It’s been quite a year for Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Antonia “Toya” Carter. They’ve just returned with season two of their highly rated BET reality show, “Tiny & Toya.” On the popular series, they demonstrate the resilience and perseverance they’re known for, inspiring viewers to balance family and business and most compellingly, bridle their fears, frustration and anxiety when facing adversity and significant others serving jail time. Tiny’s significant other, superstar rapper T.I., recently transitioned from a halfway house and back into the studios to reclaim the throne as rap’s “King of the South.” The equally talented rapper Lil Wayne, Toya’s love interest, started his one-year jail sentence at Rikers Island last month.
Although during our visit the unpretentious celebrities were surrounded by fashion and hair stylists, publicists and assistants, they couldn’t contain their excitement for the possibilites the remainder of 2010 may have in store for them. The smiling bombshells emerge from their dressing rooms sporting frizz-free, straight and shiny tresses that cascade well past their shoulders, and immaculate pastel-colored manicures. No doubt, they are the work of the nail technicians at Tiny’s Nail Bar. After poring over more than a few outfits, they shimmy into a little black dress (Tiny) and tattered jeans (Toya), and killer heels, to pose for the ro cover shot.
They’ve managed to step out of the shadows of the high-powered artists who fathered their children. A natural optimist, Tiny has a daughter, Zonnique Pullins, 14, and two sons with T.I., Clifford III, 5, and Major, 2. The rock-solid Toya, has one daughter with Lil Wayne, Reginae, 10. It’s a re-emergence for Tiny who first gained fame in the ‘90s as a member of the R&B group Xscape and a prime opportunity for Toya to brand herself and establish her own identity — one that is not defined by her association with her first love.
The ladies, who affectionately refer to one another as “T,” are confident that they will leave fans with a lasting impression this season. They reprise their roles as the show’s executive producers and promise to remain open and keep it 100 percent real and unscripted. Both are connected human beings who deeply care for their families. On the show, Tiny shares tender and endearing moments with her father, Charles, who’s battling Alzheimer’s disease, while anticipating exchanging nuptials with her boo. On the other hand, Toya is determined to help her mom on her journey to recovery from drug addiction and works in time to find herself.
Drawing from life’s experiences, the mature and spiritually grounded ladies exemplify how self-confidence and faith can strengthen and heal.
Were fans pleasantly surprised with the tone of the show in the first season?
Tiny: They were very surprised. They thought it would be a lot of shopping and [Toya and I] talking about our children’s fathers. But we are just doing us … trying to get businesses off [the ground]. It wasn’t how people had stereotyped it. They were inspired and got a lot out of the show, it is very positive.
Toya: It was something totally different from what they expected.
Some people confuse celebrity with drama. Has anyone ever suggested you be more dramatic?
Tiny: T can tell you that I was kind of nervous [before the first show aired] because we didn’t have any drama.
Toya: She would say that they are going to think our show is boring. At first, when we were doing interviews, prior to season one, people would ask, ‘Are we going to get any drama?’ We would answer, ‘no.’ After watching the show, kids were inspired, touched, and they always tell us ‘Thank you’ for sharing our life stories with them. It tells us that you don’t need drama to [procure] high ratings.
How do you manage businesses, relationships, kids, etc.?
Tiny: One day at a time. I have a lot of help. I have a nanny. Tip’s sister is at home with me, also my mom and his mom help me with the kids when I am working. When she [pointing to Toya] needs to do something, Reginae can always come with me.
Toya: We keep our kids grounded. We stay on them all of the time. We have a good relationship with our kids. We are open with them. Because they receive negative [comments] regarding their parents, we try to protect them. We can only help them so much. We talk to them about everything. Since OMG [the teen girl group in which Reginae and Zonnique are members], things have been a little challenging.
What should mothers refrain from talking about with their daughters?
Toya: You should talk to your daughters about everything. Believe it or not, if they don’t get [information] from you, they are going to get it from someone else. It’s worse coming from others; it is better for kids to get [information] from their parents. It’s better to have an open relationship. I put a little fear in my daughter, so she is afraid to talk to me about certain things. T tells me to lighten up on her sometimes. I am trying a new approach because that is my only daughter. I was a young, teen mother and dated her father at very young age. I don’t want her to follow in my footsteps, but I realize I can’t put too much fear in her because I don’t want her to ever feel like she can’t come to me when she starts liking boys or [wants] discuss her circle of friends. Since I tried [Tiny’s] approach, she is open and talks more about different things.
Tiny: My daughter is a little [reserved]. I keep talking to her and pressing her.
How did you come up with the idea for OMG Girlz?
Tiny: My daughter always liked to sing. I asked her if she wanted to get back into it, and she said ‘yes.’ [I suggested including] Reginae and my best friend’s daughters, who’ve been a part of our lives since birth. Keisha [Miles], my partner at Major P, suggested we try to do something with them. [Major P is a production and management company].
How do you avoid being overly aggressive when it comes to managing their careers?
Tiny: I am typically not overly aggressive. If we’re recording in a studio with someone else, I keep the kids straight. I want them to want to [perform]. I don’t want to push anything on them. They are kids, so sometimes they lack [proper judgment]. I push them to stay on task.
Toya: This is pretty new for my daughter. Since she was [younger], she has always acted. Then she decided she wanted to sing and dance. She wants to be the rapper in the group and catches a fit about it. She wants to sing and rap, but doesn’t want to be [accused of mimicking] her daddy. It is natural for her; she was born with that talent. But, I am real aggressive about school.
Have your dreams changed since you started the reality TV show?
Toya: My dreams have changed. Two years ago, I didn’t think about doing a television show. I thought about writing a book and doing something with fashion. Then the TV show came about and left me inspired. I started realizing new things that I loved. I have always been afraid of failure. Ever since the show, I have pushed myself into doing things that I never thought of. I have always wanted to write a book, now I am going at it full force. Starting a nonprofit organization was never a goal — that came with growth.
Tiny: I knew I wanted to sing when I was younger. I did it. Now that I am doing the TV show, the dreams have gotten bigger. It is time for me to go for it. Back when I was singing in a group, it was four of us so we had to share everything. This show is about Tiny and Toya, not about Xscape [the collective]. We are individuals.
It’s great that you are able to work on your own projects and also collaborate.
Toya: It’s [her] own thing, it’s my own thing. It’s harder when you are working with a group of people. [There are] more headaches. My daughter is involved with OMG, so [Tiny and I] can come together for that project. The friendship will always be there. We don’t have the type of relationship where we try to outdo one another.
Tiny: We can come up with ideas and bounce them off each other because it’s just the two of us.
What do you want to overcome?
Toya: Procrastination and fear. When it’s really in my heart to accomplish a goal, I finish what I start.
Tiny: Procrastination and disorganization. I am used to not being forced to do something. I have millions of ideas. The ideas are flowing, but I am not always acting on them.
How do you press forward?
Toya: One thing I never do is [have regrets]. I learn from [situations], pray about it and move forward.
Tiny: I always think positive even when something is tearing me up inside. I think, it is going to work out and that’s what keeps me going.
What are some words of wisdom you want to share with fans?
Toya: Don’t let people stereotype you based on your circumstances. Don’t let your past interfere with your future. The sky is the limit.
Tiny: Stay focused and don’t let anyone sidetrack you or tell you what you can’t do. Be strong.
Tiny and Toya have started their own nonprofit organizations. Tiny’s is For the Love of our Fathers, an Alzheimer’s foundation, and Toya’s is Visual Beauties, an organization that helps underprivileged kids.
