When I interviewed model Erica Mena for VIBE.com, I had no idea that it would lead to my first TV appearance. Technically, I’ve been on TV before if you count web TV where I’ve hosted segments or gotten interviewed, and even random appearances on the news as a kid for whatever program I was a part of. However, this was my first time on a major network actually being featured. It’s definitely something that was on my bucket list and that I will hopefully do again–but better. Yet over all it was an interesting learning experience.
Back Story:
I interviewed Erica Mena for VIBE.com shortly after the super trailer for VH1′s Love & Hip-Hop was released. At that time, most people saw a brief clip of Kimbella and Erica engaged in a vicious fight and wondered who the heck Erica was because she was a pretty face entangled in a brawl. My boss, Datwon Thomas, was good friends with Erica and figured that she would make a good interview. I reached out and Miss Mena had no qualms about speaking her mind. Little did I know, my interview ran as the girls were still taping the show and it sparked more beef. That’s when I got a call from Mona Scott-Young about recreating the interview for TV. So, what no one except for the parties involved knew was that the interview was taped so that viewers could have a frame of reference for what the heck Kimbella and Somaya were talking about. Peep the interview, along with more insight to how it all happened after the jump…
The title of this post is ironic considering that my name is “GangStarr Girl” and that I originally started this blog as a way to showcase female talent, particularly in hip-hop. But it’s true. I’m over music. I don’t want to be but it is what it is right now. I’ve been in the entertainment industry long enough to be effectively jaded. Growing up, I was a music hoarder. I loved listening to different genres and finding tunes that made my ears swoon. I loved listening to music as I leisurely created collages filled with pictures that inspired me (they’re called vision boards these days, thanks to Oprah). I grew up when CD’s were hot in these streets and I amassed a huge collection, like, ridiculously huge. Back in high school, a performing arts high school (the Fame school) where I was a vocal major, my good friends and I couldn’t wait to go to Disc-O-Rama, Tower Records or Coconuts after school to get new music for cheap. We bought music by artists we loved, of course, but we weren’t too good to browse other sections, even the world music section to see what else was hot or what had potential.
It’s obvious you need full body strength for successful pole dancing and as a result, no two people can grasp the same moves in the same way. Because we all have different strengths, weaknesses, body shapes and flexibility, what may work for one person on their first attempt may not work for another until their 10th.
Enter The Jade (pictured above). I did it, er, some semblance of it on my first try (*faints*).
I did a lot of traveling for work this year. Most of it was visiting movie sets or going to press junkets but one of the best trips was when I went to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. I was invited on a press trip by Sin City’s public relations board so that they could show us a good time and in exchange we’d write about the experience. This was my second visit to Vegas but it was absolutely nothing like my first. The first time I went was in 2007 and it was for work. I was fashion editor at a website that won’t be named here (bad blood) so I went to MAGIC. That was a cool experience but I didn’t stay at a Vegas hotel or get to see the strip. That trip was a whirlwind of parties and checking out the next season’s clothes.
When I first started pole dancing in February, I looked at the teachers as if they were these mystical all-knowing pole gurus because they were so good at the craft.
But recently I realized that they were human. I know that sounds like a memo from Captain Obvious but when you’re new at a craft as hard as pole, the people who are really good at it can have an awe inspiring affect on you, and it’s even more awesome when you interact with said individuals and see that they are humble and still learning also.
I’ve never been that girl who was planning her wedding since she was five. I was perfectly ok with whatever direction my life took romantically, whether I was married or not, but then I met the love of my life. Once we figured out that we’d like to get married we talked about the possibilities of eloping or doing a City Hall quickie yet this was still theoretical.
He proposed on August 26 and now that the idea of getting married is real, everything has changed. We’ve opted against City Hall and have decided to do something small that we can afford so that we’re not starting a new life in ridiculous debt.
The ironic thing about the pole dancing sport is that the standard shoes we wear (when we actually do wear shoes) are technically stripper shoes, despite the fact that the athletic pole community is trying to move away from the seedy association with The Player’s Club. However, in defense of stripper heels, they actually enhance certain moves and struts but it’s just an interesting observation that I made when I realized that buying shoes for pole actually made me blush.
I started poling in February and never had to use shoes until last month, when one of my most recent pole workshops was strictly dedicated to choreography. We did a lot of strutting and used feminine shapes that looked better in 6 inch heels so I finally went to purchase my first pair (pictured above). I also decided that since walking in normal high heels can be a bit of a challenge for me, I better start getting used to dancing in the super high heels if I want to start performing anytime soon (again, shoes aren’t always necessary but sometimes they are).
Buying shoes is usually always fun and mindless, meaning that I know what I like when I see it but that’s when I’m shopping in stores like Macy’s, Forever 21 or online for Jefferey Campbell goodies. Yet when I entered Pleasure Chest on West 4th street (luckily with a friend), I felt like a giggly school girl.
I told myself that I would write every day, even when I didn’t want to…even if it was a sentence. It’s rainy and retrogradey and sucky outside. But such is life. Despite the gray, be inspired and still choose a happy day. *Taking my own advice*
That looks a little worse than it is but I did mention that pole dancing comes with random pain every now and then. I have a strained wrist from possibly doing a push-pull spin. I can’t find a video for it but it’s exactly what it sounds like–one arm is pushing the pole while the other arm is pulling as you spin your body around. It’s also known as the Carousel or the Peter Pan. People who pole know that it’s a wrist killer. In this case, I didn’t even realize that I was hurt until after class. I guess I was on an adrenaline high during practice.
But I’m a trooper. Growing up, I injured my wrist a lot dancing so this is nothing new. Plus, I don’t baby my injuries but I take proper care at the same time so the healing process will hopefully be fast and smooth. It’s much better now than it was a week ago. I haven’t completely lost use of it but it still hurts so push pulling won’t be happening for at least another week or two. Such is pole life…
By the way, people have been asking me where I pole, I go to Shockra Studio. I’ll talk about this place in more detail soon.
When smart, dynamic women brunch, amazing conversation happens. I attended a brunch back in the spring that was curated by Dash Harris of Venus Genus. We had a candid discussion about what women really want in a relationship and things we’ve learned along this way on this bumpy journey called life. Watch, enjoy and chime in.
