Drawn to the fields of entertainment and design from a young age, Marina Y. Toybina holds considerable expertise in costume design for television, theater, and the music and entertainment industries. She started doing her own research and design very early on before joining the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and earning a bachelor’s degree in fashion and apparel design in 2002. Excelling as a costume designer since 2001, she additionally launched her own fashion label, GLAZA, in 2004. In 2015, she established Marina Toybina, Inc., where she excels as the founder, chief executive officer and the principal costume and fashion designer. Ms. Toybina has held membership with the Costume Designers Guild, a labor union that is part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, since 2010.
Standing out in her field for her integrity, authenticity, honesty and will to keep growing as a professional, Ms. Toybina puts considerable effort into thoroughly researching each of her projects, looking into any history surrounding the project and conducting research into the textiles themselves as well. Her duties vary from project to project, but she strives to involve herself in all aspects from conceptual artwork to working with her team to source materials and produce the finished items. Getting to see her projects come together is one of her absolute favorite things about her job, along with getting to know the many creative and inspiring individuals she has worked alongside over the years.
Ms. Toybina’s portfolio includes work for a wide range of famous individuals for tours and performances. She has worked with such stars as Carrie Underwood, Usher, Pink, Juliette Lewis, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande and Britney Spears, and provided costuming for the background dancers for performances by Justin Bieber and The Wanted. Furthermore, she has excelled as a costume designer for a variety of TV shows, films, commercials and live events. Some of her TV credits include “The Masked Singer” in the United States, Germany and Belgium; “World of Dance US”; and “So You Think You Can Dance,” and the live events in her portfolio range from a Super Bowl halftime show to various music award programs, such as the Grammys and Billboard Awards.
Ms. Toybina herself has received a number of honors and accolades for her work, including a record-breaking four consecutive Emmys in the “Outstanding Costumes for a Variety Program or a Special” category from 2012 to 2015. Today, she holds total of six Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, for “The Masked Singer” in 2021 and 2020, the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show with Katy Perry in 2015, “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2014, the 55th annual Grammy Awards in 2013 and “The X Factor” in 2012. She was additionally nominated for an Emmy for “The Masked Singer” in 2019 and won the Ellen Mirojnick Styling Award at the Hollywood Beauty Awards in 2018. The Costume Designers Guild has also recognized her with a CDG Award for her work on “The Masked Singer” in 2020 and an additional CDG Award nomination for “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2019.
Though she has received numerous accolades over the course of her career, Ms. Toybina considers the highlight of her career to be winning her very first Emmy in 2012. She had spent so many years leading up to that moment working tirelessly and learning how to juggle failure while continuing to press forward in her career that receiving such a major recognition from her peers in the industry was an incredibly inspiring and powerful moment. It remains the most meaningful recognition she has received, even though she has gone on to win five more Emmys.
Having always been inspired to make an impact on the world and to help open doors for others, Ms. Toybina feels it is important to create opportunities for artists to be recognized for their work and to be able to be their own entrepreneurs. She feels that too often in the entertainment industry are designers treated as though they are secondary to the more well-known and visible players. She would advise young and aspiring professionals that authenticity speaks volumes and to be truthful, willing to explore and to seek the best in every situation. Looking toward the future, Ms. Toybina has plans to expand her business through collaborations with larger companies and becoming involved in movie producing and directing.