Tashica Morgan

Age: 29

Education: Bachelor's in pre-law from University of Maryland and working on a master's in interior design from Marymount

Current Job: Design coordinator at Ethan Allen

Why I should win HGTV Design Star:
I'm the unexpected that HGTV needs — both design and entertainment are a requirement for an awesome show, and I will exceed both with surprise elements no other person, let alone designer, can bring. Sit back, watch and take notes!

Describe your design style in four words.
Urban, colorful, vintage and whimsical

Who is your design icon?
Tossup between Sheila Bridges and Celerie Kemble

What is your dream design project?
Designing a shelter home or foster home — it is so about the kids. If I had half the influence that I can use now as a designer, I'm confident I would have known that I wanted to be a designer much sooner.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Fashion and seeing patterns gets me revved up.

When designing, what can't you live without?
Paint, sketchbook and pen and lots of fun tchotchkes and trinkets

What are your most creative hours of the day?
All hours of the day. I know, it's a sickness.

What do you think is the worst design trend?
Faux paint and glazing — dated like a desperately-in-need-of-a-reno Vegas hotel

What's one thing about you that would surprise people?
I was a surrogate mother to my sisters until the age of 14 when I was adopted by my paternal grandmother, aka Momzie (I gave her that name).

Where's the farthest you've ever traveled from home?
Well, not including in my head, Cancun, Mexico. After spending our life and family’s life savings on our wedding, we didn’t think we could afford a honeymoon, but, eureka! We didn’t register for wedding gifts, but requested monetary gifts instead. The morning after our wedding, we opened every single card and it was like winning the lottery. My husband and I got one of those last-minute honeymoon deals and we were on the next flight out and on the beaches of Cancun living the margarita life in no time — a much better gift than a set of his-and-hers towels.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Performing in the mirror to music videos. I'm a slight narcissist.

What's your most unusual talent?
Picking up things with my toes

What word/phrase do you say way too often?
"Dang!," "Wait a minute ?" and "hot mess"

When I was a kid, I thought I would be:
Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show

Who's your hero?
Definitely my husband — the only person who has always been there

What's your fashion style?
All over the place. I’m mainly urban with a touch of femininity. I’ve been told I’m a little hobo-chic, too.

Favorites
Color: Chartreuse and peacock blue
Scent: Love the smell of suntan lotion (so banana-y)
Music: Gospel is my therapy, and I put on hip-hop and Latin music for my mirror performances.
Song: "It's the God in Me" by Mary Mary and "I'm a Diva" by Beyonce
Food: Fruit-bar popsicles and French fries
Magazine: Domino
Movie: Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon
TV Show: The Cosby Show, Different World and Scrubs
Room in your house: Used to be the living room, but I love our office after changing the layout. What a difference that makes.
Room to design: Kids' rooms
Thing in your home: A peacock feather I got from a store liquidation and my decorative pillows collection
Hobbies: Graphic design, hip-hop dancing/choreography and singing
Vacation destination: The beaches of Greece, please!
HGTV show: Freestyle
Design tip: Don't let money dictate your design.