Eye. 3 September 2020.
- 52.McLoughlin, Lisa. Tan France on eyeing up a London move, British comfort foods and whether Queer Eye is coming to the UK. Evening Standard. 29 September 2023.
- 53.Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - June 23, 2019 - The New York Times. The New York Times. 0362-4331.
- 54.Petter, Olivia. Next in Fashion: Alexa Chung and Tan France to Host Netflix Show. The Independent. 18 May 2019.
- 55.Weiss, Allie. Watch Tan France's Utah Dream Home Come to Life in This New Series From AD. Architectural Digest. 30 November 2023.
- 56.Tan France Emmy Bio.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
VIAF cluster 10153288253632650880 for Tan France, aggregating national library name authorities.OCLC
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Studied at
1- Hall Cross AcademyOrganisation
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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