GCGA
Tanja vd Vooren-Traa
European Chapter
Tanja vd Vooren-Traa is a creative groomer and artist from the Netherlands who started her grooming salon in 2004. From the very beginning, she was extremely inspired by the world of creative grooming, with Dawn Omboy as her greatest example and inspiration.
In the Netherlands, it is challenging to find clients who are interested in full creative grooms on their pets. Tanja felt a strong need to let loose completely — for her, it was “all or nothing.” She wanted to color far outside the lines, think out of the box, and be completely uninhibited in her creativity. This desire led her to discover her boundless love for model dogs, which also perfectly describes her character: Tanja is boundless.
Her first model dog creative competition was in 2016, where she won second prize with a honeybee model dog. That moment left her wanting more. She loved being able to project her creative brain onto model dogs, and that is where the addiction started — “letting your whole imagination run wild.”
Tanja trained herself and taught herself almost everything through constant practice and experimentation. From there, competing became a natural next step. She competed often and enjoyed every minute of it. What she loves most about competitions is telling the whole story — it’s not only about the dog you create, but also your table, your styling, and yourself. Everything must fit the theme and come together as one total package.
Over the years, Tanja has won 14 international gold medals in Model Dog Creative and Model Dog Asian Style. Her most recent achievement was winning Best in Show in September 2025 with her masterpiece “AVATAR,” an accomplishment she is incredibly proud of.
In addition to competing, Tanja is a mentor and teacher in model dog creative and Asian style grooming for groomers who want to learn more about these disciplines. She loves to pass on her passion and help other creative people reach a higher level. Today, she also works as a coach for competitors and has given many seminars in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, with more seminars planned for the future. Tanja has also served as a judge at several competitions within the model dog class.
Asian style grooming has become another true passion for Tanja, with its high cuteness factor and the opportunity to add glitter, glamour, and subtle coloring. She is someone who likes to work differently than usual.
Tanja is an emotional, feeling-based artist who wants to tell a story with her work or create a piece with a message behind it. Her artwork is created with all the feeling she can put into it, and she finds it important that her work radiates something — something that can evoke emotion and have a positive impact on people through art. How beautiful is that?
As a proud member of the GCGA Europe Chapter, Tanja continues to champion creative and Asian style grooming through bold artistry, passionate education, and unwavering dedication to her craft. She remains committed to inspiring fellow groomers, pushing the boundaries of creative expression, and transforming model dogs into works of art that tell a story.
