Words by DeWayne Rogers
Photos by Kawai Matthews
Shoot PA: Djeneba Aduayom
Stylist: Ashley Sean Thomas
Hair: Boogiesecrets.com
Makeup: Keesh Winkler-Smith
There was a time when the greatest challenge for model and TV personality Toccara Jones was to effectively change society’s long-held perception of the acceptable size and shape of a supermodel. Jones made great strides on that end, making waves as a plus-sized model during the third cycle of the Tyra Banks vehicle, “America’s Next Top Model.” Having successfully scaled that obstacle, she now finds herself attending to a more personal matter …
Love.
For as much as Jones has always held the banner high for personal appreciation and self-love, she has embarked on a different type of journey with TV One to find a potential soul mate. “The Ultimate Merger” is the title of the endeavor, and the stakes this time around are that much higher. Now, instead of choosing the right role for her career, Jones must now intensely weigh her options, in order to find a potential life partner.
We caught up with the vivacious top model in Los Angeles, where she not only shared her secrets about choosing the right mate (no plot spoilers here), but she told the story of a woman focused on always staying true to herself.
Let’s jump right into it. How excited are you about “The Ultimate Merger” show?
I’m really excited. I can’t wait to watch the show. I haven’t seen it yet, so I’m waiting for Aug. 4 just like everybody else. There were a lot of things that I didn’t get to see, like what the guys were doing behind the scenes when I wasn’t there, so I’m looking forward to seeing [that].
Were there any apprehensions? Or were you all-in from the start?
I was definitely all-in, and I just basically wanted to prepare myself before the show began. I knew that I was going on a show where I was looking for a connection, and looking for love. But before I could begin my search for a partner to build something with, I had to take the time out to work on me, and to get myself together — and just really be in a place where I could accept someone new in my life.
So what did working on you entail? What did you feel like you had to work on?
I had to work on just loving me and being OK with me. I wanted to clear out my thoughts, and get to a place where I could begin the next phase in my life. So I took time to work on me mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally because I can’t love anybody else if I don’t love myself first. I’ve always felt like you can’t be a good woman if you don’t know how to treat yourself. So I took a couple of months before we went into taping, and focused strictly on loving Toccara and being happy with Toccara.
Has it been hard to find happiness under the intense scrutiny of Hollywood? Did the pressure of the spotlight ever get the best of you?
Um, no I don’t believe I let it get the best of me at all. When I moved to Hollywood, I came with my little sister and eventually brought my mother and my father. I also had friends who kept it real with me, so I always had a good support system. Along the way, I was always me … I was always Toccara — the girl from Ohio who wanted to be a supermodel.
Hollywood seems to be full of leaches and opportunists. How important are values and a support system?
Well, I’m just going to give all of that back to God. When you put out good energy, and you listen to your instincts, good things will happen. We all know right from wrong, but sometimes it’s a learning process because everyone out here is not going to have your best interests at heart. You have to learn how to cipher through that by using your best judgment, and using your common sense. Thankfully, I’ve been able to do that.
What would the present-day Toccara tell that bright-eyed Toccara who moved to Hollywood with her sister? What would you teach her based on what you’ve learned along the way?
I mean, I think that girl did a good job. I would just say, ‘Keep going baby, keep following your dreams, keep believing in yourself, and keep going.’ I think she did a great job, so if I was talking to her right now, I would just be supportive.
Let’s talk about image, and let’s talk about being in shape. How important was it for you to take control of being in shape?
Well, I have a workout DVD called “Toccara’s Fabulous Workout For Real Sized Women.” To me, I just think it’s important for us to be healthy, and to just be mindful of how we treat our bodies. I mean, I don’t want women to feel like they have to be a certain size or look a certain way, I do want them to be comfortable with who they are. That’s what this DVD is really about. It’s about looking at yourself and saying, ‘this is who I am, and I am going to be the best me that I can be.’ So I’m focused on encouraging women to be happier with themselves, and to develop better lifestyle choices along the way.
So give us the final arguments on why people should tune in to the premiere of TV One’s “The Ultimate Merger” on Aug. 4?
First of all, ladies, I’ve got 14 men on this show — all different races, different backgrounds, and different experiences. I mean I can’t have them all, so [there are] 13 left. Tune in and take your pick.
Tune in for “The Ultimate Merger” Thursdays at 9 p.m. on TV One.
