Glam Squad
Tiny
Makeup: Deevetkeio
Hair: Shekinah Anderson
Kandi
Makeup: Saisaha Beecham
Hair: Paula Britt
Story by: Jacinta Howard
Images by: Hannibal Matthews for Steed Media Service
Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle are giggling in the makeup room before their photo shoot. As they exchange playful barbs, surf the Net and talk business and fashion, it’s obvious that their bond extends beyond the frills of fame and reality of TV. It’s real, and it’s spanned nearly 20 years.
Although both of the former Xscape songbirds have found a new level of fame with their hit reality shows, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Tiny & Toya,” they each remain decidely down to earth. Maybe that’s the reason their shows are No. 1 on their respective networks — they’re not simply egotistical reality stars, but easily relatable women who are going through the same things most of their audience is — from breakups to rearing their kids and struggling to maintain a sense of balance in their hectic lives.
Kandi, who is prepping to drop her new solo album in October (with features from Gucci Mane and Rick Ross among others) and Tiny, who is about to officially open her new upscale nail shop in an Atlanta suburb, are both fearless women with no qualms about sharing their experiences with the world.
Even so, their busy schedules haven’t kept them from making their friendship stronger than ever, and what’s more, it hasn’t deterred them from accomplishing their individual goals. Love them or not, they don’t really care. Just trust that they’re keeping it real.
Why’d you guys decide to get into reality TV?
Tiny: Well, we had been discussing doing a talk show at first, it was four of us and that idea went over well and then they came to me and said, ‘What about a reality show?’ So I considered [it], played around with it a little bit, and this is what happened.
Kandi, you were initially supposed to be on Tiny’s show, right?
Kandi: Basically, Tiny kind of put the whole reality thing in my head or whatever, but after that, things didn’t work out. They didn’t want me; they only wanted Tiny and Toya [laughing]. It’s all good though, because everything happens for a reason. The following week I found out they wanted me to be part of ‘The [Real] Housewives of Atlanta,’ [and] they reached out to me. It was just a blessing. Everything happens the way it’s supposed to. We both do our thing and we both support each other.
How much of what people see on your shows is real?
Tiny: My show, I think, is a very good representation of me. We look at the footage and we say what we do not like and we’re able to help put our points in if we want to change something. There are some things that I would like to change, but for the most part I think it does a good job.
Kandi: Well, that’s the good thing about your show, is that you get to be a boss and tell them what you don’t want in there. Our show is definitely real, but we don’t get to tell them nothing about what we don’t want in there. They set up time to tape us so many days throughout the week and whatever they catch on camera is what they keep. All the arguments and beef[s] [are] real, terrible but true.
It takes a lot of courage to have cameras taping you and people judging you. Do you struggle with being vulnerable on camera?
Kandi: I feel very scared about how things are going to come off on-screen or what people are going to think of me after they watch the show. People always knew us for our music or songs we wrote for other people, you never really got to see me or my family, or how I am with my daughter. Now you get to see everything, so doing reality TV you’re putting people all the way into your life. But sometimes that can be a good thing, I think that was a very good thing with you, Tiny, because now everyone gets to see why T.I. loves her so much.
You guys have been friends for years …
Kandi: Yeah, since we were about 14.
What’s the main thing that’s held your friendship together?
Kandi: We’ve had a lot of ups and downs but we always stayed tight. We even exchanged blows one time, and we were laughing at each other five minutes later. I think we have the ability to say what we feel and then be done with it. We don’t carry it on — that’s a great quality to have. Some people aren’t like that, but Tiny is very, very good at forgiving stuff.
Tiny: I’m too good … I’m gonna change it.
How have you guys been able to maintain financial stability over the course of your professional careers?
Kandi: I’m the money savvy one of us two. She likes to spend, I like to save [laughing].
Tiny: That’s why this is your question.
Kandi: We’ve been in the industry a long time, like 16 years. But to be able to maintain [means] living below your means, quit trying to keep up with the Joneses. A lot of people we started out with who were selling millions of records, they forget that that don’t last, so they’re spending crazy money, not realizing that 10 years down the line they need to be saving up. We don’t have regular jobs where you’re going to have retirement, unless you set those things up for yourself. I take care of my mom, my daughter; I help out a lot of other family members. I’m one of those kinds of people that people lean on. I don’t mind doing for everybody else, I just have to make sure that I’m able to. I try not to spend unnecessary money.
All right, let’s switch gears. What do you do individually to keep things spicy in your relationship?
Tiny: I just love my man hard. I’m gonna go the limit. That’s my best friend, that’s how I keep it. I keep it close.
Kandi: I think people should get tips from Tiny on how to keep your relationship going. I can’t say the same; I don’t put enough energy into it. I’ll love you to death in the beginning, but then you do one thing wrong and I’m ready to just drop-kick you real fast.
Tiny: It’s over.
Do you buy lingerie from specialty stores?
Tiny: I buy a lot of panty and bra sets, that’s my thing. I don’t buy a lot of lingerie because they don’t want to see it but for so long. It’s like ‘oh, OK, now take that off.’ I buy a cute panty and bra set, it’s sexy and you don’t need nothing else after that. But if I am going to pick up something, I go to Frederick’s [of Hollywood].
Kandi: I don’t do lingerie either.
Tiny: I sleep in his T-shirt.
Kandi: Yeah, I’m more of a T-shirt and my panties on [kind of girl]
What’s the best thing a woman can do to make up with a man after an argument?
Tiny: Just be sweet, come back and cater to him, ‘you need this?’ or ‘you need that?’ Then even if they’re mad they’ll be like, ‘she’s being so nice’ and they’ll have to eventually lighten up.
Kandi: I’m so not the person to have a big argument in a relationship. I’m a very nonchalant person. I may not even argue half the time, even if you’re getting all riled up about something. If I feel the way I feel about something, then whatever you’re saying doesn’t even matter to me. I’m not going to be begging you to see it my way. If you don’t, cool, I can head on out the door. You may not agree with me on this, but the person who cares the least about keeping the relationship is the one who controls it.
What irritates you about the opposite sex?
Kandi: I hate when guys try to put on too much. It irks the hell out of me. I had a guy lean over in my window the other day, and put his watch in my window. Really? I’ve dated plenty of dudes with that same watch. That irks me.
You’re both fashion-forward, where do you like to shop? Which cities have the best stores?
Tiny: Of course I like Vegas; they have a lot of great shops. I can shop on Rodeo [Drive in Los Angeles]. Italy is nice for the shoes. I buy my bags from all over.
Kandi: This goes back to the earlier question about money because you like to spend and I like to save. You’re not gonna see me tearing down Rodeo Drive unless my man is paying for it. But [Tiny] can get ‘whatever she like’ [laughing].
Tiny: A hot shoe and a hot bag will take you a long way.
Tiny, tell me about your ring.
Tiny: All I know is that it’s a new ring, and I don’t know how many carats it is, but it looks like a lot.
What’s going on with the nail shop?
Tiny: It’s coming. It’s in Stockbridge, [Ga.], right around where I stay. It’s going to be nice, it’s opening up in maybe September.
If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
Tiny: I’m a procrastinator. That’s what I do. I know I need to work on it and I’m trying.
Kandi: I speak before I think sometimes, and sometimes it comes out the wrong way and hurts the person’s feelings.
