Have you guys been watching Blood, Sweat and Heels on Bravo? I know the internet and social media has had a lot to say about this show as well and it hasn’t been too favorable. Some say it doesn’t put black women in a good light. Others say the show is about media professionals in NYC but how come we aren’t seeing the ladies at their jobs. When it comes to TV, I look at it as entertainment. And only entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t believe television characters are supposed to represent society and change the world. Besides, if TV shows didn’t have any sensationalism, we wouldn’t watch it. Right? And reality shows aren’t any different.
Last Sunday, I was invited out to a Blood, Sweat and Heels viewing party at Suite 36 in NYC. The event was hosted by Melyssa Ford. The place was packed, the music was bumpin’ and the vibe was right. (Is Suite 36 always this live on a Sunday night? *takes mental note* ) Several cast members came out to support Melyssa. I did observe a few things. I noticed some of the cast members sat across the room from each other and didn’t speak. But that’s all I’m going to say about that. This industry is so small and you know the streets be watchin’. LOL.
I did have the opportunity to interview Melyssa about her new career and what advice she would give girls trying to follow in her footsteps.
What has reality TV been like for you?
Melyssa Ford: I have to thank my circumstances for having already been in the entertainment industry, so I was kind of prepared for it. I was prepared for the invasion of privacy. I was prepared for the renewed interest in my professional and personal activities and endeavors and what not. So, I was prepared for it. It’s been fantastic. I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. That one is new.
This season on the show you’re dabbling in real estate now. How is that going for you?
MF: It’s going really, really, really well. We are not suppose to reference time. But everybody should know that this was shot a little while ago and at that time I had not sold a thing. Since then things have drastically changed. I’ve transacted more that $2 million in real estate in my first 6 months. So everybody…I’m doing OK!
Are you going to stick to real estate?
MF: What I hope to serve as is an inspiration to anyone, both man and woman, who is thinking to make a career shift later on in their life, and I hope to be able to show people just how it is done or just how I went about doing it. Because I’m no way in any shape or form planning to be an expert but I do know a little something about it because I’ve lived through it. So I can show you and be a voice for the ups and downs and the expectations. And, I am sticking with it. I’ve found a sense of ambition inside of me that has been “dorming” for a very long time and I love it.
Who on the show do you bond with most?
MF: The honest thing is, I can see a little bit of myself in each one of them. And I’m so used to having to deal with so many different personalities that I find it easy to…somebody describe as the glue. You know? Because I seem like the one member that doesn’t really have conflict with anybody. And that’s not manufactured. That is how I am in my real life. I really actually don’t like conflict all that much. So whenever my friends have a rift, I’m the first person trying to get them back together.
Did you know any of the cast members prior to joining the show?
MF: I knew Demetria very well. Demetria and I are friends for quite awhile. We started doing the speaking circuit during panels, and we just develop an enormous amount of admiration and respect for each other that way and became friends. When we found out the two of us was on the show, because we didn’t find out until the very last minute, she called and she was like, “Yo we got to hook up!” I was like, “Tomorrow!” and so we had a little download session so she could tell me what had been going on because I was the last one added to the cast. So she knew everything that had transpired and was giving me the dirt.
What is your advice to girls aspiring to be a video vixen?
MF: I tell them that the year is 2014, and stop the madness. Like seriously, like it was a different time. I would never.. me, myself, would attempt to be a video girl right now. I just wouldn’t. If I was 22, I just wouldn’t. You know? Back in 1999 when video budgets were a million dollars and you could command a certain kind of paycheck depending on your popularity and there was a lot more respect for the business then yeah. Absolutely! But not now. Not now. And no one really looks at it as a stepping stone because as I can attest the stigma is so ingrained in the public’s way of thinking and referencing video models, you just don’t come out without dirt underneath their fingernails. No matter how good you are. No matter if you’re like a nun. It doesn’t matter. You will be judged. So I don’t condone it. I just don’t. As a true stepping stone towards the entertainment industry, I just don’t. There is no correlation. NONE!
Was there anything about doing a reality show that you didn’t expect?
MF: Nope, I expected everything. I mean I watch enough reality TV to know what looks manufactured and scripted and what is like “WHOA” no one saw that coming. You know? And I’ve watched as reality TV has evolved over the years going from contestants and elimination based reality shows like ‘The Bachelor’, that kind of stood the test of times. Because ‘Flavor of Love’ and ‘Take a Chance at Love’ and all that other stuff…but now where it is there have been no surprises. Other than the fact that Mica’s father got sick and died, which is so horrible but it’s one of those circumstances where it sets the entire season off. You know? It’s so mind boggling and incredible. You never wish something like that on somebody. But you know.. and the way she is handling it, is definitely part of the controversy. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to be apart of any other show other than this one.
I know you can’t reveal much but are there any surprises that we should look out for on the show?
MF: What you guys got to watch out for is me, Demetria and Geneva are on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ as well, after this episode. And that one was good. Basically what you’re going to see is how we all work through the conflicts of all the relationships. Right now you guys are seeing a lot of conflict between Demetria,Geneva and Brie against Mica. What people are also aware of is that there is conflict between Demetria and Daisy. So you are going to see all of these things unfold among other things.
A lot of reality shows have the fighting and bickering. Do you feel as if this show is different and takes the high road from all of that?
MF: The truth of the matter is, none of y’all would watch if we weren’t bickering. Come on now? Like seriously? If we were all holding hands singing “Kumbayah” you guys would turn the channel. So stop the madness, and stop calling us ratchet because we happen to have very impassioned disagreements with each other. We are very ‘tained’. As Rose and Geneva said, “we throw shade not bodies.” Because we don’t feel like we have to stoop to the lowest common denominator in order to get our point across. We are very smart, savvy women. We use our brains and we have some zingers in us. Like that is what entertaining, when you can use your vowels and brain in order to manufacture a smart come back. In some people’s cases insults. But you are not hurting or harming anybody. Security is not jumping in. There were no security guards on our site…let’s just say that. Because they knew we weren’t going to do that.
Speaking on being smart and savvy, a lot of reality show celebrities have branched out into other careers, do you see anything in your horizon? Any aspirations to take it to the next level and use this as another stepping stone?
MF: I am the queen of leveraging my popularity from one area of entertainment to the next. That’s Business 101. You really have to get a firm grip on dominating one section of entertainment and then using that as leverage to capitalize on other opportunities. And the one thing that I have always wanted to do, and two of my cast members have already done, is to write a book. Everyone is like, “Melissa, Melissa write a book, write a book.” And I’m like, “Yeah, I’m going to get around to it.” My girlfriend was like, “If you are 40 and I haven’t written a book, I’m never talking to you again.” I was like, “Alright.” So, I got to get to that. I have some opportunities in my path in regards to that. Real Estate is a huge undertaking for me. It’s something where whether not I have this show, I’ve got real estate. So as far as I’m concerned it is my #1 priority. My day to day priority. Most people can find me at my office on a Monday, Wednesday or a Friday and even sometimes on a Saturday I’m there. So I will definitely capitalize on opportunities that makes sense. Let’s just say Melissa is not going to put out a rap album. That’s not going to happen. Opportunity has to make sense.
On the show, we see you struggling with budget and finance. Has that changed?
MF: Girl…No! You know what? I’m lying. It has changed. I had my paycheck over to my business manager immediately they take out my taxes and immediately they pay me a meager salary and then the rest is “squirreled” away. He’s like, “You’re not touching it, forget it’s here. It’s not for you and I forget about it. I don’t even think about it. So you know I live pretty simply. I just focus on work. I go to work every single day.
How is it working a 9-5 everyday? Is it different?
MF: I was looking for the structure. I was looking for a regimented kind of structure day to day because just like the inconsistency of work you find or do not find in the entertainment business was like giving me anxiety and it was driving me to therapy. So I really was looking for something that I could hang my hat on in terms of a job or and occupation where it is not necessarily about my popularity or looks, it’s about hard work, dedication and merit and to be able to see your efforts. And that’s what real estate do for me. The day to day. From my 9 to 10 am arrival to my 6pm chunking them up the deuces. I love it!
Can I just pause for a second? I really didn’t know what to expect from Melyssa. I don’t consider video vixens to be the sharpest tool in the shed. But let’s just say Melyssa Ford proved me wrong. She is so intelligent. It was such a pleasure to interview her.
Have you been watching Blood, Sweat and Heels? What do you think about the show?
4 comments
I really like this show and feel bad for her at times because you can tell she’s an intelligent woman. It must be hard to break the stereotype of her past as a “video vixen” ie model. I wish her the best of luck in her endeavors!
Great interview. Melyssa comes across very well on the show. I don’t think there’s any shame in her past carrier and I respect her for reinventing herself. I think its a lesson we all can learn from.
I don’t think her career was shameful either. I’m all about getting coins however you can.
I must admit this show is one of my guilty pleasures and Melissa is right that drama is the main fuel behind any reality show but I wish they would have shown more about their careers. Women do more than just bicker so I would have liked to have seen more than the fighting.