As a young Black girl, I always admired the women of color in my favorite girl groups.
Eventually, I became fixated on Dawn Richard and D. Woods of Danity Kane.
Since venturing out on her own, she’s continued to enjoy a fruitful music and television career.
Her latest project?FOX’sSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test,an intense boot camp-style reality series.
It’s actually a show in England that has been going on for many years.
I suffered an abusive 10-year marriage, and I’m about six years out of that right now.
How did your mental wellness journey affect your decision to join the show?
I thought about it long and hard.
You’ve got no confidenceyou experience shame, guilt, and PTSD.
But, I told myself,This is going to come full circle for me.
I felt grateful to be given this opportunity.
Everyone’s asking why we did the show, and I have a very valid reason.
The more we talk about it, the more we can take action.
Thank you for sharing.
It’s not easy to share and own your story.
I spoke up in 2015 when nobody wanted to publish my book or discuss abuse.
Now, in England and worldwide, people are talking about it more.
I’m proud of the progression.
Once we discuss it even more, we can put tools in place to help people.
Performing requires a lot of mental and physical strength.
Oh, that’s totally different.
When I’m on stage, I’m there with my four friends.
We’ve known each other since we were 19.
We’ve cried together, fought, and slept in the same bed.
Going into this situation, I’m with 15 strangers.
Ahead of joining theshow,what did your skincare routine consist of?
I’ve always tried to look after my skin.
When working with makeup artists, they always give me tips.
I’m always interested in skincare because it is so important.
I started working on my skin right before the show because [we were filming in Jordan].
I wanted to ensure I had a great sun protector and cleanser.
I recently started usingAugustinus Baderproducts, and my skin is starting to turn around.
But, like with any skin product, you have to use it consistently.
Now, let’s talk about your signature curls.
What products did you use on the show to care for your hair?
My hair’s gone through a real process.
I’m like,I’m a mixed-race girl, and I love my hair.
I ended up with two inches of brittle, broken hair.
My dad is from Nevis, and they have about 40 different types of mango there.
I started creating a serum using them.
I also want to talk about your daughter Phoenix, who recently went viral forrecreating your iconic photo shoot.
How did you feel when you saw the photos?
She’s always going in and out of my wardrobe.
So, I wasn’t shocked, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I’m like, “Is that me?
Oh my god, no, it’s my daughter.
She looks good.”
If you could give your kids a piece of wellness advice, what would you tell them?
My advice to my kids is to be kind to themselves and look after themselves.
You’ve got one body, so treat it well.
