Keep it Positive, Sweetie - The Chapter of Gratitude w/ Ciara

Episode Date: August 24, 2025

In this unforgettable episode you get an honest and vulnerable look into the life the one and only Ciara. She is GRAMMY Award-winning artist, entrepreneur, wife, and mom and we are still trying to figure out how she does it all. Ciara opens up about living her life in chapters, with this season being one of gratitude. Join us as wee dive into love, faith, and family. This episode is inspiring, joyful, and full of gems you’ll want to replay again and again

Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazel, and this is the Keep It Posit Sweetie Show. Hey, sweeties. In this season, I have been so blessed to have conversations with people who I've been impacted by. People who have grown up watching and admiring, and today is truly going to be special. My guest today is a wife, mom, artist, actress, philanthropist, just to name a few. Kemp's family please give a very warm Atlanta welcome to Sierra. Hey, Sierra! How are you? Amazing. You look amazing. Thank you so much. You look beautiful too. Thank you. And thank you for coming. Oh my gosh. Let me just say, in all my years that I've done interviews, I have never seen what I just saw happen before we start our interview with J.B. Yeah. Yeah. Praying before an interview. Yes. That is amazing.

Listen, we keep God first and everything. Amen. Yes. I love it. Thank you. No, that's, that's, that's. one of the things in everything we do we always make sure we pray yeah it's the best way to kick off the day it is no for sure so I want to start with a little story time so just a month ago two months ago the top of June BT Awards we were at BT Media House and they're like Sierra's coming we're gonna get you an interview with her I was like oh my goodness Sierra's coming so we see you come my little booth is right next to Angie Martinez's door so I was like all right guys I'm not taking any interviews so like as soon she comes at the door we're

gonna grab her so you come out and they're like she has to go to another interview and i got a quick picture with you and it was so cute actually drew a shot that it was a really beautiful picture of us and um i was like it's okay we're gonna it's something else is going to happen god has something better in store and i really wanted to interview that day and now i have you here and that's just how god works so i was like god always be looking out i was like come on come on come on i know and we're in Atlanta my hometown your hometown yeah so this is great i love it and dipples had hit me and kai was like kai's been on here and she was like you You got to get Sierra like y'all are perfect for each other.

Y'all have the same brand. She loves God. You love God. She's like, she's so positive. It'd be perfect. And then Dembo's hit me and she was like, we're going to do it. And I'm like, yeah. No lie.

Before you came in, they were like, are you nervous? And I was like, yeah. No, it's amazing, man. But you have so much going on. You are busy. You just had the second, you opened your second, you had your second annual Sierra Day. and then you opened your second Why Not Center. Yeah.

That's like monumental. No, it's amazing. So technically, it's my first time actually celebrating this holiday or this special day that the state and the city, you know, granted me. And I got to give thanks to Falana Williams because she really spearheaded that. And I've known since I was a baby. At one point in time, she's my manager. Really?

She's known me since I was like literally when I got signed to ERISA, she was a sign of my project. Wow. So 20 plus years ago, because 21 years ago, my album Gooddies came out, so it was before that came out. So I noticed I was like 16. Wow. Or 14, 15, so anywhere, somewhere in that place, 15 to 16. Yeah. That's when I met her.

And so, no, it was amazing because Russ and I, we've always had a vision with our Y Not Youth Foundation. And we have a big vision to do a few things, right? And one of those things were to create centers for kids. Yes. And we've been very fortunate in our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club that we're able to put Why Not You Centers in some of the Boys and Girls Club. So we start off in Pittsburgh last year. And then we both said that we have to make sure we have the Why Not Use Centers in the places where we came from. Absolutely.

Because, I mean, for me, you know, I've always wanted to get back to my city because I feel like the city has given me so much. And, you know, Atlanta is a city that made me. You know, so my, like, next tier of, like, growth and, like, leveling up is, like, giving back in my home. town so yesterday was just the start of that on Sierra Day and it was to me it was the best way to kick off a day like that like I really want you know every time that I get a chance to to celebrate this day I want to make it a day of impact and it was so sweet you know giving the kids at the Boys and Girls Club our why not you center and dance hall and you know there was the dancers that came there and they

were the first months of dance in that space and all the kids that go to the boys and Girls Club. It was just so much great energy. It was so beautiful. Like I was so touched and moved and just so thankful to God that we can do stuff like that. I want to do more and more of it. So that was beautiful. That's amazing. You mentioned impact and that is actually the whole theme of this season for the podcast because we inspire people, but what impacts are we leaving? So I love that you are literally putting action behind your words and doing that. That's so dope. I love that. But you also have a new album coming out entitled Cece, a new single with Lotto. Yes.

So what, you have an album called Sierra, what was the emphasis of Cece now? Well, you know, it's my nickname. And a lot of my fans have called me Cece over the years. And my family obviously calls me CC. And I feel like when someone calls you by your nickname is personal. Yes. And so I just, I have a special connection with my fans. And my fans are really the reason why I am where I am today, you know,

especially being an independent artist and running my own label. That is the most vulnerable place you can be in. And you really don't know what's going to be like in those independent waters. And my fans have showed me the power of, you know, who they are and what they mean and our relationship dynamic, you know, when I kicked off level up and within one click of a button, you know, my song was crazy viral. Yes. And it's one of my most viewed videos to date.

And I'm so proud because it's mine. Like I own that song. I own the master. Oh, come on Sierra, yes. Yeah, so on this album, I just really want to, it's like the chapter and season of gratitude for me. I kind of live my life in chapters, you know, sometimes you have transitional chapters. Sometimes you just have, you know, I just do life in chapters. So this is the chapter of gratitude for me.

I love that. And I just wanted to simply say thank you to my fans. since I also had been, when I started this project, it was in the form of an EP, and there's songs like how we roll on there, and ecstasy, they've gotten a little taste of that. Yes. You know, but I had, and also, What's Up,

with featuring Buster Rhymes. So I've been putting out songs like that, but I've been putting out songs along the way. And it's like, okay, let me just stop giving them one by one. Let me just give them this body of work. And I have these amazing songs that I've been sitting on and also creating, and now it's time to complete the whole project. So I'm super excited about this album.

It's a lot of energy, a lot of fun. My goal is always to make the world dance. And to hopefully give inspiration, whether it's in love, whether it's in life in general, whether just want to feel good and just, like, have fun, like, all that's on there. Yeah, I love that. You talked about ownership and owning your master's and owning the song. When you were actually in the studio doing level up, did you realize, like, that you really had a hit and it was like, this is going to go.

Did you know instantly? I knew the song was a smash. I really believed in it. It's funny because I was pregnant as I'll get out with my daughter, Sienna. It's like the story of my life. I was pregnant here, I'm pregnant, yeah. But a lot of great things happen when I'm pregnant, apparently. Absolutely.

No, I remember I was carrying Sienna and jamming out with my friend Tiran. I love Tiran. Yeah, who doesn't love to run. She's so amazing. Shout out, Tiran, he's amazing. What's a gun? With Tehran, you know, we've known each other for years. We've had great success together.

And he and I were in a studio, and I was like, he had said to me, he was like, C, see, there's this song that's like going crazy in the club. It's called Eff It Up. I don't like, person. But he was like, it's the F It Up Challenge, and it's just like going crazy. And I'm like, he's like, I want to play it for you because it could be super cool. So he plays it for me. He was like, you know, to be a good inspiration.

And I was like, he's playing. I'm like, oh, that's a vibe. And then I started saying, like, level up, level up. But I knew at that point, when we were creating the record, I wanted energy and I wanted to inspire through the song. But I was very intentional about every line. Like, we really walked through every line together for make sure that, like, every detail was buttoned up

and really helping us tell the story because that was the place that I was in. But I knew when we finished that song, that it was special to the point that when I went to the label that I was signed to at the time, because I was in a traditional label, a traditional deal at that time. I went to the,

and it was a new CEO I had to represent to, which is never fun, right? But you're still optimistic. Yeah. So I went to present to him, and I'm like, there's a song I have, or this is the song I have called Level Up.

This is the visual. I had the visual as well that I had. Oh, you were ahead. He's like, yeah, I love that. Proof of concept and everything. I said, like, this is, da-da-da-da. Like, I think the song's going to be the next, you know, big song for me, blah, blah.

And he literally looked at me and was kind of like, it just fell on, like, deaf ears, like flat like he just was like okay like very like just tonal like you know flat tone yeah and he didn't see what I saw and that was like unfortunate in that moment but it was like one of the biggest blessings in my life because literally like that one day I had was like one of the most unfortunate days but the next day was the one of the best days because I decided I'm going to start my label but I knew that that song was special and I've had moments in my life and in my career from the very beginning, whether it was goodies or one-two-step or just certain songs,

I'm like, this is going to be the song. And in most cases, I've been right when I felt that. So I did believe in the record. I love that. In that moment when you're in that conference room or in his office, what did it feel like to be Sierra, the acclaimed artist that you are, and for someone still not to believe? And be like, oh, my gosh. You know, you know what it does?

It, like, helps you, like, it motivates me when people do that. you know like I feel like okay like you you're gonna wish that you wouldn't have said no absolutely yeah you know that you're gonna wish that so it really motivates me you know when that happens and it's life like its perspective I think some of the best of the best are always going to get someone's going to try to knock the best of the best down you know and that motivates me too when I see people that inspire me and I see how they persevere through people saying you can't yes you know or saying it's not possible it's like Like, okay, we're going to find a way to make the impossible possible.

Like, that's always my mentality. But I really believe, that's why I always tell people you have to believe in yourself. You know, because if I didn't believe in myself in that moment, I would have been so discouraged and I would have given up. Right. And, you know, I also say proudly, like, at that time, it was like I really became a big girl. I became a big girl really young in this industry because you have to be. But I really was like, I felt so vulnerable.

I'm like, oh my gosh, like I don't have this big system that I'm used to being in. like, what's that going to be like. But, you know, like I said, it's one of the greatest blessings in my life and in my career, and I feel more empowered than ever. And the funniest thing of all of that is that when I had, you know, when we weren't seeing eye to eye, I asked for my master's back, and he gave him back to me for free.

Like, that's how you know. Come on. He didn't believe. Yes. But it's like, okay, God, you got me. Like, I'm a trusted thing. And I'm like, thank you because I'd have ethos costs. right you know exactly thank you so much that's the one good thing he did do you know but yeah no it's

it motivates me though when that happens and um yeah it's it's a good thing sometimes when it happens no absolutely um going back to goodies like young sierra to having your own label now and it's beauty marks entertainment yeah i absolutely love that that's amazing um what are some of the lessons that you learn to to get to the point where you're like you know what i need to start my own label Well, I think the greatest thing is numbers. Like, I'll just keep it simple. It's numbers, and it's the ability to create, you know, how you want to and when you want to. Like, the way that we get to flow right now is so fun because if I have an idea, I can express it right away.

If I want to, you know, share something with my fans right away, I can click the button versus having to go through a whole, like, process of, you know, approvals. Because not everyone's going to approve, they're not going to like what you're doing. They're not going to approve it. And honestly, at points, I was investing into myself, but I wasn't reaping the full benefit because of the back end part of it. Right. And that is real. Like, you know, when you're young and you, like, I'm living my dream.

I'm getting to like, you know, do this thing I've always wanted to do. You don't think about that stuff. Right. No. And then what happens is when you're like, you're like, you get to do a number check and you're like, wait, I thought that there was going to be way more in my bank account than that. And it's like, oh, wait, do the math. You have to pay your manager.

You have to pay your accountant. You have to pay your lawyer. You have to pay, you know, all your invoices, you know, all those things. And then you have to do taxes. And then after that, you're like, wait, what the heck? Right. Like, hold up. Like, wait a minute, math ain't math.

And like, I'm blessing my butt, right? I'm giving, I'm sacrificing so much. And, but I'm not seeing the full benefits of my labor. And that's real, like, and that's what really motivated me for the chapter, again, chapter of ownership. Ownership became significant for me because that's where, you know, to me, your true financial and wealth success is on the economic side of life. Yes.

You know, so that matters. Like, you know, I hope, you know, when I look back years later, because legacy is everything, right? That's the one thing that I really work hard to protect. And again, like when you're with labels, sometimes they don't have the same passion to protect your legacy like you do. No. Right? And so that's important for me.

But I hope that I can also do something that hasn't been done even within my own family legacy, right? It's the extension of wealth for our babies, right? You know, and that's like my mentality. Like I'm working hard for that. I'm working hard. So when I'm in a certain place in my life, I'm going to say mid-50s, I'm going to say mid-fifties. I ain't got to hit that matrix no more unless I want to. You know what I'm saying?

I'm going to hit the matrix to the bank. Okay. So what are we working for, right? It's like I got goals that I'm trying to get to. And at some point you want to work, you know, smarter, not harder. Yes. That's really, you know, a big part of my, like, baseline perspective on how I approach business and life in general.

So it was a combination of all those things that motivated me. and I'm so glad that I took the risk and allowed myself to be uncomfortable and, you know, I'll never look back. Yeah, I love that. I love that. From the outside looking, and you talk about somewhere in your 50s, you won't have to do the, you can pick and cheese when you do the Matrix, which is so funny. From the outside looking in, most people look at you, like, why are she still going so hard? You know, because you got it made in the shade. We're looking like, she got the husband, she got the beautiful children. You know, it's like, some women would just be like, yep, I'm done.

I'm just going to take care of these babies, but you still go, what is that push besides the legacy that keeps you going? It's my passion for what I do. I love being an artist. I love performing. I love traveling the world and, you know, meeting my fans and meeting new people and, you know, learning different languages. And, you know, I have an appreciation for what God has blessed me to do. Yes. And that is to be an artist and plus all the other things that, you know, that I'm fortunate to be a part of.

It's that like heartbeat. It's like that, that beat. Like it's a, it's a beat that's like, it's like, it's like to the beat of your own drum. Like it's a, it's a drum pattern that I feel like the things that I'm doing, like it's feeding me. Like it's like music movement within itself, you know. And so those are the things that I, I love. doing they fill my cup they are part of my identity yeah right and so I'm I'm so blessed like I'm not gonna you know front like it's a blessing that I get to wake up

every day knowing that I'm doing exactly what I want to do like if that's something I could wish for every person in this world or anyone is that you want to do what you love because the truth is that when you do what you love you never work a day in your life right and or if that's how it feels and I think it's like I see Cs sets goals Like I said goals, right? And I'm trying to achieve those goals. So that's a big part of my motivation too, right? And I just feel more empowered, you know, the little more of my plate in life.

Like I love that, you know, I get to go from the stage to the classroom with my babies, literally. I was performing in London. It was like, I don't know, almost 30,000 people. And, I mean, that was, like, insane. I love that London showed me was amazing. But literally the next day or like the after. After I left London, I was humble, and I was in that classroom, like, okay, what do I need for the kids? They need this, this, and this, and this.

Wow. You know, and then Russ has football. I like being there for him. Like, these are blessings. All them are blessings. Like, I said, I was like, listen, we ain't stressed out. We blessed out. I know, that's right.

You know, so, like, it's perspective, you know, but I just love what I do, and it's a big part of my identity. And I think that as women, especially, you know, you have to fill your cup. You have to do things that, you know, that feed you what you need. And these things feed me. Yes. Now, is there anything else like in your downtime? Because you have so many things going on. You're an artist.

You're an entrepreneur. You have skincare line. You have a spirits line. You have so many different things that you have your hands in. How do you balance it all with the children? Oh, my gosh. And then taking time for Sierra. What do those moments look like when you're like, okay, this is my time?

Or do you even get that? So I'm actually trying to master that a little better because I do sometimes take greatest hit within my schedule right in reference to like me time yeah but schedule is everything i was literally just talking to dimples on my team and i was saying i want to walk through how we're going to do a couple of promo days so we can stack some things because i'm like i got to give myself for a little room to breathe yes but i'm so hungry you know it's the drive like i'm hustling right now like and there's something that's really fun about it but also life is important too yeah so i really do try to master by my schedule like I schedule you know whether it's like and again sometimes you go

off the beating path but it may be like these four hours of my time with my kids yes okay then after that I have two calls and then after that I go do you know to the gym or and then after that I go to date night with Russ like my days I get to like schedule them even the personal time so that way I'm also intentional with carving out the time right if I don't have a schedule then it's like we're just kind of, what they say, willy-nilly, like we just kind of freestyling. And that's when it gets really crazy because before you look up, time passes you by.

And sometimes, like, you know, I do really master of being punctual with my flow. Like, I'm just efficient. And I'm also looking forward to date night. I'm looking forward to just blocks of time to put my phone down and be with my babies. Because I have to. But I would recommend to any mom,

schedules you know yeah that's like a game changer yeah yeah I don't have children but my life is I have to like at nighttime I kind of go through everything I have to do and then even like the insular things that I have to kind of pencil in between my mandatory things I had to put it all in the schedule so in the morning I can look at and be like okay got it this is what I got to do yeah exactly it's game changing right it is that structure and the intentionality of making sure that you make time for what's important yeah and you know what I'm trying to really master excuse me I'm trying to master rest come on Sierra yeah because rest is so vital

and I never knew I needed rest until like these stages at this stage or in my life we gotta get rest you know sleeping is vital for like health I I have gotten sick twice within the shortest time frame that I ever have I'm like okay now okay God now I hear you Lord And then my body, I hear you body.

So I need to make sure I like, you know, do that too because your body gets to recover. Your body can like endure everything when you're grinding, you know, trying to work on building my immune system. Like all these things are vital. So I'm really trying to like level up my rest. I'm trying to level up like my immune, my immunization or, am I saying that right? My immunity, like my care. Yeah. I'm trying to make sure I'm like doing these things that are going to also feed me too.

I really want to master, like, resting. That's so good because our industry has this whole mentality to sleep when you're dead. And it's like, no, you're going to die if you don't sleep. That is true. It's big facts. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So we don't want to be. Now, are you like a night type?

I know in the studio, a lot of people work better, like, in the wee hours of the morning. I'm not like that. I have to have, like, daytime hours. When you're recording, when do you normally in the studio? I used to do the wee hours. I actually did we hours last night. This is the craziest thing. I came from Africa.

We traveled for 17 hours. I landed. I went to go to do the Boys and Girls Club for the Why Not Youth Centers. Then I went from there to a podcast taping. And then I went from there to the studio. And we were up to like almost 1 o'clock in the morning. Sierra. The 2 o'clock, she said, 2 o'clock in the morning.

It was like not. So that's like an abnormal night. Okay. But I did that again because I knew, okay, today I'm going to come see you. And then I'm going to, you know, have the rest of my, I have like a couple more things I have to do in this day, work-related. And then when I get home, I've got to go into mommy.

Yes. And also hubby, wifey mode, you know? So I had to, like, I'm being strategic. Again, like, my babies aren't here. Russ is working doing this thing. Okay, now mama can, like, grind it out, you know? But normally I like to work early. So, like, if my kids are at school, I do student.

When I was young, I didn't do that. I work to the wee hours. But now it's like, take the kids to school, studio at 9 o'clock, which is so, like, crazy how life evolves like that. No, it is. But I'd like to try to get my heavy stuff out the way early in the day. That's good. It's so important.

And I go, we get so caught up in, like, just loving what we do that we forget. Because, like, it's, literally it's feeding us. It's keeping us away. And it's like, oh, I haven't slept. I need to eat. Even eating. I need to eat. I need.

Yeah. Yes. And I love to eat. Me too, girl. Oh, my gosh. What's your favorite food? Oh, my gosh. Okay.

So, I always sound blexican, because, you know, black and Mexican. I love Mexican food. I'm also Malaysian. I love Asian food. Yes. Those will be my top two cuisines and also Italian. Italian's my favorite. It's fire.

Yes. And I love carbs. Like, help me, Lord. I need a master that to you. I swear, I feel like every meal deserves a carb. And that's just not the way to live. So I've got to work on that. I got to work on that.

But I love eating. It's just, it's so fun. Like, eating is like, you know, it's community. Like, it's, you know, it's, it's just everything. Yeah, no, it really is. And I'm from Atlanta, you know. Southern. Yeah, we do everything with seasoning.

And butter. Yeah, butter, lorries, all that stuff, you know. So it's kind of what I, how I grew up. Every Sunday was like Thanksgiving at the church. Yeah. You know, and like every other day it's like Thanksgiving. So it's just in me. Yeah.

I do love food. You love food, but your body is always tea. How? Oh, thank you so much. Yeah, it is tea, honey. Okay, I try. Okay, so after my baby girl and more, my last baby, I have, I still haven't gotten all the way back to my base weight. And at one point of time, it's funny because I weigh the same weight as Russ.

Oh, wow. Yeah, so I gave them most with her. And it's, honestly, it's hard. But I will say this. What I do try to do is moderation. Yeah. stop when you're full and it's hard like when food is good it's hard to stop yeah but moderation is key right so sometimes i realize i went a little too crazy yeah let me like dally back this

evening i try to eat just fish and veggies like but i have to literally talk to myself like don't do it don't do it like that's how bad it is like it's really bad i hear that voice and i don't list i'm like girl shut up oh my gosh yeah exactly don't do i did it you're right yeah you know and also tons of water Like when you're training, you know, I did this thing with my nutritionist years ago and he did a body mass index calculation on me, checking your muscle mass and like all these different things. And he gave me like the water ratio versus like my weight and all that stuff. So when I'm trying to come down, like sometimes I'm drinking a gallon and almost a half

when I gain like 75 pounds, right? So it's like you're just being mindful of like your water intake. Those things matter. But moderation. Yeah. When you're thick, and you look amazing. Thank you so much. To wait for a baby a more.

Yeah, thank you. I was like, this girl looks so good. But I knew you were thicker than normal. Was there every moment where you looked in the mirror and was like, or were you like, I see you girl? No, I ain't going to lie. I loved every step of the way. Good.

And you know what it is? I got to give my husband some love because Russ really made me feel even more like, okay, I'm liking my curves. I'm like, put a cup on it, kind of thing. You know, because he was like, he tells me, and he's like, don't you get too, crazy because he likes my hits you know so that makes me feel good right it's like that stuff you know can like give us ladies a little okay absolutely she cute okay we can we can appreciate these

extra little you know grips uh-huh or you know grippers whatever we want to call it um so um no it's really sweet and and i think there's something too about like where you are in your life like i love having a little more on me yeah you know i've always been a little smaller but i I like it. I like how the jeans fit me. I'm liking it. You look good, yeah. No, I saw it and I was like, Cece is looking good.

Thank you so much. No, for sure. You just gave props to your husband Russell. You guys are a couple goals. Like, everybody, all the women are praying your prayer. Oh, my gosh. I was like, when she comes, I need her to pray over me. Oh, my gosh.

This is so funny. You both have your own careers, your own lives. How has it been managing the relationship and now having an affect? family but still like you're doing your thing and he's doing his thing how do you guys what are those conversations like all right babe we got to how do we keep it together yeah communication is really important and um you know what's really great is that with him doing football his world is more structured yes my world i can kind of like plan around his world so that is like you know I would say as a blessing and the dynamic of what we do and we're just really big on like you know

communicating like he knows my schedule like he told me my schedule back sometimes before I can even tell it myself. You know, but we're really, you know, lock and step on that, you know, and we find ways to stay connected, even when we're apart, whether it's like watching a show. We have a thing like, you can't watch the show without the other, right, when you're in two different places. That's a thing. But if we're going to do it, we're watching it like simultaneously, like, they put your

computer on mute, you know, so we don't have the sound on the other side. You know, so we'll do little things like that or like, you know, we really do work on coordinating things as best as possible and I think that that's like the game changer against schedule yeah it's huge right so we kind of know okay I'm going to be going these amount of days or you know if he has to do something same thing but we're like mapping out so we can like make sure it comes back to us like we're very intentional you know even date nights like we do date nights every Friday really when he's in the season and I've been a big believe like that little thing you know or that I don't think little but that moment has been like

game changing for us over the years I think because one I'm always looking forward to it you're not forgetting to date each other yes I gotta do that right we always talk about that he always says you got to always compete you know like that was one of his things that and I love that and I like that idea because it's like searching for the beginning always searching for the beginning like when we first met I'm like I kid my hand but I'm aware of and, you know, you still want to do that, yeah, you know, it's still, it keeps it exciting, you know, so it's, it's honestly just being intentional. I would say that's the thing, like we both want our love to be as sweet and full as it can

be, and so we're very intentional about achieving that. Yeah, we don't get it right all the time, you know, but we, the place that we come from is, it's the foundation is set and it's clear. Yeah. And so, yeah, we're very, very intentional. I love that. And your relationship is built on the foundation of God. Oh, my gosh.

He's in the center. We say Jesus at the center. Amen. When we first got engaged in Seychelles, he actually, the first thing that we did is we went and we prayed. And, you know, he actually initiated, you know, the thought of, you know, having Jesus at the center. And I really loved. How did that feel that you have a man that has? I don't want to cry.

I don't know why I'd be up here crying like this. I have been like on a chapter of tears. Are you pregnant again? No, no, hold up now. Let's not get crazy, okay? Kip's exclusive. Okay, stop, right now, okay? You're like, why am I crying?

Uh-uh, no, I really have been, like, an emotional, like, I don't know. Gratitude. Yeah, it is. It's gratitude. It's real. You know, but that was really sweet and powerful to have that, you know, connection or, like, in that very moment, like, that's the foundation we're going to set this on. And it's honestly real. Like having Jesus at the center is significant because when man leans on man.

Listen. That's when it getting a little murky. It do. Right? We start trying to be like, well, I feel. It's like, okay, what does God want? You know, where is the spirit in all of this? Like, where is the, you know, go to the place of love, right?

When we do that, like, it brings everything back down, like, to like the right place. You know, so. And I think that's. huge it is you know especially in our world like it's our worlds are crazy like hectic and like fast moving and convenient like you know so it's like okay whenever we have a little funky something like the spirit is what brings us back that's good yeah it brings us like back to where we need to be and it takes both yeah right yeah like we were saying um we have certain like rules too like the past our pastor judah who actually um officiated our wedding and he's one of our he's like

amazing but he you know talked about like how in relationships like you can have an idea where you never say the D word like you never say oh that word okay yeah yeah uh-huh or I was like what's the D word yeah exactly and then also you say wow um you got to be able like when you make the mistake or or you cause the turn up or the friction you got to be able to say will you forgive me and that is hard because I'm stubborn I'd be like I'm asking if people forgive me because I won't wrong. And then I might be wrong. You know, it's like, oh, Sierra, just say it.

Like, I'm talking about it, like, just say it, God. I'm rolling my eyes, like, I don't want to say it. Just say it. You better say, you know. It's a whole thing. Like, that is hard, I think, to be like, will you forgive me, you know? But it's like, it's game changing, right? And we both have that understanding.

Like, those little things, you know, they're really, they're really helpful. Yeah. And it's beautiful that you can, because asking for, is not only an unbling state, but it's also very vulnerable to, like, look at yourself in the mirror and say, wait a minute, this is me, I messed up, and to be able to go to the person and admit that, you know, so the fact that you are so comfortable with each other to allow each other to see each other in that state is so beautiful. Yeah, and I think it, um, it feels good when someone takes accountability, right? You know, you don't want to be crazy. Yeah, exactly, yeah,

okay. And I'll give Russ credit. He does pretty good with coming back around. Like, we were saying in the day, he gets, like, more worked up. I get very quiet, you know, like when he raises his voice, it's funny because like, you know, his love reminds me of like my dad's love, right? And I remember when like my dad would like reprimand me, like the tone of the voice was just like enough to make you go, yeah, you just crumble.

So if he gets like about it's like, and depending on what it is, I'll be like, you know, I just sit back, like, well, you're going with this, you know? Like, or I might feel like, you don't have all these different fields, you know, but like, he, he typically is the one that can, like, get a little more turned up than me. I get quiet turned. Like, you know, I'm turning how I thought I was opposite. Yeah, no.

But he's so, you know, he's really good about, like, he'd come back around, like, you know, so I'll give him that. He does that really well. He's passionate. Okay, I love you, too. You know. I love that. That is so beautiful.

Now, word on the street is that y'all start a matchmaking service. Oh, my Lordy, we did not start a matchmaking service. Because we're trying to sign up. The people are like, where do we sign up? Look, we should actually, like, think about this thing. I'm serious. Let me tell you, we love seeing our friends experience love. Yeah.

We have fun. And we're so blessed and we have a really great group of friends, like, you know, in all different parts of the world. And I I for me like especially with my girls. I'm like I just want my girls to be happy like if that's what they want, right? You know, like I have a I don't want to call her out, but I have someone I have a dentist in my life. Oh my gosh. I'm not going to say her name. She's like Sierra. But like she's so like sweet, smart, boss owns her own dentist, dentistry like business. Like she has she's amazing like great vision. And like she's. She's amazing. And like she's. she's, you know, single, and I'm like, okay, we've got to figure this out. Like, so I will be, like, on the search. I love it. Because I'm like, she is a queen and she deserves a king.

Like, that's my mentality, right? Yes. So I just love trying to help in any way that I can. We both love it. We have been very fortunate to introduce people. And that's the fun stuff. Yeah, your track record is tracking. You got Coco and Donovan.

Okay, so wait, we did not. Okay. So they just assume that. They, okay, so this is what happened. What happened was. Okay, so Coco and Donovan shouted both of them, and I'm so happy with him. My girl Coco is the Swedish. She is.

And Donovan is so cool and just amazing. And Russ and Donovan have their boy flow. Honestly, they've been having their whole, like, boy flow for some time, like, low-key, behind the scenes. And I love that. Like, I love how the men connect on that kind of stuff. But basically, you know, the fellas are over there doing their thing. and Donovan and Russ has like he's really obviously I think he's the best on the field but off the field he has like this creative mind that runs wild with a lot of cool ideas

so he actually has a company West East Lux where he's doing like providing luxury like experiences stuff like that so it's his passion for him but basically him and Donovan connected and all of us then I look up and like Russ is like we set this up blah blah blah like he had the Like they were doing the whole thing planning the engagement for him and Coco. So it's just so sweet, you know, and so we're just really happy for them. It's so beautiful. And it's just amazing. Like, God is so good.

He is so good. At BET Media House, you stopped by Jim Jones interview. Oh, yes. And he said you need to, I think it was, seal it properly. Yes. That let me know that you love, love. I do. Oh, my gosh, I was totally, you know, sometimes that's just me.

I think it's my passion to just like want, you know, the best for people. And listen, you know, I don't know them from a can of paint, but I just remember my last memories of them and knowing that they've shared, you know, their journey with the world. And I think the greatest thing that we all have to remember is that imperfect love, like an imperfect love that's where perfection is yeah you know it's like there's not a perfect way to do love the perfect way to do love is just to love and the best way that you can and to love yeah right and that doesn't mean you can always get it right and that doesn't mean you're going to have the perfect story where you went through this phase this phase this phase and now it's voila some people

go through a phase it's amazing then it falls flat then it comes back again then it goes everyone's love story is their own it is yeah and that's what makes it beautiful yeah and there's no no judgment in love right and so I think that when I saw you know when I was in that moment I just was um it was from a place of love absolutely you know and just you know wanting you know something beautiful from my perspective or wanting that you know for the people that I love watching on TV like you know y'all got to do this so I was like maybe it's passionate yes you know and I felt it because I'm hopeless romantic I love love and I'm on this new journey, really being more intentional about my walk with Christ in my Bible.

And through that, God convict me on sex. So I stopped having sex because I wanted to, I want a loved way God intended, and I wanted to do it properly. So when I heard you say, seal it properly, I'm like, exactly. Like, because that was my conviction. God was like, you're doing it wrong. Like, this is not how I designed this. I need you to trust me and do you trust me to bring you love the way I intended it so that you're not continuously getting hurt. I love that.

Yeah. So I felt that I didn't take any, I didn't read it as judgment. Yeah, I was like, I'm with her because she's all about love. Yeah, still it, you know. I mean, I think that we owe that to ourselves, you know, and I think that when, you know, it always hurts, like in general, like, you know, we live in this era. And I don't want to say error because this has been like, it's just a new word that they coined it, like love bombing, you know, which is not right either because oftentimes for us as women, excuse me. Okay, so when guys see a girl, it's exterior first. Yes.

When we see a man, it's interior and exterior. We see you on the front, like, okay, you look amazing, but like, what does he like? Like, we start, like, fantasizing or thinking about, like, you know, is he a family guy? We think about all of these things. Literally, instantly we're like, do, do, do, do. Yeah, you map it through, and you think in your mind through all those things. And sometimes, too, like a guy can mishandle, you know, where we are. And that's, like, crushing.

It's very crushing. You feel like you've set back. Yes. You know what I mean? Like, it's like a blowback because we're going with the right intentions, but then a guy has different intentions. And, like, it's like, man, you just wasted a chunk of my life. Yeah.

You just waste a chunk of my time. Like, I'm really rolling. Like, I'm really, like, in this thing. And you're over here kind of playing. Like, now we just lose a little time. Like, what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing?

Yes. But I can relate to where you are in your life in reference to just, like, pausing, like, wanting to, like, be very intentional with yourself, your body, you know. how you're loving on yourself, like being, you know, set to me, like, you talk about prayer. Like, prayer really works. It does. Right. And I do think there's something about when we start to envision who we want to be within

ourselves and we cemented with prayer, like the evolution starts to happen like overnight. Oh, my goodness, Sierra, seriously. Right. I'd be moving fast. It's like, wait, I just said that. And it's like. And it trickles down to everything. It could be like in your business.

It can be... Your podcast and Sierra's here. I literally just said it. You know, it can be just even if somebody's off in your friend's circle. Like just when you start to be like in tune with yourself and you start to pour into yourself, like everything starts to become more clear and you start to walk with a different pet. Like you start to feel like, you know, it's like, okay, hold up. My shoulders start to get taller.

Like my walk starts to get more like, oh, like a little. okay she know who she is like she know where she want to go she ain't there yet but she gonna get there like that's the kind of mentality you start to have yeah so I love you know I'm I love like what you're saying and I relate to what you're saying and I think that it's a season for things right the season you're talking about is like okay this is before this season is important yeah very this season you're talking about is important because like you know like when we do that when we make commitments to ourselves and like what we're trying to do and trying to evolve like we got a really like okay let's do it yes right and then i swear to you like

god is so good the blessings start to overflow yes you know come on yeah and like i was saying to somebody to someone the other day it's like you want to be right yeah right you know so like i love that yeah um r a lenox she had just posted something about she's been abstaining from sex on she's posted on instagram and um she's like i'm staining from sex but it's hard dating guys because that's all they want. Yeah. And she said, and it just seems like we're not winning,

the girls who are trying to just do think, date the right way. Yeah. So I DM'd her and I was like, listen, I'm in the same boat with you, so we exchange information because we have been knowing each other for since earlier this year.

And she's like, you too. And I was like, her sweet little voice. I was like, me too. So yeah, just having the friendship, the circle. Oh my gosh, the circle that you surround yourself are really important. And who you share information with

when you're vulnerable is really important because what they say, back to you can impact your life so significantly. You can have a friend that encourages you to do the right thing and one that encourages you to do the bad thing. And when you're vulnerable, sometimes you go with the bad thing because like that's how the devil works. It is. You know, like the feeling can feel like that's the right thing, but it's a wrong thing. Yes. So who advises you is really important. So important. And I was in a state like that last year where I've been open about it. I was kind of running from Jesus. I was like, you know,

like I just felt like I just want to be me and I was trying to straddle the fence where I like I want to like be me and it wasn't aligning with where God was taking me lean on man yes lean not on your own understanding yes and I was like but you know what you made me think about too when you're talking about you know abstaining and like that phase you're in the right guy will respect it and the right guy will appreciate it yes and like will hold your hand with you yes that's what I do know right I know that for a fact. Yeah. Okay.

Like, you know, I could cry. Again. But I know that, right? That the right person, you know, listen, we're not perfect, you know, not going to always, you know, say everything perfectly and do everything perfectly. But the right person, like, they're going to wait for you and they're going to respect you. And they're going to, you know, be patient with you. And when they're thinking, like Russ, we talk about being equally yoked, like, that's. a game changer right because that already already changes the playing field big time now we're

we're we're operating from the same platform same foundation perspective like now we can really go up together yes yeah you know like we're you know what I'm saying so it's like that's the thing right and I think there's a difference between boys boys and men right you know so like men they're going to wait for you they're going to be patient with you yeah they're put the time in they're going to send you flowers they're going to think of you it's going to be the little things that are going to actually make the biggest difference yes but they're going to be so intentional because they're real men like that's so you know I think that to me is also something that I learned in life through my journey right there's a difference between boys and men yeah that's so

true yeah and you're raising young men up and a daughter like how is that like seeing your images of you walking around the house and instilling these principles into them oh my gosh It is the best, being a mom is the best job, the best job on earth. Because it is a job, okay? So I'm going to shout out all. I don't care if you, stay at home on, like, it is work. Yeah. Okay.

But I wouldn't have my life any other way. And I think, you know, it's fun, you know, Sienna especially, little C.C. Baby, she's got so much personality. Little Cici, boy, she'd be coming in a hat. Okay. But she loves. me so much like and I'm like looking at I'm like I'm seeing she's going through this interesting face she just wants to do everything with me and like me and I'm like wow like what a gift

what what what how sweet it is that my daughter looks at me and she like looks up to me like wow that is so precious like you know God like please help me to be the best example I can be for her please help me to teach her the best way possible please give me the words to say to her when she's going to need it the most like please at her to feel comfortable to come and lean on my shoulder you know when she's gonna need it the most like that's what I hope for with my babies my baby girls and like like I said I was saying to JV earlier I was like I'm not her ground like it's the early 2000s and she is not feeling it like she had the greatest cry the other day and I'd never seen her do

that before because she he didn't want me to travel but I do hope that when she sees mommy can do it I can do it absolutely I hope that for Amora is just one years old she's like 20 months now and this girl is one going on 21 for sure like these new babies are different I think she's going to be really confident too oh I love that so I just hope that they both will look at mommy that way and I just pray over our bond and our boys you know I think they get to see how dad loves me you know I think that's important you know I hope that they also get to you know have the right perspective on me you know like when it comes to them meeting a lady in their lives like you know it's an interesting dynamic with boy and girl but it's a blessing that

I have both you know it's it's non-stop boys think everything is a jungle gym you know he'll be he'll be eating food eating in a case of dinner like like jumping from I'm like what we doing right it seems like I don't do hair makeup and like that like there's a clear dynamic between both of them both you know boy and girl but I do get the best of both world yeah yeah the state of the world that we're in, I have a fear of bringing children into this world. When you're raising children, is there ever, like, fear that creeps in as they're leaving the house? Like, what influences are going to interact with them as they leave the house? 100%. That's why I'm trying to really work on communicating even more at home. Because we come from the air, I'm not sure

if you feel this way, but I feel like we came from the era where a lot of conversations were just like, you don't talk about them. Absolutely. Right? It can be sex conversations. It can be, you know, how just anything like if you know we just wouldn't like talk about things and so for me I'm trying to really challenge myself to create a line of communication and also tell them about things before the world tells them yeah because oftentimes unfortunately kids go to school and they get information yes right you know and like that's never good in most cases because they're like sponges and they absorb so easily they do so you know I try to find the fine balance between like what we talk about and how far we go with things, but also equipping them for the world.

Because it is a whole new world. It is. It is really interesting than when we were growing up. I'm like, ooh. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, and they have so much access now to things that we didn't have access to growing up. They do, they do. You know, but I think if we talk about things, like, you know, try to avoid as many surprises as possible.

Yeah. For them, like when they go in the world, it's like, okay. mom we talked about that we my mom told me like I know what that is right and they can also know like they need to be able to know stuff and someone's telling them but like no that's not right yeah that's so true that's good I love that here thank you so much yeah congratulations on your new album that you're dropping thank you so much everything you have going on make sure you guys go buy her rum it's 10 to 1 10 to 1 run 10 to 1 rum and then you have a skincare line yeah skincare line OEM skin where can they get that so you can go to oam skin dot com but I also want to share

with my friends and just the customers that have been like the best supporters with OAM in particular is that I'm on this I'm on a mission to keep evolving in this space so I'm also even though it's me my my business is still really small so I go through those growing pains that a lot of small business owners go through and yeah and it's a beast so there is an evolution that's happening behind the scenes with OAM and so because you're probably like what's my posting cadence like it's like it's slowing down like if you're a true fan of oEM you're probably like okay what's happening but what fortunately did happen for me is a lot of my skews sold out multiple times so that was great and our subscription subscription world has been amazing and growing but now people

when they go to oem skin.com you'll see I have my serum and my brightening pads and those were two of our like strongest sellers and so luckily I have a great amount of inventory so I tell everybody to get it while it lasts because OM is about to evolve and I have new formulations that I'm working on and it's super exciting I'm using them every day I honestly can't go without them your skin looks good thank you so much so yeah I'm excited good amazing before we leave I want to play a quick quick game it's called love games love it or leave it all right the first one is five a.m. workouts leave it well I do it yeah but leave it leave it okay group chats Love it.

You love it? Who's in your group chat? Okay. It's funny because, okay, my group chat with my girls. We have one with me, La, V. Yeah, we have Me LaVee, sometimes Me LaVie and Kelly. Oh, I love Kelly. Yeah, that's my girls.

And also my best friend of makeup artist Yolanda. I have to shout her out because she's been in my career since I was my very first professional shoot. Really? When I was 16 years old So we have Sometimes it might be me, La Yoli I'd be Between Russ and I

We'd be doing multiple group chats It depends on the topic And it just be like Okay, we have our flow Yes, I love that Long phone calls or text messages You've seen the phone for a long time You said love it or leave it, right?

Oh yeah, so yeah Long phone calls Yeah Love it with my love Love it Right? Yeah. I love it.

I love chatting. What's the longest you, like, looked in like, oh, my gosh, we were on the phone for three hours. No, babe, do not kill me. See, this is one thing we ain't even doing lately, but, you know, we've been busy or whatever, so I'll get that great. But in our early days, especially, we follow sleep on the phone, on the FaceTime, and then you wake up, and then he's there. Honestly. I love it. I love it.

That's a long time. TikTok dead strips. Love it. Yeah, I knew you can love that way. You know. You know the dance. I love it. Sierra, thank you so much.

Thank you. You are amazing. This was incredible to sit down and talk to you. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen. Me too. This was so much fun and congratulations to you on all your success. Thank you. Everyone loves to see what you talk about.

Oh, thank you. You're doing a great job. They're going to love this one. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. All right, thank you. So today I am wearing silver Loeveveevoe bow sandals.

of my favorite new sandals, Loevee shorts, a Balenciaga cross-tie shirt, scaparely earrings, and my signature jewelry. Bow, bow, bow, bow, bow. Y'all, I cannot believe we just had this moment. With the mention of gratitude,

I'd like to take this moment to thank you, my sweeties. You all have supported this platform. You've grown with me, and I am truly, truly thankful. Remember, we ain't stressed out, we blessed out. In the meantime, in between time, keep it positive, sweeties.