Issue 17 Sean Patrick Thomas

PatrickThomas Sean

Table ofContents Table ofContents

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

This issue is all about getting out of your comfort zone and making life happen for you There is a lesson to be learned from each story within this issue, from LeToya Luckett stepping out as a solo artist and actress to Denise Boutte putting it all in God's hands.

Reading how much faith each person had in themselves and trusted their instinct reminds you to do the same Getting anywhere requires us to trust that the path is meant for us

Let's all take inventory to make sure that the journey we are embarking on aligns with our purpose and passion Its always possible to start again or start a new one! It's your journey, and you are in complete control if you choose to step out on faith

Michael G, Cox

CEO & Publisher Michael Cox

WORDS FROM THE COO

TAs a Chief in the US Navy, I understand the sacrifices we all have to make. One thing that stood out to me when we were putting this issue together is that every story demonstrates the true power of sacrifices for your dreams. Devale Ellis manifested something he is experiencing ten years later. Anthony Alabi kept showing up each time, knowing his moment would come.

For each issue, the goal is to inspire you all to be your best self, and that's understanding your purpose in life is not meant to be understood by anyone but you. So be fearless in your pursuit of happiness and never let anyone or thing deter you from your destiny.

Johnnie A. Perry

Chief Operatng Officer Johnnie Perry

Photo Cred t :Er c M chael Roy

SEAN THOMAS PATRICK

TILL REASONABL DOUBT

ACTOR

Cox: Sean Patr ck Thomas I m excited to speak with you today Before we get into it man you never play a character that is broke (laughs)

Thomas: You know what! The thing s, have played characters who are broke but they don’t act broke Both characters I played back in the day n Save The Last Dance and Barbershop were broke (laughs) There’s a d fference between being broke and acting broke

Cox: Now getting into your character Brayden M ller in Reasonable Doubt How was that experience?

Thomas: For me playing this part is probably one of the b ggest act ng challenges I’ve had Ma nly because this guy is all over the place He has so many angles to him of where he is com ng from and what he is try ng to do There are so many layers to him and what he s going through internally It was a great and exciting challenge to play this type of character

Thomas (cont n): I love to play this type of character because of how Black men are portrayed on screen It’s important for us to see Black men being successful in their line of work and a billionaire The great th ng is he is just a successful dude not we rd or corny Th s needs to be seen as a normal th ng in the media with the portrayal of Black men It should be something that seems more non-f ction than sci-fiction when we see Black male characters in script

Cox: I’m not going to lie at f rst when I saw Brayden’s interact on with Jax n tially I was like wow But then later I grew to be empathet c for h m and see him more misjudged him at first

Thomas: The showrunner Raamla Mohamed put t best when she told me you have to look at Brayden and Jax be ng used to being the only Black person in the room So when they encounter each other they are l ke wait a m nute I’m supposed to be the only one here This is on both their parts because they aren t used to sharing th s space so they are trying to sniff each other out This is someth ng that you see us doing to each other in real life

Cox: Are there any parts of Brayden you can relate to? Thomas: I think what I can relate to is that both of us are ambitious I think we both can be impat ent w th people who we th nk aren’t getting it or mov ng at a pace we want them to We are both competit ve and these are the attr butes believe we have in common

Cox: Now switch ng gears! I want to talk about your role as Gene Mobley in the movie Till

Thomas: I was very exc ted to get the opportunity to play the role and be part of this story in American history You would be surprised how many people didn’t know the story of Till when I told them I had the role in th s mov e This gave me extra motivation to really be part of tell ng this story because t’s inexcusable and shocking that the entire country doesn’t know about what happened to Emmett Till and what Mam e Till-Mobley did after he died

Thomas (cont n): The courage that Mamie Till-Mobley had was incred ble She is an American hero She helped change the world and everyone should know that So I am proud and gratified to be in any part of putt ng that story out there

Cox: You know we hear people say we don’t need to make movies like this that show a dark time n our history What are your thoughts?

Thomas: People need to see movies like this because racism is not over There are lots of people who are try ng to gaslight Black people to believe it s not here anymore and that s a lie It’s al ve and k ck ng Th s movie gave us an opportunity to push back on the lies they tell about rac sm being a th ng of the past or that it s n your mind I’m extremely excited to be part of anything that pushes back on that Everyone has to know this country hasn t l ved up to ts deals yet We are not all treated equally and until we are, we have to keep tell ng these stor es

Cox: How d d you prepare for this role?

Thomas: For me it was really just talking to people who knew Gene! Writer/Producer Keith Beauchamp

Mamie and Gene very well I spoke with him for hours to get as much information as I could about how they interacted and communicated w th each other It was important to know how they loved each other I

to know what kind of guy Gene was I even had long conversations w th D

and her team sent me tons of informat on historical data, and art cles I even read

Cox: Sean you have sustained a long career n th s industry It’s a tough one to do that What’s your secret?

Thomas: I always say I m lucky Do work hard? Yes! Do I train? Yes! Do I have tenac ty and resil ence? Yes I have all of those things, but I am very lucky There are so many talented people I have known through my time n th s industry who don’t have the opportunities I have And these people are brilliant and amazing So I default to always tell ng people I’m just blessed and lucky Oh and I work hard (laughs)

knew

needed

rector and Writer Chinonye Chukwu She

Mamie’s autob ography

Photo Cred t Eric Michael Roy

L E T O Y A L U C K E T T

Photo Credit : Courtesy of Her Instagram

ACTOR

Cox: In A Miracle Before Christmas you play Mercedes Wr ght, a powerful relationship therapist who has to navigate life and balance being a CEO, wife, mother and friend Why s it that when I look at this role and your others it seems to be the common theme for you?

Luckett: (Laughs) Because t probably aligns with my real life and I can relate to them

Cox: This film has such a pos tive message on the dynamics of the black family and the Holidays How was it making this f lm?

Luckett: The holidays are my favorite time of the year, espec ally Christmas Anyth ng Christmas I love I even see my love for Chr stmas rubbing off on my kids This was one of the major reasons I did this film My kids are huge fans of Christmas so what better to g ve them than a Christmas movie starring the r mommy

Luckett: (Cont n): But also I could relate to the script I think men and women will relate to the story of having to find that balance n life when you have worked so hard in your career You will see how it s hard for someone like my character to pull back and sw tch her Focus on the Family because of what it took to build her company The lesson of balancing priorities is throughout the film and Romeo’s character Matthew really helps put things in perspective for her

LeToya sa d that the beauty of th s film is t shows you, you can have everything right in front of you A supportive and loving husband and family to call your own but you can still lose focus when chas ng and bu lding your dream This Holiday film is a reminder that when priorities ar se, family should always come first because they are going to be the ones there when things in business go right or left

Cox: Mercedes seems like she just isn’t understanding where Matthew is coming from!

Luckett: Yes she learns too late, and this s where Keith David’s character has to come in and check her He does t in a way where she learns she has to be careful how she uses her words That one wish she asked of him shows exactly how mindful we need to be with our words

Luckett (cont n): That one wish did more than just show her to be exact with her words It showed her how life would be l ke if it was just all career focused

Cox: There s the dinner table scene where I see the double standard happening with Mercedes talk ng about career amongst their fr ends with Matthew Matthew just wants to have a friendly dinner w th friends (which is understood) but Mercedes wants to talk about business

Luckett: I think there is that double standard where th ngs are celebrated for some and frowned upon for others I can relate because I’m that friend that sees more of those around me and want to push them to ach eve it I’m always ready to push my friends to want more, be more and to grow

LeToya said that s exactly what Mercedes was do ng in that scene That’s genuine love when you want others to see them for how you see them in a positive light The only problem is in life some people aren’t ready to rece ve that message because they aren’t ready to see themselves and how great and amaz ng we see them

Luckett (contin): I know what that feels l ke actually because when I became a solo artist it took me the longest time to not see myself as only an artist part of a group I have to give thanks to my sister for me being a solo artist because it was her that kept telling me she sees me as a solo artist would literally get angry with her and start arguments because that’s not what I saw myself to be She was try ng to make me feel comfortable with that, but wanted her to stop The uncomfortable feeling came because she saw me on a larger platform which was more than what I saw for myself

Cox: Speaking of stepping out as a Solo art st How was that journey for you?

Luckett: Honestly it wasn’t always easy You just have to one day really trust God If God has g ven you th s gift and you know your purpose, you can t allow fear to stand in your way You will have to one day just close your eyes and say I let it go! Just l ke N ke you have to just do t Listen Nike won with that because now it s my motto

Luckett (contin): People have to ask themselves what’s really stopping them Like what can go so wrong You get a No? Or it doesn’t work out? At least you tried This s what the whole situation taught me I never saw myself as an actress but I got a call from an agency Mind you, I never read a script before But I took the meeting w th the agency because I said it worked last time when I step out to be a solo artist so I’m going to do it the same way with th s act ng opportunity Stepping outside of my comfort zone keeps on working for me

What are you wait ng for? Is the question LeToya has for anyone allow ng fear to control them She wants to urge everyone to take that leap, go for it and keep going

Cox: As an actress many of the characters who portray are powerful and successful women How did you come into that?

Luckett: I love play ng strong and confident women For me it s important because I know in my life and st ll sometimes I suffer from confidence issues I would feel like I’m not good enough or overlooked in the industry And I th nk the more we see powerful characters who we aspire to be l ke we believe n That’s why I enjoy them so much!

Luckett (contin): I love see ng myself in that light because I actually learn so much about myself from those characters I feel they are a constant rem nder that strength and confidence is in there It’s n you and in order for me to play this type of character it’s there somewhere within me Sometimes n my real life when I have to boss up I tap into those characters

"Honestly it wasn’t always easy. You just have to one day really trust God. If God has given you this gift and you know your purpose, you can’t allow fear to stand in your way."

ACTRESS

Denise Boutte is a multi-talented actress with nearly two decades of working experience in the tough entertainment industry Sitcoms to films to major voiceover work there is nothing she can’t do Though th s wasn’t her f rst career choice she is mak ng it a lasting one if I say so myself If you don t bel eve me, just look at her IMDB credits and this woman has worked every year since she started in Hollywood

God put me n the right place!

Den se comes from humble beginnings n the small town of Maurice, Louisiana Before deciding on acting as a career path Denise went down the usual rabbit hole of the traditional college route we all fall prey to “When I first got to college, I said I’m going to be a doctor because that’s what you hear proud parents say of the r k ds ” said Boutte Th s soon changed midway through her first semester She said they can have it It was until a g rlfriend of hers nv ted her to a communications class because she thought it would be a perfect f t for Denise She was correct, and she fell n love with t

“I thought I wanted to be an anchorwoman then, but after trying to keep up with the teleprompter I said they can have that ” – Boutte

The Internship set everything in mot on

It was an nternsh p at an advertis ng agency that would create a path from God she d dn t know yet was laid “I worked at an advert s ng agency for five years and then God showed me signs he had other plans,” sa d Boutte

“I know you all have cast the models, but Den se has the look we want,” said Denise when the account she represented for the agency requested her to be part of the campaign She declined when it was proposed to her by her boss, but he informed her t was more of you w ll do th s and not would you like to

“It kept happening and happen ng ” – Boutte

Fossil was the last place she worked at in an advert sing capacity when again she was requested to be part of another print campa gn “A local talent agency reached out to us to see if we were nterested n representation,” sa d Boutte They took the meeting not thinking anything would actually come from it, but to the r surprise it did and they were s gned Then the modeling gigs just started lining up for her

“I think you have what it takes ” – Boutte

After gaining more tract on in the industry her then manager Suzanne told her she has it but she needs to come out to Los Angeles to make t really happen “She told me she has a house in Los Angeles wh ch I can stay rent free as long as I am pursuing my act ng career It s my duty to myself to make the move ” said Boutte

As a woman who loves to plan and be n control of her destiny, she took h m to God s plan because he put all the proper things n place for her There was this uncomfortable feeling for Denise to l sten and make the move on faith, but she is someone who is obedient to God “I owe it to God to see this through,” said Boutte She w ll tell you she is where she is today because of her obedience and noth ng else

Out of My Comfort Zone!

Denise went completely outside of her comfort zone with the move She gave herself a year to a year and a half to try it all out and give it her all “With n that f rst year that s when Meet The Browns and Why Did I Get Marr ed happen for me,” said Boutte With not that much experience or training she proved you can land the part as long as you show up for the part Th s was the moment she realized she was exactly where God intended for her to be

“That s the beauty of it all and how th ngs manifest ” –

Boutte

Though her trajectory isn’t the average she wants to remind everyone that you just have to keep going and appreciate the journey Denise said, “You have to keep your eyes open and don’t take for granted the steps you are taking towards your destiny ” There are so many people who want to be n other people’s shoes in this industry, so she cherishes how far she has come and where she is going

It’s all the mindset for Devale with this industry. His professional sports background gives him the mental discipline to stay the course and never give up. He said in sports, it’s you did or you didn’t and that’s the same with acting. It’s about the performance and he is always going to make sure he is well prepared to deliver what’s requested of him.

“You only focus on what you can control because all the outside noise will not help you be the best version of yourself.”

ACTOR

Cox: Man your character Zac just can’t get a break

Ellis: You know some people need to realize that just because someone is trying to change doesn t mean everything around them will allow for that change Zac has these friends and family members who want him to be the version of himself they are used to This is the most difficult thing for him

Ellis (contin ): Zac is also a work n progress He isn’t mature enough yet to handle all the th ngs that come from hav ng money now and a girlfriend It’s like they say, when you get a girlfriend that s when all the other women want you This is exactly what Zac is exper enc ng I like to applaud Tyler Perry because Zac w th all his flaws and act ons doesn t get an easy out even when he is trying his best This makes him a relatable character rather than an unbelievable one who is going to always make the right dec sions, because that’s just not real life

Cox: Can you relate any parts to Zac?

Ellis: Hell yeah! Hell Yeah! Let me tell you someth ng and I say this all the time Th s past October marked twenty years I’ve been with my wife There was this t me when I went from college stra ght to the NFL I felt like Zac because I was on this rise Just like h m, I thought I had everything figured out

Devale said how between the ages 19 and 24 he made so many mistakes just l ke we see with his character Zac He stopped asking for advice from his peers because at that stage in h s life you couldn’t tell h m anything Those choices he would later have to answer for and make up for them between the ages 25 and 30

Cox: So when you read the script for Zatima and where Zac was going to go outs de of his usual role in S stas, could you relate to him even more?

Ellis: My brother, any man that comes into money and now has access to anything they could want in life can relate to Zac

Cox: Is there more pressure for you now that Zac s one of the lead characters?

Ellis: Can I be honest?

Cox: Yeah Ellis: Twenty years ago I went on my first date with my wife Khadeen Ellis We were in my dorm room watching Martin I looked at her and told her ‘I want to do that! I want to have my own TV show I want to make people laugh, cry and tell stor es So when got the opportun ty to be the lead n Zatima, it was 20 years of me manifesting this moment

Devale said he was ready for it and he walked into it know ng that this was for him Of course this is even more added pressure, but he was more excited than anything He wants people to receive his art This opportunity he said is the dopest feeling in the world and he is just very thankful

Cox: 20 years later Devale you have put in the time, effort and patience for this moment

Ellis: Michael, let me tell you something that I heard when I was younger It takes 10 years to be an overn ght success I want to be iconic in this industry and I know it will not happen tomorrow So I always remember that when I th nk I’m not exactly where I want to be in my career I’ve already put two doses of 10 years in and I m prepared to put in the equal amount of years to get to the next level

Cox: Devale you are someone who shows a posit ve mage of a Black father and husband on soc al media You are authentic, transparent and vulnerable

Ellis: Thank you and you know I have to say it’s because I found a great partner From the t me I was 18 to now, I have been with my beautiful wife Khadeen That time I told her ‘th s is what I want to do’ when we were watching Martin in my dorm room, her words were “So how are we going to get it?” She said it jokingly but was also serious Khadeen could hear the pass on I had in my voice

Ellis(contin): can’t sit up here and act like I have t all figured out There are so many days where I’m l ke there is so much on my plate It s Khadeen who centers me and makes sure prioritize th ngs She will always ask me what is the most mportant thing at this moment I chose to spend the rest of my l fe with a partner that is of service

Cox: So what advice would you g ve to someone who just isn’t landing anything?

Ellis: It happens got cut three times n the NFL and d dn t get certa n roles That just meant it wasn’t for me I know it sounds cliche but I have to be honest I can’t force anyone to sign me to a team or pick me for the part So in my mind, I have to real ze that it was for someone else But it also means that the thing that s for me is around the corner So I have to continue to work on myself for when that moment comes Nothing is worse than when your moment comes and you aren’t ready!

Cox: People now see you on the screen but they were originally ntroduced to you through social media which you do an amazing job of Ellis: I’m actually a classically trained actor but many don’t know that They see me as the soc al media guy and podcaster who now wants to be an actor I was t red of hearing no or that they only saw me fit for roles such as thugs, gangsters, and ex-cons because of my tattoos and muscles I used all these tools to get my foot n the door my way So I used social media to get people to pay attent on to my art

Devale will be a forever student of his craft One th ng is for sure, w th each opportunity he is honing in and refining his craft so that he is forever ready for what s to come next And if opportunit es aren’t presenting themselves or he is be ng told No we know he will create them himself He might walk in faith and patience he isn’t pat ently wait ng for anyone to give him the life he des res

FAMILY REUNION

A NTHONY LABI

Photo Cred t: D ana Ragland

Cox: Anthony I want to know your journey and how you got the role of Moz on Family Reunion Alabi: It started with Raven’s Home I ended up getting a recurring role on that show The head writer at the time Anthony H ll had a friend Meg DeLoatch who was coming up with the show Fam ly Reun on I honestly thought he was kidding when he told me the premise I was like an ex-football player who is moving back down south who has to navigate the different dynamics of his southern upbringing and new way of raising his family This sounds l ke it’s me (laughs)

Alabi (contin): He was like I’m ser ous but I thought I couldn’t get this part Back then I had cred ts but there wasn’t really any name recognition for what had done I told h m there is no way they will give me the lead He told me to just aud tion I told h m ok but f I don t get t can I at least get the role of the brother (laughs) or something because I kind of need a job

Alabi (contin): So I audit oned for the role and got a call back the next week After that I heard nothing for the next two months I was like they already picked somebody else Then to my surprise got a call that I would be test ng tomorrow at 10 pm My wife at the time was pregnant, and she got up to help me go through my sides Then we get there the next day and they cancel the test I’m like okay they obviously found the guy they were looking for Another week goes by and then I get tested

Alabi (contin): Anthony called me on my way home from the test and told me I didn’t get the part I said okay no problem even though my lip was quiver ng (laughs) He said man I’m just messing with you you got it I had to pull over to the side of the road because I was driv ng I’m l ke Anthony, be serious r ght now and let me know f I got it because I can t take the joke r ght now

Cox: This was your first ever lead role Did you feel ready for it? We are four years later w th the show be ng a fan favorite on Netflix

Alabi: It’s what I wanted! I was surprised to get the role but not surprised to be in the posit on I was ready for the pos tion I live by this mantra you have to learn what you want to become Even when I wasn t the lead in a series, I was the most annoying person on set as a guest star or recurring I would always act as if I was part of production I would voice my opinion on th ngs and weigh n on decisions l ke they would listen to me It s because I believe that you have to come in w th that presence that this is where belong

Alabi (contin): ’m humble but I’m never go ng to shy away from that spotlight or the responsib l ty that comes w th that posit on

Cox: I feel l ke your football background g ves you a mental fit for this opportunity

Alabi: Yes because when you come in as a rookie on a team you can’t be w de eyed because you are playing with people you look up to You have to reach inside yourself and go above that Say this is who I am now and these are the people I’m playing with These are my teammates and I need to adapt to this s tuation

Alabi (contin): No one gave me a tutorial when ’m lined up next to Jason Taylor who is a Hall of Famer defensive lineman There wasn’t this introduction moment for me It was to get ready because he is going to tackle you now (laughs) You get thrown into the fire and for me this is how it felt with coming on set for the show

ACTOR

Alabi (contin): also want to be a producer one day So used being on the set of Family Reunion to learn even more I looked at th ngs l ke oh this is someth ng I would do w th my production team or this is something I would do differently These are things I took away from the show

Cox: You seem like you are always a student of life Alabi: I am because I feel like every single day I should get better at something Because f I m not getting better I’m getting worse and that’s unacceptable

Alabi(contin): Even with Fam ly Reunion I review the taps of everything I film I’m not one of those actors who doesn’t like to watch their work ’m watching micro seconds of myself because I need to see f what I was doing was not that good, that t really didn’t work out, or hilarious It’s the football background in me In football you are constantly analyzing and auditing yourself to make sure you are squeezing out every bit of talent you have This is so you can get the best product out of yourself

Alabi(contin): I operate like this You all are using your hard earned money to pay to watch us perform This is money you used to feed your families and provide for them I have to give you a performance that I know I m giv ng you 100% effort because t’s disrespectful to g ve you anything less This is just my mindset going into it

Cox: You have successfully transit oned from professional football to acting Earlier you sa d your parents played a big role in it Alabi: I will say my mom was the catalyst in all of this She used to tell me just because you re good at one thing it doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at all things This helped me early on have a m ndset of humbleness when going nto anything new

Alabi (contin): My dad played a huge role too because he had this say ng Work Solves Everything He had this philosophy that he didn’t care if you were better than him n something because he was going to outwork you There would be no way you were go ng to get to work earlier than him or leave after him And th s was how it was on Family Reunion You can ask anyone I was there an hour and a half earlier than anyone because I wanted to go over my lines and th nk of things I can add It was almost to an annoying extent (laughs) I knew that if I threw a ton of th ngs at the wall when we started rehearsing and filming something would st ck

ACTRESS

Cox: Kellee Stewart you have been in some of my favorite shows, especially supernatural ones When I look at your cred ts, you’ve been able to d versify the roles you play How have you been able to achieve that?

Stewart: I was actually typecast earlier on when moved to Los Angeles I had an amaz ng opportunity to play in my f rst ser es My Boys as Stephanie the best friend to P J played by Jordana Spiro The only problem was every show after that was only cast as the Black best friend to a White female lead

Stewart(cont): to answer your quest on I changed it by writing my own p lot script BBF (Black Best Friend) Cedr c The Entertainer produced that script with me, and we sold it to 20th Century Fox and Fox Network Suddenly I was getting paid to write scr pts where I’m able to change the narrative and flip t on its side

Although Stewart’s pilot d dn t get picked up t empowered her in a way she never thought She learned the power of NO She discovered that she could create and sell content from her perspective As an actor you’re constantly wa ting for someone to say yes Kellee understands that the only Yes she needs is the one she creates from her Mind, Body, and Spir t

Cox: Tell me about a time you used that No to empower yourself on set

Stewart: I was filming a project and my character had a line that I felt unfa rly described Black men I went straight to the producer and told them , “ I’m not saying th s I’m not saying this because my character w ll not perpetuate the negat ve that it s hard for a Black woman to find a good Black man ” They ended up taking that part out of the script and revamped it I suggested these characters have an actual conversat on w th proper questions instead of reinforcing a stereotype

Stewart(cont): An actor s perspective is always needed We have to be responsible for the younger generation coming up behind us The projects need to be accurate and tell the wide range of stories that come w th being black

Stewart(cont): understand some people need a paycheck, and don’t judge But for me, there is no paycheck that w ll make me compromise my character I’m here to fully represent Black women with the stories have to tell to the best of my ability

Kellee is living in her truth and fullest self as an actress and creator She is say ng no to the things she doesn’t want to do, yes to the th ngs she does and creating the things she wants to see come to life

The Advocate – Giving Voice To A Cause

Cox: Now, sw tching gears, I would love to learn more about your why for bringing awareness to black fert lity for men and women Stewart: It was from my own personal story and journey I ended a seven year relationship was s ngle, Black, th rty-seven years old living n LA I tr ed dat ng here and there, but the streets are trash (laughs jokingly) Knowing that the streets are trash (laughs jokingly) I froze my eggs God was so k nd because he was the one who led me down this path to preserve my potential fertility

Stewart (cont): I realized there wasn t a lot of Black representat on on the national level n fert l ty I wrote a mov e called 29 Eggs (because I had 29 eggs I found from my fertil ty visit), and I sold it to A&E and L fetime Network Everything was gett ng lined up for its production then COVID h t So that was put on the back burner indef n tely

Stewart(cont): I wanted to stay connected with my art during the pandem c, so I did like everyone and just went l ve on G I said I’m go ng to do Warrior Wednesdays The t tle just popped into my head, and next thing you know, I m learning how Black women suffer 3x more than their white counterparts from things such as f bro ds endometriosis, adenomyos s, and PCOS

Stewart (cont): Every other week, I would have a Black doctor talking to real people Now that we are talk ng about art too! This was my way of staying connected to the movie I’m wa ting to shoot I want to talk to this aud ence even more The more I talk with them the more I’m crying w th them, gr eving miscarriages, and hearing the suffering

Cox: I love that you also bring awareness to the negat ve effects of infertility and Black men What s something you found dur ng your talks?

Stewart: Black men, y’all need each other I always do a pre-interview on whom I will have on Warrior Wednesdays This one time, I brought on three Black men, which I rarely do But when I spoke with them individually in the pre-interv ew I found all three were so broken, still healing and trepidat on through their journey I knew needed to bring them together As a Black woman I can’t speak to their pain, but I knew they could open up with each other

The Actress – Chang ng Her Narrative

ACTRESS

Cox: Lexie Stevenson please tell me about who you are before we get into your amazing career and the work you are doing

Stevenson: I come from a pretty grounded upbringing in Maine I grew up w th the values of family, community, and all that good stuff

Cox: So where did this love and passion for act ng come from?

Stevenson: Well actually s ng ng was what I wanted to do first, but be ng where I m from there weren’t really any studios for me to go record anything (laughs) I joined a musical theater group to showcase my singing skills This is when I found my love for acting because with musical theater I’m doing both singing and act ng

Stevenson(contin): This was the route I took, and I did a lot of background work in New York Georg a and Florida

Cox: So what brought Lexie west to Los Angeles?

Stevenson: I actually got accepted to SUNY Purchase College in New York, but my two uncles who lived in LA, told me I needed to visit to see what opportunities there could be for me n LA after college One of my uncles was connected with a lot of agents and managers and set up a few meetings These meetings lead to me being signed When I got back to Ma ne my dad and I packed up my Ford Explorer to move me to Los Angeles

Lexie took that chance to follow her dreams and deferred her enrollment for a year Once that year was up t was t me for her to make another big decision She took her chance with college Right when she informed everyone she was leaving Los Angeles she was nformed she was going in for testing to be on The Young and The Restless

Cox: Okay so now it s moving fast for you How was that part of your journey stay ng in Los Angeles for the audit on?

Stevenson: They told me the test was in two weeks After I tested I got a call later that day say ng I have a fitting tomorrow I went for my f tt ng on Tuesday and I started filming for the role on a Thursday

Cox: Your parents played a b g role in your l fe and supported your career ambitions

Stevenson: Yes my parents d d especially my mom Mind you, my mom is a doctor and a lawyer so college was always a goal of hers for me She would ask me what am I going to do after high school and I would reply go to college She would follow up w th “what about after college” and would reply I’m going to graduate school

Stevenson (contin): Then there was a moment where I just told her yeah I m not go ng to college (laughs) She sa d okay and cont nues to be supportive She has her days where she asks “are you sure you don t want to go to college” I always reply “yes I’m sure” mean I may go back one day to get my degree but for now I’m okay

spoke with Lex e about how she could go down th s path with the support of her family but many others pursuing this career do not share that luxury She said the only way she could describe t was like hunger There was this hungry feel ng and the only way she could feed it was by pursuing act ng She said while recently taking a new acting class the teacher asked her if this is the only profession she is pursu ng Lexie repl ed “yes” with all the confidence in the world because for her it s acting or nothing else

Cox: Now moving on to your philanthropy You are the youngest woman EVER to be The Head of Advisory Board for the Endometr os s Foundation of America Tell me why you chose this organization and why you took a board posit on

Stevenson: It started with a post I made on my blog wh le I was work ng on The Young and The Restless I went nto a chop shop to get a salad and a woman stopped me She said aren t you Lexie Stevenson?” I said yes, and she said because of your blog post I thought I might have Endometriosis so I went to get checked and (deleted a part of the sentence) was diagnosed

Stevenson (contin): For me that was exciting because I was happy that my blog post helped her to get diagnosed early as opposed to go ng 4-6 years without being diagnosed Th s is when I realized this is really important and I can do more

Cox: Can you describe what it feels like for our readers?

Stevenson: I tell women if they experience cramping to an extreme degree on and off the r period, those are pretty b g signs that the cramping may be caused by Endometriosis To ensure that you are diagnosed properly you should seek out practit oners who have training and exper ence in Endometriosis so that you understand exactly what’s going on and learn about what pain management options there are for you

Stevenson (contin): But what I tell everyone is that you know your body better than any doctor I don’t just urge women but men as well If you feel like there is something wrong, say t I actually went to the doctor recently and told the nurse how I was feeling She dismissed what I was saying so I told her don’t care f it doesn’t makes sense to you because it does to me I know my body so you all need to go f gure out what’s going on

What is remarkable about Lexie is that even at a young age she is working towards empowering people to not just settle for the f rst thing a doctor or nurse says This is why she is the youngest on the board for her organizat on She took a moment n her l fe and used it as a vehicle for change for others W th all that she has go ng on she still finds the time and space to speak with others and let them know they are heard never gnored, and they are supported

Photo Credit : SnapsStudio

The reason why Renika loves playing Willow is that it gives her a second chance at college almost like what if. This role lets her tap into other parts of herself that were always present while she was in school but never accessed.

ACTRESS

Cox: Renika, before we get into your role as Willow in season 2 of The Sex L ves of College Girls tell me about you!

Williams: I m a natural storyteller and it’s what I love to do I’ve been doing it since I was that small child telling the k ds on the playground what to do (laughs) But for me storytelling is tradition for us as Black people It’s something we do in particular as a people where we take a story and we make it even more entertaining It s in my blood because I come from a family of storytellers

Cox: What is it about storytelling that you love so much that it drove you to acting Williams: Honestly I’ve always been a huge TV fan I was never a kid that liked mov es because they were always over within 2 hours I enjoyed being able to watch shows Moesha and Sista Sista and seeing the characters develop over t me

Williams (contin): I d dn t always feel like I had the power to express myself Storytelling was my way of expressing myself I would take the words written by the character and bring them to life I fell in love with this because I could use these characters to build connections with others At the end of the day storytelling is all about building connections with the aud ence and I love it

Cox: Speaking of using characters to express yourself Do you love be ng those characters who are totally opposite of you or who the audience love to hate?

Williams: Come on! (Laughs) I put nothing past anyone because anyone can cut up So I like to f nd the flaws in the characters

Williams (contin): People specif cally ask if I was l ke Willow in college being the turn up queen and the loud one I’m l ke absolutely not! You can ask my college roommate because I didn’t go anywhere when I was n college I took school so ser ously that I rarely went out For me Willow gives me the chance to let out the g rl inside of me I always wanted to be (Laughs) I wanted to be that g rl that could party all-night and still wake up at 8 am and go to class

Cox: Since you are tapp ng into th ngs you’ve never accessed before to bring Willow to life, how are you able to make it believable?

Will ams: If I’m being honest t’s just so much fun I’m a people watcher So I m observing people all the t me not cing th ngs I like such as the way she walks or how he talks So I start with the phys cal of how Willow would walk and move around Many people don’t know but I change up Willow s walk during certain scenes I asked my mom if she noticed anything different in Willows walk on one episode and she said no Then when I spoke to my cous n she told me you even changed up the way Willow walks I”m like thank you if someone gets it

Cox: This is your first series regular role how was that exper ence for you when you first got the call?

Will ams: It was a whirlwind for me because when they called me to let me know I got the job they sa d I needed to be in LA n 48 hours I was like yes but can I go to CVS first to get my COVID vaccine because I m scheduled for tomorrow (laughs) t was so fast that I could not freak out l ke most do when they have the usual 3 to 4 months to get ready to shoot

Will ams shared with me that during the audition only that she felt she already knew who Willow was She laughed as she sa d she channeled Kevin Hart dur ng the audit on in the moments where she thought an inflection of her voice sim lar to how he does it would be golden for the audience

Cox: You mentioned you are being more intentional as a young actress

Williams: L ke when I got the opportunity for the role of Willow spoke with my mentor because the title of the show is The Sex Lives of College G rls She said you have to get specif c with what you will and won’t do in roles I asked how specific and she repl ed very specific She told me that what I do will live on screen forever and I have to be okay with it She said everyone is d fferent and the r boundaries and limits and I have to f nd mine

Cox: So how do you know if you w ll or will not take a role

Will ams: As long as the role doesn’t my principles or my self worth I give t to God and I go for t There have been many scripts that came my way where I’m like they want me to do what now Oh I m not doing that Listen, I take after Chadw ck Boseman with being ntentional w th my work and my career

R E N I K A W I L L I A M S

Photo Cred t Andrew Parsons

R I L E Y C H R I S T I A N

LAWYER

Riley’s Start, Journey & Passion

Cox: Riley, tell me what makes you so passionate about sports and enterta nment as an attorney Christian: I ve always had a passion for sports My brother and I always played sports growing up Baseball was my main sport and I was to be drafted by the Ph ladelphia Phillies out of high school

Christian (contin): After retiring from baseball and fin sh ng college, I took time to reflect on my experience as a collegiate and professional athlete and wanted to use my experience to help others Like most people I thought, “oh, I’ll be a sports agent ” But when I got to law school, I realized I could make the greatest impact as a sports and entertainment lawyer

Christian (contin): The industry needs more representation behind the scenes where most of the mportant decis ons are made There are more opportun ties for black profess onals today than ever before thanks to those who have paved the way Still, there s work to be done It s my respons bility as a black man working in the legal sector of the enterta nment ndustry to make sure that I am open ng doors for other black attorneys who are following in my footsteps

Riley’s urge to give back not only inspired his decis on to attend law school, but also fuels every decis on he makes Although his services aren’t free, he str ves to prepare his clients for long-term success A stickler for the details, Riley is the guy you call to understand the fine print

Cox: As a Sports and Entertainment attorney, what are some pitfalls people should be aware of since many people don’t understand how to protect either themselves or their money profit – – sometimes both

Christian: So I’m going to start with sports first You have talented athletes who have worked tirelessly the r ent re lives for a shot in the big leagues They finally get the r shot and all of a sudden you have player contracts, brand deals, sponsorships, appearances commercials, advertisements, you name t Most agreements conta n legal jargon that can be d ff cult to understand It’s my job to make sure my athletes and entertainers not only understand the terms of the r agreements, but also understand what the r agreements mean in practice In other words, I make sure my clients know exactly how the terms of their contract impact the r everyday present lives and long-term futures Another big thing for artists and entertainers to remember is the importance of conducting themselves appropriately from day to day I constantly stress to my clients how unforg ving the industry can be I believe protect ng your family reputation, and assets is key to any athlete’s or entertainer’s success I mainta n an open line of communication with my cl ents so they know they can come to me for advice on even the most m nor of issues like whether a social med a post is appropriate

Christ an (contin): People may know me from The Bachelorette and The Bachelor spin-off, Bachelor of Paradise Although one of the stars of the show, be ng present for the f lm ng afforded me the invaluable opportunity to sort of “sw tch places” with my entertainment cl ents and truly understand what they encounter in their careers This s particularly true for people of color n entertainment Whether feature length c nema or reality television, minorit es are not always afforded the same opportunities or considerations on set as our white counterparts Having witnessed the f lm ng of a production from beginning to end, I have a unique perspective from wh ch I negotiate contracts Not only do I make sure my cl ents receive comparable compensat on to their similarly situated castmates, but I also negotiate contractual terms that reflect my clients’ indiv dual needs, which are somet mes overlooked by producers, for example, who do not look like them

Cox: You ment oned who they are after the show or game ends! Christ an: Yes It is important for clients to understand exactly what they are agree ng to when they sign a contract I want my clients to be able to explain to the r family and fr ends five things: (1) what they are obligated to do; (2) what they are obligated not to do; (3) what they are getting paid; (4) how they are getting pa d; and (5) for how long If a client understands those five things, they are better able to plan for their futures and avo d pitfalls l ke breaching their contract, wh ch could result in costly litigation

Christ an (contin): L sten, success is subjective Of course we would all love to be bill onaires (laughs) That level of success is tough to reach, but not impossible Aside from their biggest dreams and ambitions, I want my clients to always be able to take care of their basic needs meaning provide for themselves and their fam lies now and in the future My team and I work together to ensure my clients are hooked up w th the right people and resources to guard aga nst financial issues we too often see plaguing ret red athletes and entertainers

Cox: Another thing you stress s being able to get out of someth ng Christ an: I always advise my clients that one of the ways they can protect themselves s negotiating contract terms that give them a way out If for some reason an artist s records are being shelved he or she is going to want to have already negotiated some sort of termination clause so they can end the agreement early The time to think about how to end your contract is not when you’re fed up and look ng to end your contract! Another example are options Options can be good, but they’re great when the entertainer has a say in the renewal process All of those terms must be negot ated

Christ an(contin): Now a lot of times, up-and-coming artists have a hard time negotiating with b g compan es because they have disproportionate bargaining power But the advantage today s artists have s social media Artists can use social media to build their follow ngs and establish brands before ever being introduced to larger labels No longer do labels have to bu ld no-name talent from the ground up Instead new artists are coming in with a huge and loyal following, which gives new artists a bigger voice in a big room That s The beauty of the internet You can keep pumping out content on your own and make your own noise

Christ an(parting thought): None of my comments are meant to be construed as legal advice If you’re interested in legal adv ce on your particular sports or entertainment ssue, feel free to reach out

Speaking w th R ley, you realize he is more than an attorney He is a brand strategist bus ness manager, therap st, best fr end and just someone you can trust who is looking out for your best interests Anyone who h res him is going to be a rem niscence of working with that best friend you love and trust Who keeps it real, challenges you, lays out all the facts, and has your best interest in mind

Riley sees himself as his clients’ partner in success. He is thoroughly engaged and invested in his clients’ efforts to advance in their respective careers. He drafts contracts and negotiates deals with longterm goals in mind to ensure his clients have a solid foundation for the future. With every representation, Riley strives to deliver excellent service that helps his clients move a step closer to achieving their dreams

Photo credit Christopher Claxton Styl ng cred t: James Sanders

Trell Thomas is the type of person you have to brag about because he won’t do it Normally taking the backseat where he is not just comfortable but because he doesn’t look for the spotlight It’s the work and impact that he is creating that’s the most important But this story and my words are to illustrate how impactful he truly is as well as selfless. He is creating for creating sake to have a space for Black people to be celebrated and not tolerated

CREATIVE

Cox: Trell you are a very talented man doing so many amazing things I want to know your origin story

Thomas: I graduated college with a degree in journalism broadcasting I wanted to be the next Ed Bradley And I had the fortunate opportunity to ntern with NBC and get a full-t me posit on with the company This was the trajectory I was on in my career until I had the moment that changed my life forever I had received the opportunity to work on the Obama pres dential campa gn in 2008

Thomas (contin): I took a leap of faith with opportunity because I just got the job at NBC but I knew this would be an experience that would change the world This d dn t just change my life because I worked on the campaign that elected the US’s first Black president, but it was the f rst time I truly followed my heart and gut even when my mind was not understanding it

This was a moment for Thomas that he attributes to changing his l fe completely because he now navigates the world with his heart and never fear or doubt It gave him the power of listening to his intuition and blocking out all outside noise

Through his journey he had landed roles with companies such as V acom BET and VH1 where he spearheaded and assisted major communicat on talent relat ons and brand campaigns But through h s journey in these organizations he still wanted more and saw that more was needed to be done for his community

Cox: With all this success what was it that made you want to go out and create your own?

Trell: It was in 2017 that I embarked on my own personal journey It’s the fru ts from that wh ch you see today The Black Excellence Brunch for example is a product of that and t is what most people recognize me from The entire concept is based on the family trad tion of Sunday dinner As a man from the south Sunday dinner played a major role n my upbringing with my mom host ng them at our home every Sunday after church

Thomas(contin): That same time in 2017 is when I moved to LA and I upped the aesthetics of the Black Excellence Brunch I started changing small things about it because I wanted to create a safe and uplift ng environment I wanted an empower ng space where us as Black people could come and celebrate our individual and collective excellence

Cox: Self journeys are so important What was it that started you down that path of selfdiscovery?

Thomas: t started when I reflected on how I could really give back to my community I worked in space building other people and major corporations I wondered how I could speak to the Trells of the world coming up and people who look like me Growing up, I didn’t have that much representation outside of my fam ly wh ch I m thankful for and sometimes characters on telev sion I wanted others in our community to know that things are poss ble for them even when t might not seem so

Thomas(contin): It took me further on a journey of even ask ng more of my own self worth I feel like from the moment we are born people are putting labels on us They are telling us who we are, who were aren t, what we can do and what we can t do

Thomas (cont n): This part of the journey I looked at all the things that were placed on me by the world I wanted to figure out what were the things that were true to me and the th ngs that weren’t It was about what labels do I need to keep and which ones do I need to remove

“I asked myself who do you want to be, who do you want the world to see, and how can you be more authentic ”

Trell ment oned that the best part of his journey was unbecoming everyth ng the world placed on h m at birth We are taught at such an early age that we are to become these great things, but those great things are mere controls on what society and culture may think are true to you Trell finding this out and peel ng away labels that didn’t survive him and that were never meant for h m was the process This process led h m to realiz ng that others, especially w thin the community, needed more than ever a space for them to do the same thing

Cox: There was th s moment dur ng the journey where you realized you didn’t have to dim your light anymore for others

Thomas: Yes because there would be many times I would be n this space and people would tell me I m getting too big for my breeches It was getting so frustrat ng to hear that more than often I remember hav ng a meeting with Bozoma Sa nt John who is a Black woman who does things on her terms working with major brands like Peps Co She shut her door and said Trell, sometimes people w ll make you feel less than and dim your light because they feel inadequate She said make them put on shades if you shine too bright That really stuck w th me because I felt less than I need to shr nk myself and more that I can really pop out

T R E L L T H O M A S

C A M E O S H A R E L L

ACTORESS

Cox: So tell me about your exper ence being n The Black Hamptons

Sherrell: It was such a delightful experience to be working w th Bra n, Lamman, Elise and Vanessa I grew up watch ng these actors on my screen and to be on a show with them is mind blowing I love Vanessa Bell Callaway One of my favorite movies s What’s Love Got to do with t and we all know the famous eat the cake scene! (laughs) I can rec te it word for word and I love her in it Being in scenes with her was such a full c rcle moment

Cox: I know that was such a significant moment and you play her niece

Sherrell: Yes and I think the parallel between my character Lesl e and myself is we want to earn her (Carolyn Britton) respect But in the first episode Leslie fumbles the ball (Laughs) Mike it was that p llow talking with her husband that got her s detracked

Sherrell (cont ): I mean you know Leslie’s is there for two reasons and two reasons only: to inform Carolyn on everything that s happening n the commun ty and to keep the Black Hamptons Black

Cox: When I look at your credits you have a good amount going all the way to 2010 Tell me how you go into acting

Sherrell: Honestly I feel like I got into the game late I took a year off from college because I just wanted to f gure out what I wanted to do with my life During that time off my close friend K sha asked me what I am do ng with my l fe She sa d “ok now you don’t wanna end up a deadbeat” (laughs) I told her I would for sure f gure it out I had no clue One day I was watch ng “What s Love got to do w th it” and was just n awe of how Angela Bassett transformed nto Tia Turner I was amazed and everyth ng in me wanted to do/be that See what I mean by full circle moment? (smiles)

After that moment Cameo shared that she immediately looked up schools for acting in Orlando and enrolled in Lisa Maile s model ng and acting school She was fam liar w th it because she had previous experience modeling n her earl er years It was there she took a scene study class that blew her mind and conf rmed that th s was the career path she needed to take

She packed t, shipped it, and head to New York in 2006

Cox: What was it that gave you the courage to make that move with no exper ence or anything lined up Sherrell: It’s so funny because back then I didn’t realize how I was moving through l fe on fa th I thought it was just me just doing someth ng But that s it! I’m a doer I get an idea and a lot of times have no dea how to go about to get it done and every time it ends up working out The thing s t has never been JUST me

Sherrell (cont n ): I told my g rlfr end I felt like I’ve been mov ng through life on blind fa th She reminded me that it was always fa th and nothing else She said “You’re just n a space now where you truly recognize it ”

Cox: Speaking of faith, how do you keep t when you are wa ting for your next role or you don’t get the role you so badly wanted?

Sherrell: At the end of day we have to real ze we don t have control over anyth ng God s n control of this all and once you real ze that you have the peace to understand that it’s go ng to happen in God’s t me I’m not saying you shouldn t be trying to do anyth ng or make things happen But I was one of those people who was constantly focused on mak ng my career happen based on me I used to think I can make th s happen because I can control this (Laughs) And child that just sn t true

Sherrell (cont n ): This s a journey, and you have to remind yourself to cancel out all the no se Rem nd yourself what God has said And you have to love this craft wholeheartedly and uncondit onally because it’s so incons stent t’s so up and down Once the job s wrapped and you have noth ng lined up, you are back to being unemployed

Cox: Why was this part in writing and directing a new progress on in your career?

Sherrell: It’s because I wasn’t booking and I was frustrated I was tired of sitting around and waiting for others to give me an opportunity to work I realized I can do something about that I can do more! There are ideas I can bring to l fe

By the end of th s spirited conversation I w ll always remember Cameo saying, “Well if you say you want to be an actor just act ” This s a word she leaves anyone who s pursuing the craft left as a rem nder that f you aren’t booking or audit on ng at a speed, you like then create your own stuff so that you can continue to ACT!

Cameo was candid that even though she is moving on blind faith, it’s still a struggle because things don’t always go as planned for her, especially in a tough industry like acting But it’s those times she reminds herself that God wouldn’t have put any of this in her spirits if it wasn’t for her

As she stays the course and waits on God’s timing, Cameo shared that during the pandemic she found a new self empowerment through creating. She started writing scripts, directing her own work, and reaching out to collaborate with others. Though things were shut down and most at a pause, she would not allow that to stop her from honing her craft and expanding it It’s just like when the pastor says God will expand your territory and for Cameo that was going to be an opportunity

MELISSA FREDRICKS

Cox: Melissa before we get into th s book please tell me who is Melissa?

Fredericks: Oh I love this question I m a mother and wife but above all else I’m a woman n th s world trying to figure t all out just as much as the people read ng th s

Cox: From podcast to book writ ng, what was t that led Melissa down this path?

Fredericks: The spark and nterest n the entire conversation of love and relationships started when Kevin and first got marr ed We were lead ng a marriage class at our church wh ch when I look back I don’t know why they gave that responsibility to us We had been married for all of three minutes (laughs)

Fredericks (cont n): One of the first books we actually introduced to the church was The Five Love Languages That was a life-changing moment for Kevin and from not just teaching the information from the book but also what we learned from it This ign ted me on a journey of curiosity to see what else s out there as a resource on what t means to be a wife I wanted to know everything that I didn’t know about being a wife and also love

Fredericks (cont n): The podcast came about after learning more and more about being a woman, wife, and sexy through my research I knew I couldn’t be the only one with a s milar story It started because I wanted to use my platform to share the information that I was learning

Melissa sees herself as both a student and teacher n life A teacher because she has an nnate desire to help guide others and a student because she s continuously learning If you ask her she will tell you she is a student first and teacher second She says that because as a student she learns more to give back as teach ng It’s very full circle for her She says the platform is literally meant for her and Kevin to be both students and teachers of things

Cox: What are some things you saw about yourself as a mother and wife? Many t mes we hear about women los ng themselves when they get married and then when they have a ch ld

Fredericks: I felt like we as women are just natural givers Then when we get to this crossroads of be ng a w fe and motherhood, we lose ourselves giv ng to everyone but ourselves Mothers don’t realize t until after their kids are going off to college I have a woman I’ve met who said after her kids left the home she d dn t really know what to do with her life without the routine of taking care of everyone

Fredericks (contin): When you get marr ed you lose yourself trying to be the wife Then when you have children you lose yourself trying to be married When these two happen then you lose yourself on who you are as a person I want women to know that we have to step back and reevaluate what it means for us to show up as a wife and or mother We go down this road of sacrificing to show up for our husbands as a w fe and as a mother for our kids But the problem is we don’t know how to sacr fice and show up for ourselves

Cox: (Laughs) You make it sound like sometimes women can become the r own Oliv a Pope’s to their family and become the mistress Fredericks: That’s a great analogy because a lot of times you see women doing so much for the family and be ng behind the scenes taking the photos and making sure the dad and the kids have match ng outfits Therefore, I talk about ‘Main Character Energy ’ The moment I stop treat ng myself l ke the mistress to my home and step into being a ma n character Th s is when I found the most fulfillment But only you can choose to step into the main character role, no one else can do that for you

Mel ssa doesn’t want any wife and or mother to look up one day and not know who they are or that they haven t reached their full potential Th s is the one sacr fice she doesn’t want them to make She said t’s not worth it, so they need to start now and get into that Main Character Energy because no one else will

Melissa points out that it’s not necessarily a need for women but the lack of desiring to show up for themselves She wants to encourage them to get that desire and know that they are worthy of sacrificing for themselves as they do for the entire family. It’s time for wives and mothers to redefine what that can look like for them They will always be caregivers and keeping down the house, but they need to understand the importance in refilling their own well after making sure everyone else’s is filled to the brim

We brought the idea/project to audible They loved it and said let’s turn this into a listening experience for people. You know it’s always something new happening Audible wants us to give people something that they could enjoy and laugh at I’m just excited for everyone to listen to it

ACTRESS

Whitley (cont n ): Then you have Shery Shepherd who plays Kym s best friend who is a security guard at one of the big stud os So you know this is about to be a ridiculous comedy You have her boyfriend who is not really her boyfriend He had one R&B h t in the 80s You just have all these comed c characters who come in and try to help her raise this little boy But they are also trying to find their own way in life

The Experience

Cox: This differs completely from your normal form of comedy We are so used to see ng you on the screen and you interacting with people How was it creating this?

Whitley: I would say doing voice work is harder for me I have a very monotone voice and t’s deep I don’t have the range in my vo ce like many actors have when they do voice over work This was hard for me because I couldn t rely on movement When I’m doing s tcoms, I use my fac al expressions to bring the comedy to the scene and that’s what makes it funny

Whitley (contin ): This is all performance I will say voice act ng s not for the weak It really shows f you can act But I was surrounded by some exceptional talent I got to learn from So that’s what made it fun

Cox: Dur ng th s process what is someth ng you learned new?

The Show

Cox: Where did the idea for Kym come from?

Wh tley: We can say the idea s loosely based on my life when I f rst got my son Joshua But it was Lena who saw this as something b gger, deeper and funnier She would always tell me you know your life is funny Th s had been someth ng four years in the making with Lena and when she says she is going to do something she does it

Wh tley(contin ): We brought the idea/project to aud ble They loved it and said let’s turn th s into a listen ng exper ence for people You know it’s always something new happening Audible wants us to give people something that they could enjoy and laugh at I’m just excited for everyone to listen to it

Cox: Since th s is loosely based on your life, what makes t funny?

Wh tley: It s because of the people I m around daily There are so many characters in my life I have always had the most interest ng people in my life because I m so open I think everyone has a story and I bring it out of them And for some reason I don’t know why th ngs are always happening to me There s always something crazy go ng on

Cox: So what journey are you going to take us on with Kym?

Wh tley: It s only 8 episodes under 30 mins each and people are already asking for a second season They are asking because you get invested in these characters And th nk the funny part is you are teach ng people to embrace the unexpected Th s s through the entire show

Wh tley(contin ): I will just say it s a comedy following a woman named Kym She is a stand-up comedian who hasn t made t yet She is part of a big sisters program One sister brings Kym her three-year-old son and says she w ll be back for them

Whitley: That you have to trust the writing Comedy is n the writ ng and I had to rely on the comedy in the words We have a team of talented wr ters who I had to trust and let the words they put on the script just be Because I couldn’t use my normal techniques to make it funny, I had to let their words just land and be funny Honestly, that was a struggle for me because normally I’m always high energy when I m on set and this wasn t the case

Whitley (cont n ): So I had to rely on the creatives Lena would say no K m it’s like this you don t have to push that joke Mark was very helpful Everyone was just so helpful during the production of it all Th s is where I learned my vo ce is monotone and I don t push certa n words unless I’m excited about something

Cox: It sounds like you had to almost start over and learn how to be even more versatile Whitley: Absolutely because even at this stage n the game you can always learn something and I’m a humble person If there s someth ng I can learn, I’m going to learn it I ve done voiceover work but not to this extent or this format It s d fferent and I’ve done cartoon characters I had to learn how to perform for the ears only th s time for a sitcom So you have to be good to get the message across

KYM WHITLEY

FREDRO STARR

Cox: I m excited to talk with you about Beh nd The Gr nd It s a three episode lim ted inspirat onal talk series w th you as the host The guests you have lined up are Sticky F ngaz, Peter Gunz, and Benzino

Starr: Behind The Grind goes in depth on how people like Peter Gunz and Benzino got to that place of success They’ve been in the game for a long time and are cons dered legends What we do with this show is really look at what success looks like Success can take many different forms for people So we wanted to get behind the grind and find out what the meaning of success looked l ke for them exactly

Cox: I love the concept of this because there is this process you all have to go through to reach those heights Many times we don t get to see or even know what that process was

Starr: Exactly! It’s the process and so many people want to go from zero to sixty immediately The most important part of getting from point A to B is the process in between

Starr(cont n): The process is the place that you will hold near and dear to your heart Those are the moments and memories you will remember forever You cherish the hardships you experience in the process because those are the things that get you to the place that you are going to go

Starr(cont n): It’s a long road for anyone n the entertainment industry regardless if you are an actor or mus cian There are so many difficulties we all face t’s never a smooth r de for any of us because there will always be bumps n the road

Cox: I know it s a tough industry because things are built on sales and the expectation of the artist

Starr: That’s true and what ’ve learned throughout my t me s to have low expectations I say that because f an art st says I’m go ng to put this album out and it’s going to go platinum Now if it doesn’t, they can get discouraged and they m ght not want to continue the journey But if you keep your expectations low and your project d it th ill k i d b it d

Starr(contin): I had to learn that the hard way It was an older gentleman n the industry who gave me that knowledge I always put that in my back pocket and that’s my jewel for today (smiles)

Cox: How was th s hosting experience for you? I know you’ve done things sim lar in the past

Starr: Yes I have but this s on a different level This is the level of Arsenio Hall and Montel Williams for me

Starr (contin): But ’ve always had th s ability to talk w th people Before I got nto Hip Hop, I was a barber It actually groomed me to talk to different people who would sit n my chair Mind you I was barber ng at 15 I would have a wide range of people sitting n my chair from gangsters to lawyers So getting that tip at the end of the serv ce you had to know how to talk to them and make them feel good This actually gave me the blueprint on how to navigate in the ndustry

Cox: Off topic but speak ng of barber ng you took me back to you playing Q on Moesha (laughs) Like did they use you as the example for him or was that co ncidence?

Starr: Mara Brock actually asked to know everything about me so that they can put t into the script She said they wanted to make sure that the script fit who I am in real life I let them know what the barbershop and the slang sayings like What s up Shorty, What’s up Son?

Cox: Host ng, rapping and acting you ve done it all People don’t know what t really takes to get there

Starr: What people see is only the f nished product You have to get booked for the job and before that you need to get your foot in the door People don’t see that before someone s on screen, you have to have to go through so many people For example, when I aud tioned for the role of Shorty n Sunset Park the l ne was around the block That goes the same for when I audit oned for Malaki in Save The Last Dance

Starr(contin): So you always have to do your best because there is always someone else that wants that job There is a lot of compet tion out there but you just have to say “Yo th s is mine, I want t, and I’m going to get t ” And you go for it Most of the time if you have that dr ve and confidence t w ll work for you But also if it doesn’t you can’t let it defeat you

There are a lot of nos in Hollywood Put it like this I can go audition for a role and 9 times out of 10 I will not get it But there is going to be that one audition where I get it. So you just have to keep going Even the biggest names have to audition Remember there is that person looking just like you and can fit the part just like you And they want it just as bad as you do So you have to stay FOCUSED!

Make Your Reservation Today Make Your Reservation Today

TRAINER

Beauty of The Week

DANTE ROPER 10.24.22

How old are you?

23

What s your zodiac sign?

Libra

Hometown?

Mansf eld Ohio

Education and current occupation?

I m a fitness trainer, barber, and model

What s currently on your reading l st or podcast?

Two podcasts by J m Rohn & Eric Thomas What got you nto modeling?

I’ve always been shy but people would always tell me I should get into it So I did and now I embrace th s love I have for myself now that I get to show w th modeling

How do you stay in peak shape? What s your workout and diet reg me?

I stay in shape by working out 5-6 t mes a week My diet depends on f I m bulking or shredding! What does self care look like for Dante?

Self care s top tier to me Gett ng my haircut every week, keep ng my nails clean, and making sure my face s hydrated

What s something you wish you knew before getting nto modeling? Are There any dos and don’ts you would adv se others pursu ng it?

My adv ce s be patient, don’t rush it! Your time will come and be consistent n your own way!!

With a growing fan base and platform, what is someth ng you want your followers to take away from following you on your journey?

I want my followers to take away from me is chase your dreams if you really want to do it! I was broke and down for 2 years w th no job chas ng the dream and t’s still not here but I will come!! Be who you would look up to!

MODEL & FITNESS COACH

Beauty of The Week

MARK ALUME 10.31.22

How old are you?

23

What’s your zod ac sign?

Scorpio Hometown?

Born in Ft P erce Flor da ra sed in Tampa

Educat on and current occupation?

Model and Onl ne Fitness Coach

What’s currently on your read ng list or podcast? Currently reading, “Feel the fear and do it anyway” By Susan

Jeffers

What got you into modeling?

Modeling was something I never imagined myself doing growing up Over the years, I’ve been told that I have the look to become a male model, so I gave it a try After g ving it a taste I can honestly say it s something enjoy doing It’s something I want to go full throttle for n the near future

How do you stay in peak shape? What’s your workout and diet regime?

My current diet cons sts of minimally processed whole foods with lots of protein I workout 6 days a week to build and ma ntain my physique

What does self care look l ke for Mark?

For me self care is huge! I try my best to take care of myself spiritually, physically and mentally I take care of myself physically through working out and eating the r ght foods to properly nour sh my body Mentally, I take care of myself by forming healthy relationships and managing stress levels Spiritually, I’ve been focusing on meditat on and prayer

What is something you wish you knew before getting nto modeling? Are There any dos and don’ts you would adv se others pursuing it?

Honestly, I’m just starting out myself and there’s a lot I need to learn I would advise individuals to do their own research and most mportantly be yourself You have to stand out, what makes you unique? Never compare yourself to other people and just have fun with t

We are all about black beauty, what does black beauty mean to you?

Black beauty to me is being comfortable n your own skin and realizing that black in itself s beaut ful no matter the shape or s ze Period

With a growing fan base and platform, what is someth ng you want your followers to take away from follow ng you on your journey?

You can do anyth ng you put your mind to Your life can change at any moment! went from almost 300 pounds to this fit person and completely turned my life around Whatever you want, you can and w ll accompl sh with proper planning and execution

Lastly, what’s next for Mark?

There’s a lot I have planned for my future Especially in the next 6-12 months Keep me close on your radar cause I will be the next big thing

Beauty of The Week

JOSEPH AUGUSTIN 10.31.22

How old are you?

33

What’s your zod ac sign? P sces

Hometown?

’m from South Florida / Broward County Educat on and current occupation?

Bachelor n exercise sc ence and cert fied in personal trainer

What’s currently on your read ng list or podcast? The book currently on my reading is of course “No Excuses” by Brian Tracy

What got you into modeling?

I never looked at myself as a model The opportunity was presented to me wh le working out at a gym A photographer came up to me and sa d “Hey you have this unique look and I would love to do a simple shoot w th you at no cost” That same shoot went viral It was a humbling experience that took place in 2017 and I am blessed to still be able to drop amazing v suals How do you stay in peak shape? What’s your workout and diet regime?

For me to stay in peak shape I don t break my routine I work full body 4 days a week and even invested n a home gym if I’m unable to make it There’s no diet or supplements just making sure I don’t stop the routine that got me the results

What does self care look l ke for Joseph?

Self-care for me s yoga meditat on prayer, and man festation In my free time, I ll stay in and meditate for 10 hours that day in which I am disconnected from the cycle of the world and helps me focus on what’s more important my mental health and love

What is something you wish you knew before getting nto modeling? Are There any dos and don’ts you would adv se others pursuing it?

Someth ng I w sh I knew before getting into modeling would be not all agencies are good agencies When you’re starting off building your brand, be the face of t then work with agencies together and never work for them

We are all about black beauty, what does black beauty mean to you?

Black beauty to me is power and its conf dence from our physique, our demeanor, and our presence when we walk nto a room has a lot to do with nfluencing the world There is nothing like black beauty; it s someth ng that s im tated from year to year Black Beauty is the seasoning on food

With a growing fan base and platform, what is someth ng you want your followers to take away from follow ng you on your journey?

One thing I would want my fan base to take from my platform is to support people and show genuine love It doesn’t matter what level of success you re in If you can help someone to get to your level, help them I grow each day from a lot of helping hands and just always want to return the favor

PERSONAL TRAINER & REAL ESTATE AGENT

Beauty of The Week

DWAYNE LATI

How old are you?

24 years old

What’s your zod ac sign?

Aries

Hometown? London

Educat on and current occupation?

Qualif ed Personal Trainer & Real Estate Agent

What’s currently on your read ng list or podcast? 90’s Baby Podcast

What got you into modeling?

Mostly opportunities that were handed to me and I ended up grow ng a love for it

How do you stay in peak shape? What’s your workout and diet regime?

workout out 5 days a week My current spl t is

Monday: Legs Tuesday: Upper Wednesday: Legs Thursday: Shoulders & Arms Fr day: Full body

What does self care look like for Dwayne? (We love to encourage our readers to take part in self care)

Self-care is the first sign of self-love I love tak ng t me to take care of myself It makes me feel good and gives me the confidence every man should have When it comes to how I look how I dress, even down to my teeth I am big on self-care

What is something you wish you knew before getting nto modeling? Are There any dos and don’ts you would adv se others pursuing it?

Learn how important t is to have a niche and be open to any opportun ty It’ll be the shoot you liked the least that will open further doors Bel eving your brand and stay ng true to yourself Don’t try to emulate someth ng someone else is doing because everyone has the r own lane

We are all about black beauty, what does black beauty mean to you?

We are all kings and queens and the minute we all know our strengths we are unstoppable Beauty comes from one embracing themselves and I love when I see other black nd viduals with confidence in what they do With a growing fan base and platform, what is someth ng you want your followers to take away from follow ng you on your journey? want them to feel as if anything s achievable They are grow ng w th me and I do want to motivate people I do aim to start mak ng more motivational messages to share with them

Lastly, what’s next for Dwayne? Ga n more knowledge Explore the world more and just practice gratitude daily so I can acquire more

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