Beauty queens are not known for their candor. Models aren’t known for being relatable and reality stars aren’t known for being low maintenance. The consistent theme between beauty queens, models and reality stars is the ideal of a beauty that is untouchable; Claudia Jordan is none of these things and yet she is all of these things. The essence of Claudia Jordan is a culmination of unexpected extremes that don’t always come in the same package. It’s what makes her presence impressive but has created challenge in what to do with that presence. We aren’t accustomed to the pretty girl, being the smart girl and the outgoing girl and the friendly girl and, God forbid, the funny girl — those qualities aren’t available together, they usually come a la carte.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Jordan’s mother was from Italy, her father a soldier in the U.S. Air Force. The two met while he was stationed in Brindisi, Italy. Later the family relocated to the States, allowing Jordan to enjoy all the perks of a middle-class childhood on the East Coast. She was beautiful, she was athletic, she was social and yet it was obvious she didn’t quite fit in.
The irony of being a star athlete and constantly being encouraged to model was lost on Jordan. Track and field was her life and she enjoyed the energy that came with conditioning and competing. Although pageants played a distant second among her priorities, Jordan earned several titles, including Miss Rhode Island Teen US, and 1990 Miss Teen USA, and competed in the 1997 Miss USA competition where she placed in the top 10. “Pageants were always a means to an end for me. I was never into all the extra glamour that comes with that. I’ve always been a simple girl at heart,” Jordan says.
Her authenticity beat out hundreds of other career pageant competitors and eventually led to modeling gigs, which led to music video appearances and commercials for major brands such as Pepsi, Coors Light and Visa. Jordan’s model looks and competitive spirit worked well for her during a stint on Donald Trump’s “Apprentice.” She was a fan favorite and although she wasn’t the winner for her season, she was asked to come back for the All-Star version of the show. Along with her stint with Trump, until recently Jordan was most recognizable from her former weekly radio show on Sirius/XM Radio on Jamie Foxx’s The Foxxhole, titled “The Claudia Jordan Show.”
Years later we meet Jordan and little has changed, she is still beautiful, a member of one of the biggest franchises on reality TV, an in-demand host and has several beauty endorsement deals on the table, but when compared to many of her peers; she still doesn’t quite fit in.
After joining “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” last season, Jordan found herself thrown in the midst of a scripted, estrogen-laden drama, and pitted against several longtime “RHOA” cast members. In addition to “RHOA,” Jordan joined Radio One’s syndicated “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” as a morning co-host while moonlighting as a correspondent on CNN’s Headline News. The new kid on Atlanta’s hot scene, Jordan’s intro to “RHOA” clashed with her position at Radio One. But through it all she remained authentic, which may be her biggest flaw.
“I was scrambling around in a new city trying to get settled, while being taped and, of course, that led to scrutiny. Many times when people said I didn’t look polished on camera, the truth was I wasn’t. I was working sometimes 10-12 hours straight before being taped for ‘Housewives’ so lashes and having my weave tight wasn’t always my top priority,” Jordan admits.
While some of the critics might’ve been harsh on Jordan’s less than glamorous appearance, she learned quickly not to take the criticism to heart. “Sometimes you have to take inventory of the people that are criticizing you and then you can understand where it’s coming from. I’m honest about who I am. I’m the girl that will get ready in 15 minutes if I want to go somewhere or do something with friends. I’m never going to turn down an opportunity or miss an event because my nails aren’t done, or because I don’t have a designer dress to wear. I’m more about the experience than the look of it. But on the flip side of that I have a lot of fun. Life is too short to be worried about things that don’t make memories, besides that, whatever happened to natural beauty and letting people see the real you?”
Seeing behind the MAC makeup isn’t something viewers are used to seeing on any of the “Housewives” franchises. Her inability to assimilate into the drama of the stereotype is something Jordan realizes is a difference of opinion, yet another thing that separates her from her cast mates and perhaps other colleagues. “For me, beauty is not an ideal that’s cookie-cutter. I know it sounds cheesy but it can be those really subtle things. The way a person’s lip curls up when they smile or the glimmer in someone’s eye when they are laughing. One of the biggest compliments I get is that I make people feel better. That makes me feel beautiful.”
The seventh season of “RHOA” ended with rumors of Jordan being fired, some even went as far as to allude that it was over her refusal to bow down to “RHOA’s” diva-in-charge, NeNe Leakes. “I don’t know how many times I have to say that I wasn’t fired. I’m still under contract with ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ it’s just that’s not my only focus. I don’t know what my role for season eight will be, but as of today, I’m still a part of the show. With reality TV it’s about what you have going on in order to make good television and, of course, that changes sometimes.”
Reality shows attempt to depict all the aspects of cast members’ lives. Jordan admits like many women she’s struggled with balance in the area of her life that reality TV would’ve loved to have highlighted in her storyline, finding a leading man. “I’m always single,” she jokes, but quickly admits she was disappointed with a recent romance that went sour. “I’m attracted to integrity. I want protector, a leader. I want someone that would be a great teacher for our children. Everyone that knows me knows I’m a sucker for killer abs, but I know that I need balance.” Until Mr. Right shows up, Jordan says she refuses to settle because she is enjoying her life to the fullest at the moment.
Her career has been a high-wire balancing act, using her looks to get people to see her comedic timing in order to get an opportunity to show she can speak to a number of subjects. Whether or not she’ll have a peach is of little priority to Jordan at this time. She has several projects in the works, including a sports talk show she is producing herself. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. Sports is my passion and always has been. I’m a former athlete; I ran track and field, my father played basketball, my brother is an athlete; it’s in my blood. I have so much respect for athletes because I know what it takes to be successful,” she says.
In addition to her upcoming talk show she is working on several TV projects, including one with her BFF, Demetria McKinney. She starred in three movies over the past year and plans to spend more time in L.A. pursuing both film and TV opportunities. “My all-time dream is to play Jane Kennedy in a movie on her life,” she says.
In addition to the TV and film projects underway, Jordan is joining the ranks of many of her colleagues and is working on creating a brand around her name. She has a line of Italian handbags currently being developed, and has a new skincare line on the way. She was also recently tapped to be the face of a new hair extensions line for a company based in India.
Regardless of her future on “RHOA,” Jordan says her best days are ahead and she is excited about the possibilities.
“For years I’ve been waiting on someone to give me a job, because of everything I’ve been blessed to do over the last few years I now have the opportunity to create jobs for myself and others. I’m thankful for that,” she affirms.
While she may never be the one-dimensional glamour girl the industry embraces, Jordan says she has reached a place in life where she is at peace with who she is and what she brings to the table. “I know who I am and what I enjoy and that’s enough for me. Do the critics or social media thugs get to me sometimes? Absolutely. I’m human, but at the end of the day I live my life in a way that I believe would make God and my family proud. I’m honest,” she says.
