Meelah Williams dishes on “R&B Divas”
Meelah Williams, the sexy songstress and the “voice of 702”, is taking to television to spill on her solo career and personal life. The classy chanteuse is one of two new cast members on TV One’s “R&B Divas Atlanta” and will share how she navigates the southern city’s music scene alongside LaTavia Roberson, Syleena Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Angie Stone and Monifah Carter.
Before this belle makes her TV One debut on Wednesday, April 23 at 10 p.m. EST, she dished to rolling out about what fans can expect to see this season.
Check out our chat with Meelah Williams below. -danielle canada
What have you been up to since your 702 days?
After our last album, I took a break from the music scene and did some background work writing. You can really get lost and lose a sense of who you are are as an individual; so I was trying to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become as an individual, as an artist, as a young lady. I ended up having a son; I’m a mommy now and I’ve been raising my son. That’s what’s been taking up most of the years when I’ve been M.I.A.
On the show, you detail your son’s autism. What made you decide to share that?
It was definitely a hard decision. It was not one that was made overnight. Even showing him at all [was a hard decision]. After seeing other parents at therapies that he goes to and at the hospitals we’ve gone to, my heart went out to these parents and all these babies who are going through similar, if not more extreme situations as Zachariah. I felt compelled to share my story because it’s not an easy walk. It’s not something that you can do without being overwhelmed or emotional at times about it. I felt like sharing it with the world would help me get parents with special needs children to open up and not be ashamed. It’s also been very therapeutic.
Considering that you have such a positive image coming from 702, what made you decide to risk that and do reality television?
I don’t know, girl! I really just wanted to utilize the platform. It definitely wasn’t an overnight decision to do reality TV. It was a moment to face my fears and take a stab at it. I feel like it’s like artists that come from my era; it’s a second chance to reintroduce ourselves and catapult our careers. Why not? I’ve seen what it’s done for some of my industry peers.
What do people in your personal life think about you doing reality TV?
For my mom, it’s bittersweet. She’s happy I’m back working again but she’s [also] like, ‘I don’t know because all this reality TV seems like a bunch of messy women, and if they mess with my baby …’, she is ready! I told her that I’m not gonna be fighting, I’m not gonna be throwing bottles, I can hold it down. My sister’s super excited, my son’s father [Musiq Soulchild] is super excited. They know that I have wanted to sing again.
Who do you bond with the most in the cast?
I got the opportunity to do this with my good girlfriend in real life, LaTavia from Destiny’s Child. We’re both the new cast members this season. She and I bond the most naturally because we’re friends in real life. I like everybody; I don’t have any problems with anybody. I’m pretty easy to get along with. I’m pretty cool, but if I had to say someone I would say Monifah. We go back to when 702 was out and about. We would do shows together.
Are you working on your solo career?
I’m working on my own solo material. Hopefully I’ll have an album done by the end of the season. If not I’ll be sure to release some singles to give the fans something to groove to. I also have a track with Musiq Soulchild that I may release; it’s a good love song. Everybody loves a good ballad.
Twitter: @ItsMeelah
Instagram: @ItsMeelah
Facebook:ItsMeelah
