NENE LEAKES: Reality Star Makes it Onto Hollywood’s ‘It’ List

Glam Squad
Wardrobe Stylist: Shun Melson
Makeup Artist: Parra Thomas
Hair Stylist: Elijah Cohen/Creations by Elijah

Leakes is wearing a ruched, pink and burgundy Dolce and Gabbana cocktail dress.

NeNe
Leakes didn’t set out to be a reality star. In fact, when we met more
than 10 years ago, she confided that her dream was to be a Hollywood
actress. Fast-forward to 2009 — she’s evolved and her tastes have
changed. Having made the strategic decision to coast on the reality
television bandwagon — which is responsible for record-breaking ratings
and keeping prime time TV interesting for the past decade and a half —
Leakes is credited for the phenomenal ratings of Bravo’s wildly popular
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” series. At press time, the “RHOA” held the
No. 1 spot in the network’s “Real Housewives” franchise, averaging 1.5
million viewers. Leakes’ appeal derives from having the fortitude to
overcome the drama that comes with befriending self-appointed divas.
She’s also undaunted by the personal criticism from bloggers, radio
personalities, media outlets and the detractors who were simply upset
that they didn’t get the callback from casting agents.

When we met, Leakes was pregnant with her younger son, Brentt, and she
and husband Gregg had become accustomed to taking daily walks through
the neighborhood. (A model at the time, Leakes was intent on keeping
her figure intact after childbirth.) My daughter regularly babysat for
the Leakes so that they could enjoy their date night. (I was a single
mom and the extra money helped).

With Leakes, the personality you see on television is the person you
get behind the scenes. “I am the realest housewife,” she vaunts. Not
really. She’s a big pushover, although that side of her has yet to be
revealed on the show. The slow to anger housewife allows a lot of
slights and digs to be hurled her way before she reacts. She bites her
tongue when she needs to — but that’s sometimes too often. Which
explains why the sharp tongue-lashings she gave a couple of cast mates
were such provocative crowd pleasers last season.

Even
when the situation is out of her control, the fiery Leakes isn’t one to
succumb to the misery — not even when cast mates depict her as
self-pitying and conniving. In fact, it’s her humility that fuels the
fire and competition. Leakes says, “Likability and niceness take you
further. I am a very humble person. If I see you on the street, I speak
to you. Fame and fortune elevates who you really are. If you really are
a b—-, fame and fortune is just going to make you a more noticeable
b—-.”

When FOX News conducted an investigation into her husband’s business
affairs amid reports of her home being foreclosed on, she retreated.
She was careful not to allow her celebrity status to harm 19 year-old
Brice and 10-year-old Brentt’s standings with their peers. She
endeavored to keep them out of the spotlight. “With celebrity, there’s
always drama. I never knew that the show would bring the type of drama
where someone would want to investigate me, my background, or what I
have done or am trying to do. Nevertheless, with any negativity that
comes into my life, I am always strong. My husband and children are
private,” she says. “They would much rather be out of the spotlight.”

We witnessed her rise like a phoenix at a pivotal time, when she
received the emotionally devastating news that Curtis, the man she
believed was her father, was not. “We currently don’t have a
relationship, which really saddens me. I know he’s hurt by the news but
it’s not my fault. I reallly miss him but I haven’t found the strength
to call him. It hurt me, taking the DNA test and finding out he wasn’t
[my father] was like a slap in my face. I am not saying she [her
departed mother] lied to me, but somewhere along the line, maybe she
got her dates mixed up. I am not sure. I think I know who my father is
now, but you will have to watch this season to find out what happens. I
think we’re on the right track,” Leakes says.

Leakes
admits that even though bloggers have given her a hard time, she
praises them for steering viewers to Bravo to watch the show. “I
understand that bloggers have to keep readers by posting negativity.
Show a little love. Keep a girl in the public eye. As long as they are
talking, you are still working. I am not worried. But at the end of the
day, I don’t give a damn what you post. When they aren’t talking about
you — get worried,” she says.

“I hosted the ‘Today’ show, which was an excellent opportunity. How
many of us my color, are invited to host the ‘Today’ show?” she says.

Leakes recently appeared on the “Wendy Williams Show,” and was a guest
host on Atlanta’s No. 1 urban radio station, V-103. But her greatest
aspiration is to have her own talk show. “It will be a cross between
‘Oprah’ and ‘Chelsea Lately.’ I want it to be a little fun. I would
like to have a panel like ‘The View’ with maybe a man thrown in there,”
she says.

The vivacious Leakes’ resounding laughter fills a room. When inquiring
about her aversion to body odors, she responds that she’s creating her
own fragrance. “I am working on a fragrance called Independent Woman.
Buy it — [two finger snaps] — smell it!” she says.

Like a true star, she’s branding herself and entering the literary mainstream. Leakes will release her first book titled, Never Make the Same Mistake Twice,
in August. In the book, she shares personal insights on the warning
signs of an abusive relationship, which she experienced in a previous
relationship. “I am a huge advocate of ending domestic violence. I am
the founder of the Twisted Hearts Foundation that helps women in the
community. This past Mother’s Day weekend, we had a high heel race to
raise money for the foundation,” she says. The race was held in the
exclusive St. Marlo Country Club community in North Atlanta where she
is a member.

“Tell your teenage girls to watch out for the first signs. There is
always a first sign that you try and push to the back of your mind. The
first sign in my relationship that was abusive was a gun. He actually
laid a gun down on the counter. I thought it was cool. If your
daughters are being snatched, told that they can’t speak to their
friends or talk on their cell phones, those are signs that she is in a
potentially violent relationship,” advises Leakes.

“As
far as the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation goes, I feel everyone
should forgive Chris Brown. He’s young and has made a huge mistake. His
actions in the future will determine whether or not we should forget.
Domestic violence is real. It changes lives,” Leakes says.

Careful not to talk about this season’s odd casting with yet another
single “housewife,” she’s mum on the details about “RHOA’s” second
season, which starts July 30.
I still inquired, with fingers crossed, hoping she would offer a
glimpse of what’s to come. “Watch and learn baby,”  she says with her
usual high-spirited confidence.