100 Women We Love 2016

Here’s to this year's class of the women who inspire us, give us hope, make us laugh and make us want to get up and dance. 

RISA TANANIA

When you watch a reality show, do you ever wonder how they find those people? Well, like scripted television, reality shows have to be cast, too. The House That Casting Built does just that—for series like Bravo’s “The Singles Project” and TLC’s “Curvy Brides.” Co-founder Risa Tanania, who runs the company with Anthony Lucente, sees unscripted TV not only as a guilty pleasure, but also as a venue where real stories can be shared. “Ellen’s coming out during college had an enormous impact on me,” she remembers. “Back then, I was a feminist artist with a tiny audience and leftist message. But when I saw the power of simple visibility in main-stream media, I shifted my focus entirely and instead sought out others’ stories and voices that weren’t being heard. Media wasn’t so diverse at the time and this thing called reality TV was just taking hold; there was room to push boundaries and showcase queer personalities, as well as other marginalized communities there, and I wanted to be at the forefront of that.” With her casting business, it’s fair to say that she’s helped secure a place for those falling outside the mainstream. –GH


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