Queen of All Things Creative
On the television screen, news reporter Tamara Nowakowsky is live on location. She’s bright, blonde, articulate, attractive. As she talks into the camera, you notice her hand holding the microphone, fingers bent and knuckles enlarged. Yes, she has severe rheumatoid arthritis, but it sure doesn’t stop her. Part-time television reporter, part-time communications professional, Tamara has also started her own online business www.creativequeen.com creating t-shirts, pants, fleece items and more---with part of the proceeds going to The Arthritis Society.
Diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at the age of six, Tamara has lived with constant pain and numerous surgeries for the last 26 years. “I’d have to count the scars to know the number of surgeries,” she says. She’s got titanium toe joints and is anticipating titanium knuckles soon, but laughingly reports that it doesn’t affect her shoe size or getting through airport security.
Laughing, in fact, is one of the things she does best. She bubbles over with ideas---t-shirts are just the beginning. In her mind, there’s a whole line of items all with the identifying pink crown slightly tilted on them. “It’s my own personal symbol and it means a lot to me to get it out there. Eventually women will recognize the logo and understand that it stands for self-confidence and fun with fashion, no matter what your shape, size or ability.”
Her t-shirts were included in the gift baskets presented to every celebrity at the Entertainment Weekly Oscar party at Elaine’s in New York City. Look for Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, Jessica Simpson, Liza Minelli, or even Regis Philbin and Howard Stern sporting one of Tamara’s Ts!
This year when Citytv’s weatherman Marke Driesschen runs the Honolulu marathon as part of the Joints in Motion team raising funds for arthritis research and education, he’ll be running for his arthritis hero Tamara. But in her mind, she’s no hero. “A hero is someone who has a choice and makes an heroic decision. I have no choice. This is my world and when you’re given something like arthritis, it’s really how you deal with it that makes a difference.”
