Tiffany Gomas has had a year. After offering a rather sizeable piece of her mind to cabin and crew aboard American Airlines flight 1009, she’s incurred all manner of public disapproval, doxxing, and death threats. She’s had to dodge invasive questioning and encroaching cameramen. She’s had to frost like 10 feet of glass in the grand entrance of her brand-new transitional home.
Anyone who doesn’t reside beneath a rock knows all about the in-flight antics and viral video that has thrust her into the public eye. Like most people, I encountered the clip in the summer of 2023 somewhere between a Barbie box office recap and an Eras Tour article. I laughed. I moved on. Before we knew it, Mathew Perry was gone and the Rangers won the Series. The world kept turning.
Navigating a New Normal
For Gomas, it hasn’t been nearly as easy to move on. That was immediately apparent the day I met up with her in the living room of her Lakewood home.
“It’s been a lot,” she said, handing me a bottle of water. “It’s been a strange couple of months.”
She kicked off a pair of three-inch patent leather heels and sat down, ready to field the whole third degree of like, “How did you afford such a fabulous house?” “When did you move in?” “How is it just you here?”
When asked about the infamous airline incident, she chalks it up to a bad day, an unfortunate moment, and something she’s learned a lot from. As far as exactly what she saw, Gomas says the internet is reading way too much into it.
“It was simply an uncomfortable situation that quickly spiraled,” she said.
Gomas is a rather enigmatic personality. She conducts herself like a close friend – media-trained but with nothing to hide. She’s postured, poised, rather softspoken but incredibly competitive. She grew up with older brothers and it shows.
I became interested in her story after coming across an article that described Tiffany Gomas as a Dallas-based real estate developer. There was some buzz around the 5,000-square-foot house she completed during the pandemic. Along with this whole conspiracy campaign citing government coverups, crisis actors, and covert ops, some reporters claimed she was given the home as a sort of prop.
“That’s what makes me angrier than anything,” said Gomas. “All the other stuff is just kind of dumb, you know? I can live with them calling me an alien or whatever. But I bought this house. It’s easy enough to pull up the tax rolls and get your facts straight there.”
Tiffany Gomas is More Than Just a Meme
In fact, Gomas has been pretty effective in creating opportunities for capital, scouting land, and developing some dynamic Dallas real estate. She’s scaled her business through sheer savvy, surrounding herself with some of the area’s best architects, landscapers, and agents.
“When I was dating a Realtor,” she said. “I started doing flip houses. From there, I worked on my rental portfolio but quickly learned that new builds and spec homes are really where it’s at.”
After working with Shane Stout of Stout General Contracting on her own home, Gomas began partnering with him on investments and seeking out opportunities around communities like Preston Hollow and Lakewood — they currently have a half-acre project in Forest Hills that’s set behind an impressive backdrop of mature live oaks and American elm.
“Tiffany is a really easy person to work with. She’s a talented developer,” said Stout. “I don’t know if the whole viral video thing has changed her all that much, but if it has, it’s been for the better. She seems just as driven and motivated as ever. She’s certainly getting things done. Maybe she’s just more understanding now. I’m sure her perspective has shifted after everything. How could it not?”
For Tiffany Gomas, maintaining focus and continuing to learn has helped her grow her business, even amid all the chaos.
“I’m really passionate about the design aspect,” she said. “Each house that we’ve done is completely different. I know enough about the construction process. I definitely learned a lot from the ground-up builds. But I really love working with the designer, picking materials and finish-outs. In fact, I love seeing these homes come together.”
Change Through Challenges
Looking around her home, it’s obvious Gomas has an eye for design. Her living room and kitchen are so curated it’s almost as if they’re staged for a Sunday showing.
As I glance around, I imagine being held captive among the slabs of Saint Laurent marble and artisan-blown glass. I envision the whole sniper scene of long-lens cameras peeking out from the backyard’s boxwood hedges and reflecting off the surface of her saltwater pool. I wonder if she could have ever imagined how isolating it all could be, even during the home’s pandemic-era construction.
“It’s wild, honestly,” she said. “I could’ve never imagined this in a million years and wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but now that I’ve been given this platform and audience, I plan to use my viral ability for good and educate others on the damaging effects social media can have on one’s mental health and how to protect yourself and your loved ones in the digital world. Kindness is key!”
She’s taken this mission head-on by partnering with CyberSmile.org, a non-profit committed to combatting cyberbullying.
“Most recently, I was able to donate 100 percent of the proceeds I made off of a Barstool Sports holiday sweater collaboration to CyberSmile.org,” Gomas said, “and I hope to continue to work in lockstep with the organization to promote their awareness campaigns, tackling all forms of cyberbullying and digital abuse.”
Ready For What’s Next
Despite all the notoriety, Gomas hasn’t taken her eye off the bottom line.
“Thankfully,” she said. “I put together such a close team. They’ve all been behind me each step of the way. I guess this is the perfect business to be in right now. I don’t know how I might have handled everything if I were still in a corporate position.”
Her property in Forest Hills is set for completion in June. From there, she’ll roll the profit into a new project. She’ll assemble her team, draw up the plans, and leave her mark on a different East Dallas neighborhood.
“Someday,” Gomas said. “I intend to be known for my design and development skills. In fact, I know I will. Eventually, I’ll have a real estate portfolio that’s, well, undeniable.”
