On Display with Melissa Gorga - A Dollar Worth of Dimes (w/ Kenya Moore)
Episode Date: September 15, 2022Melissa is joined by the one and only Ms. Kenya Moore to talk about her big problems with a certain liar on RHOA, her friendship with Cynthia Bailey, and the recent happenings in her family life. Ken...ya also gives us a very insightful reason why the cast dynamics on Ultimate Girls Trips are much different than those on Housewives. It will definitely make you look a little differently at the two series. This week's sponsor: InfinitiPRO by Conair - Cool Air Styler: www.conair.com/en/infinitipro-by-conair®-cool-air-styler/CD2112.html
Transcript
Discussion (0)
a beautiful woman doesn't intimidate me.
Never have.
I mean, I keep a dollar worth of dimes around me.
Yeah.
What's up, everyone?
Welcome to another episode of on display.
I'm sure you guys also on Instagram that my G-no, my first born son turned 15 a couple days ago.
And I literally can't believe it.
I was looking for pictures to post of him.
And he looks like a completely different person
from last year to this year.
I don't know if he had one of those growth spurts,
but like he went from like looking like a kid,
like a boy with a kid to like a man this year.
This was like, I guess, his year where he like jumped up.
Everyone said that was gonna happen,
and I'm like, oh, what's up with you?
He's got hair under his armpits.
It's like, Gino is literally turning into a man
right before my eyes, and I honestly can't believe it.
But he's such a good boy. We're just, you know, we're we're heavy in football. If anybody
watches me on Instagram, you can clearly see that I went to four football games this past
weekend, literally four. But you know, I know I'm going to miss it when it's gone. So I'm
going to soak up every minute of going to the kids football games and spending time with them on the football field. But besides for everything going on in
the Gorgas life right now, I have one of my very favorite people here today. She's a successful
business woman with her own hair care line. She was my very good friend on the Ultimate
Girls trip from season one. And you can see her on the
real housewives of Atlanta reunion. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Kenya more. Hi, how are you? I miss
you so much. I like, I really enjoyed staying in that house and seeing you every morning and every night.
And you're just walking around in your yoga pants all day long. I just touch your butt when you walk by.
Oh my God, we had so much fun.
It was just the best, wasn't it?
It was just the best, everything.
Like I didn't know how I could fall in love
with so many women at one time.
You know, I just had you and Teresa and I had,
God, everyone, like literally everyone except Ramona.
Like, I loved everyone except Ramona.
I, we know this, we know this.
Ramona was definitely, it was crazy to watch you too.
I actually didn't know.
I kind of felt bad at one point
because I was like, Ramona doesn't know how to handle this one.
Like, she's in a different angle than once.
I wanted to like her, like I wanted to,
you know, have this combi-yah moment with her,
especially at the end.
And I was just like,
should I believe this woman really is going to try to change?
And I was like after that,
and then hearing other stuff she did,
like leaking Teresa's wedding online,
like the invitation.
And I'm like, she's just, she's just clueless.
Like this woman is so selfish and clueless,
I just can't with her, but I wish her well.
I wish her well, you know.
Well, do you think it was an accident?
The whole, I was trying to figure out
if she accidentally leaked that, like didn't,
she was just trying to be like, oh my God,
I can't believe like I'm invited and here it is. like she didn't purposely mean like she wasn't thinking or she
Maybe had a couple like sangrias in her or whatever she drinks pino pino
It says it says the name it says the location and the time
It says the name, it says the location and the time.
So how can, and you're showing it like to the world when you're going on your IG library or your story,
how could she not know?
It's one thing if she just waved it in her hand
and talked about how beautiful it was
and that she got an invitation,
but she didn't do that, she showed the invitation. Spins of invitations and weddings. Where the hell were you
Melissa? Oh Ken yeah. Oh Ken yeah. I will say that there's a lot of things that I
can't say obviously it was a lot went down at our finale but to be honest
everyone thinks that it was just what happened at the finale.
I mean, there was a there was a series of events that led up to it. And I will say when
you finally see what caused us not to go, it makes sense. It does make sense. I mean,
in the long like in the long run, does it make sense? I don't know, because, you know,
we'll never get that back, right? She'll never get that back. Well, well I mean but you know what I think at the end of the day we probably
weren't that missed I think that she probably had a great time. I definitely missed
you it was like an incredible wedding and I didn't know anything obviously that
happened days before or whatever all I knew was little flawless wasn't there.
And I was pissed because I was just like,
oh, we're gonna pick up where we left off.
I haven't seen my girl since George's wedding.
And we have fun there.
And I was like, I need to see you.
Like, I love you so much.
And I just love your spirit and your energy.
And I just, I don't want you guys fighting.
Like I just can't take that.
I know, nobody listen, nobody wants to see it.
Everyone's always rooting for us, which I love.
And by the way, I love you because you and I,
and what you're talking about is the fact that
even when we were on this girl's trip,
we had so much fun together.
Because I feel like you and I are like,
I feel like we're party girls, along with Kyle, like we know how to have a good time.
How come you brought that out in me?
You brought that out in me.
Like I've not known as the party girl.
Like I really, so happy.
And you made me feel happy.
It was just a great environment.
It was just time.
You know, I was just going through crazy stuff.
And you just have this energy.
And I just felt like, oh, I can just let my hair down and just feel good being,
you know, being me.
And you were just right there just like smiling
and just being fun and happy.
And that's just what I needed at the time, you know?
You did because you were,
and we're gonna talk about that for a second,
just because that's crazy that you had to go through that
really on national TV.
And on reality TV, everything that you had to go through that really on national TV and on reality TV,
everything that you are so raw at the time and real about the fact that are you divorced
right now or no?
Oh no!
Oh, take a minute.
It takes a minute.
Here's the thing, he doesn't want to divorce me.
I think that's very clear. If two people wanted to get a divorce,
then two people would get a divorce.
You know what I mean?
Right.
And to sit here and drag out this nonsense,
and I'm like, I filed like over a year ago,
we've been separated Melissa since 2019.
Wow. That's a long time. Okay, Think about that. That's three years ago.
We've been separate. 19 to 20 to 21 to now 22. And he's still you. I never even wanted to go to
court. I was like, I'm the type of person. I'm very reasonable, right? You be reasonable with me. I'm reasonable with you.
We've been married for five minutes.
We, you know, he's always had, you know,
he's always had his, you know, his residence in New York.
I always kept mine, you know, my home that I owned
that I built with my two hands.
We both never, we never filed our taxes,
together.
And so I'm like, what do we need to fight about?
Like, you're a successful businessman.
I'm a successful entrepreneur personality.
Just leave it what we came in with.
None of the fight is about when he can see her. None of the fight is how much
he will pay. None of the fight about, you know, is anything about our daughter. So what are we fighting
about? Like, why can't we just sign off and go, you know, let's have a peaceful end to something that
didn't work out. I won't point any fingers at you, don't point any fingers at me.
It didn't work.
I still care about him because he is Brooklyn's father.
And I will always care about him
because he gave me the most incredible thing
that I have ever experienced in my life as motherhood
and being a mom and something that I've always wanted.
The family part didn't work out with him,
but you know, life goes on and I just see how happy she is
and I just want to do everything to keep her happy.
I don't wanna be going through a divorce with him.
It's like, he clearly does not wanna get divorced.
No, I mean, he's, so he's making it difficult
because from what it sounds like,
you should go out with what you came in with
and it wish each other well and share Brooklyn
and that's it.
We literally didn't, we never bought any big part,
well, we bought a car together,
but I let them have a car.
It's like, just take it.
Like, I don't care.
It's just a car we could get around in New York.
And, but we never bought any property together.
We were looking, we were trying to find something that we both liked but we we
It fell apart, you know what I mean? So
We never just merged our finances or anything like that. So why is this so difficult to go your own way?
You want to go out with other women? You want to do all these other things. You, you know, you say, you know, one thing and do another.
But yeah, I think it's very clear he doesn't want a divorce.
It's it's from what it sounds like to me,
it's extremely clear because if he did,
it sounds like a very easy and it sounds like, yeah.
And it sounds like you're going with the flow on everything.
You're just like, here, you want that?
Go to court.
Melissa, all we had to do was just sign a settlement agreement and go our own separate ways
and have the judge sign off.
I never, we never had to go to court every month that we're in the situation.
I'm paying my attorney a retainer.
All of that money can be spent to pay for Brooklyn's education.
So it just like, what are we doing?
Like this is so stupid.
This is not even where I would even want to be in corporate.
Anyway, please girl, pray for me that my life can go on
because I'm trying to get my groove back.
I'm trying to get my happy back.
And you're, you helped me with that.
You know, you helped me get out there like feel cute again,
and beautiful again, and fun again, you know?
All right, so we need another girls trip then,
just so I can get, I can get your little vibe flowing again.
I little flawless is here to make it today.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love your nicknames for me.
So we got to plan something around BravoCon.
At least I know you'll be there.
You're going to be there, right?
Oh, I'll be there.
Yeah, every day.
I'll be there every day.
So full schedule.
I think I do a couple of things with you, actually.
I just saw, I just saw some schedule on it.
So, um, yes.
So we're going to definitely do dinner.
But we have to go out, like, literally, we have to tear up New York.
We have to go get Erica Jane, Kyle.
Who else do we wanna hang out with?
I think that's it.
No.
You better, you better patch it up with Teresa.
So we can get Teresa.
You have to do like a girl situation, you know,
like we can't have the husbands coming with us.
Okay, all right, all right.
We're gonna have a couple girls nights for sure.
Belle, we have to get Jacelle. Oh, yeah. Jacelle. I love Jacelle.
She's fine. Who else do we want in this group? Anyway, we have to figure out the other girls.
So we do. We have to come up with something really, really good for for
Bravo Con. We'll have a home. He was at the wedding. Ashley was really fun.
She said the wedding. Wait, who was it? Ashley for was really fun. She's at the wedding. Wait, was it?
Ashley for Potomac, she's fun. We just hung out. She's you would like her to she's a lot of fun. She likes it.
Okay, well, I need to meet her as well. I don't feel like I've oh, I know Ashley Darby. Is that her line?
Yeah, she's a sweetheart. She's so much fun. She's fun. You would I'm telling you you would like her. That's good chemistry. Well, I got you drinking too. When we were out, you would have a couple cocktails. You would dance with me. I'd be smack in your ass. I mean, we had like a good time.
Expand. Yes.
Oh my God. I'm serious. Like it's going to be a party week for us.
Well, that's gonna be so much fun. And, you know, talking about like the Ultimate Girls trip,
it's kind of crazy because I feel like you get pinned
on the Real Housewives of Atlanta
as kind of like the villain a lot of times.
But like, and I know a villain when I see one.
I do.
I know an asshole when I see one.
I know it shit stuff.
But to me, like, listen, you didn't let Ramona say boo, like, if she, if you didn't,
but you were pretty reasonable about anything you got annoyed at.
I don't get why, why are you, why do you come off different on Atlanta
than you do, like, to me and person and on that girls trip?
Well, I just think, you know, from the moment, like,
I stepped foot on Real Housewives of Atlanta season five. I think
I didn't know what to expect and I remember getting into it with like a fan favorite who's
no longer on the show and that relationship once that relationship turned I was just like for me
I was just constantly defending myself like I was defending myself I was having fun turned, I was just like, for me, I was just constantly defending myself.
Like I was defending myself.
I was having fun and when I was drinking,
then it was like, oh, you're flirting with someone's husband.
Like, you know, we got in a pool and it was like,
we jumped in.
But I mean, like everyone was there.
I wasn't trying to flirt with anyone.
But it just kept being edited like I was going after this one and
that one and so of course you'll get the villain edit if you're, if you're newcomer.
It's easy for them, you know, and for me, I, and you're gorgeous and just walking around
all like twirling and fabulous with these eyes and like you just came out of a supermodel
magazine shoot.
Thank you.
I, you know what?
I just feel like it was the company.
Like I think with you girls, it's almost like when I was in Miss USA versus Miss
Universe.
When I was in Miss USA, everyone was like from Michigan and Ohio and, you
know, Texas.
Everyone wanted to be Miss USA.
But in Miss Universe, we were already,
I was already Miss USA.
Someone else was Miss India.
Someone else was Miss Jamaica.
Someone else was, you know, Miss Switzerland.
We were already winners.
You know, we were already at the top of our game.
And that is kind of like what what the ultimate girl
trip was, we were all Miss USA's.
Right.
You know, you see the analogy?
Yes, I'd ever looked at it that way, but that's like clever.
Yeah, and why the difference between Miss Universe and Miss USA?
Like once I got to Miss Universe, it was just cool.
Like everybody was so, it was drastically different Melissa. When I got to miss universe, it was the coolest girls club ever.
We were all queens. We were like, you know, we were part, we were all a part of history.
They were all just girl, beyond stunning. Like every, every one that would come
through to join 83 girls from all over the world.
And every last one of them had a crown and every last one of them were drop dead gorgeous.
And I can vouch and say that you are not the type of girl that is intimidated by other pretty or hot women.
Like you root for them.
I mean, come on. My best friends are like Tyra Banks, Tracy Edmonds, who was, you know,
used to be married to baby face, I mean, gorgeous, like gorgeous.
She's beautiful.
Accomplished.
I mean, come on.
Even March Phil, Cynthia Bailey, like, girl, I love a gorgeous girl.
Like, so I'm never intimidated by beauty.
I celebrate beauty and all kinds of beauty.
So a beautiful woman doesn't intimidate me.
Never have.
Like I love, I mean, I keep a dollar worth of dimes around me.
I know you do.
I feel that about you.
When you walk in a room, you're there to compliment.
You're there to say you look good.
Like I knew that about you as soon as I met you.
And as soon as we spent a time together on the girls trip,
you're not a hater.
You're not.
You're simply not a hater. You're not.
You're simply not a hater.
What beauty, beauty, we're all different.
You know what I mean?
We're all different.
Um, I can find beauty in, in anyone like it, whether it's their beautiful, wide set eyes
or cheekbones or lips or legs or whatever.
I mean, I just think the female form is just so amazing.
And of course, if you couple that with someone like you,
there's beautiful inside, as well as out,
like it's just a winning combination.
You know, so I'm a girls girl.
I like to support other beautiful women.
So no, it's never, girl, when people say I'm jealous of someone,
I'm like, girl, do you know who I'm friends with?
Like, seriously, you know what I'm saying?
You the top, the most beautiful women. You know what I mean? So don't please don't tell me I'm jealous of, like, seriously, you know what I'm saying? You the top, the most beautiful women.
You know what I mean?
So don't please don't tell me I'm jealous
as someone else's beauty because I love a beautiful girl.
You know, look at the girls who we even work for me
in the past.
I mean, they're stunning girls.
So that's right.
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retailer. And listen, this is an important time for me to ask you this because I
kind of saw this go down with my own eyes when we were on the girls trip. What
is your relationship like right now?
We're simply, I need to know,
because the truth is, I never got any answers to that.
If I'm being honest,
and I'm just gonna fill in the listeners here for a second,
you had a very tight relationship with Cynthia coming in.
I saw, like from day one,
and then there was only seven days by day four
We were on the decline right and I have you guys spoke since that day
We have spoken we've spoken a lot. I was just like you know to walk it back a little bit
I was just really surprised when I saw the episodes and then when we did our press and the things that she was saying
in the press like oh the relationship was definitely different and and then the things that she was
saying in the episodes like girl what did I do like it was just shocking to me but you know I have to
say I'd never saw that coming,
and I don't think anyone else saw it coming.
But I sure didn't.
No.
Honestly, what I think it was is I think Cynthia,
and you know, she's always been a really true friend to me.
And I've always been a really true friend to her.
And we always had love for each other.
So that goes beyond
saying. But I think she always really liked the fact that on real housewives of Atlanta, she was
my supporter. She was the girl I needed to like have my back, speak up, you know, when, because
I was always constantly being ganged on, you know, ganged up on. So when it wasn't that on
ultimate girls trip and people really embraced me and it was like I'm now the
peacemaker and the fan favorite and you know what I mean like within the
girls and I just think she wasn't ready for that role and whatever else that was going on with her, you know, personally,
because that was when, you know, also when a lot of the rumors about her not coming back were.
Right. And I think that had a little bit to do with it as well. She was probably feeling some
sort of way like with that swirling, which is natural. You cannot blame her for that feeling,
maybe a little insecure about that or not sure if she wanted to come back or if she was going to come back you
know you know how that is like there's always room right so that that probably factored
into it but I think that you're right in the fact that she's an awesome friend to you
right you're an awesome friend to her but she was taken back by the fact that you walked
in I pretty much jumped on your back everyone out like we all loved you and we you didn't need any backup there you were like no I got I'm good but like you didn in, I pretty much jumped on your back. Everyone else, we all loved you,
and you didn't need any backup there.
You were like, no, I got, I'm good.
But you didn't do anything wrong to her, right?
You didn't disrespect her.
You weren't a bad friend to her.
You just didn't need the backup, and I think that-
I didn't need the backup, and with that said,
she didn't need the backup.
Cynthia's not somebody that people come after.
You know what I mean?
No one is coming after her for her to need me in a way like she would like she was telling people
that I didn't have her back, but I'm like, Sin, you didn't get into it with anyone. And when I would
ask you about Ramona or other people, it seemed as though you, you know, she had gotten Amnesia in the moment. We're all often just like, I was like, okay, girl.
But I never felt when I was there, we were any less close because I just felt like our
bond is our bond.
And even if we did that show, I didn't do anything.
And if she felt like I didn't support her enough, I felt bad about that because I didn't see her needing
that support.
And maybe that's my fault because I really didn't see
that she needed support on anything.
She wasn't like getting into it with anyone other than
Ramona, but we were all getting into it with Ramona.
Exactly.
And the way you kind of, you and I were close and had fun,
I feel like she was like that with Theresa as well,
and you were not offended by that at all.
Because, you know, she's,
Cynthia's gonna get along with everyone.
That's just how it is.
But I just think she was surprised at that.
And then with, you know,
coupled with everything else that was going on,
I just think it was bad timing for us.
But I did see her, you know, we did have,
you know, a talk, a real talk, like a heart
to heart. And for me, I'm like, just, I don't like dealing with stuff on camera because
to me, it just feels very fake forced. And forced. If we are really truly friends, we pick
up the phone, we talk to each other. Now, we may have another conversation, you know, if needed on air or something like that.
But I just felt like we, we just were beyond that.
Like something, I just felt like we could have survived our relationship, could survive that.
Oh, 100%.
Just being a witness to it, you could have 100% survived it because no one really did anything to hurt someone.
You didn't insult her.
She didn't insult you.
It was just like a, you had a bad week, right?
And you kind of felt like it was a bad week.
And you know, maybe someone was on a period and they saw something.
Right.
It felt a way that it really wasn't intended.
But listen, I love Cynthia to death.
I don't want to lose her friendship.
I hope that she value me when we were as close as thick as thieves.
But I have to say that we did,
I think we connected Theresa's wedding.
We've been communicating consistently since.
And I just feel like it doesn't feel, I don't feel uncomfortable speaking to her.
I felt like, you know, okay, it was weird seeing her initially because of, you know, it's just been a while.
Did you go right up to her and like, did you guys hug it out or how was it?
I saw her, I was speaking to some other people and I saw her.
I didn't know she was going to be there.
And I saw her and then I, you know, I waited until like, you know,
we were like in close proximity.
And then I was like, you know, you know, we just started talking.
And then after we kept seeing each other and then we started having, you know,
more in-depth conversations and it was good.
I don't want to not be her friend.
I have very few really dear friends and I don't want a show to ruin our relationship.
And get in.
You know what, it's strange because sometimes I feel like these shows actually and the
cameras actually help a relationship and sometimes they harm the relationship.
And it's true because there's times when those cameras have helped my relationship, believe it or not, with Teresa.
And with, trust me, because we wouldn't even be in the same room if it weren't for, hey guys, we're gonna sit you down with this tree climber here.
You know, like it's like, I don't need this. Who wants to go on a, I don't need to deal with this.
So you just don't deal with it.
Right, right.
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And you know, Joe and I, Joe and I were just having this
conversation a couple of podcasts to go or last podcast.
And we were explaining how like there's different friends
in life, right?
And like certain friends just need more.
Or like it's almost like you know, like so and so, Susie Q over there, oh, I know that she's
cheap, right? And she's not going to pay the bill. I'm just going to let her get away with that.
Or Susie Q is going to get sensitive when I walk away with this one and have a drink and laugh
with her because she's going to feel like I don't like her as much. And it's like, why do we let
our friends get away with it? It's like the new absurd and friends that you almost just let them get away with things, right? I mean,
it's just, it's crazy. And it's funny because Joe and I were literally just talking about
like different dynamics of friends and friendships and like, what's acceptable and what's not.
But it sounds like you know Cynthia and you know, I feel like she was having a sensitive
week if I'm being honest. I feel like she was having a sensitive week if I'm being honest. I feel like she was having a sensitive week,
not to discount her feelings because they're valid,
but I felt like it was a sensitive time.
Of course.
The timing was sensitive.
I'm gonna, you know,
but I think that you're right, I'm not a needy friend, you know?
I can go six months without talking to my best friend in
life. Like I literally, I have a best friend. My best friend in the whole world
is a girl that I've known since I was 14 years old. Shonda, that is my best friend
in the whole world. We've been friends for a hundred years. And she knows where all
the bodies are buried.
You know what I mean?
I don't ever feel like I cannot tell her something.
So, you know, for me.
But that's your friendship.
We can go six months without speaking.
And if I pick, if we talk to each other,
it's like we never miss the beat.
Right.
And that's the best friendships.
Those are the real true. I have my
girlfriend from high school. If I don't see her for a whole year and then the summer rolls around
and I see her on the beach, it's like we never we don't even skip one beat. The love doesn't die. The
love doesn't change. Like once I love you, I'm so loyal. And I, I just know myself in my heart.
And I don't need to speak to you every day
because you're in my heart.
I'm just not that girl who needs you
to talk to me on the phone every single day for hours.
I just agree.
I can't handle a high maintenance friend.
I prefer. And anyone who was a good friend of mine already knows like,
Melissa's probably not going to call you 10 times a day.
I'm not the type that's going to gossip with you all day.
I'll shoot you a quick text like no one gets offended because when I'm with you,
I'm with you though.
I spend my lunch with you.
I have my dinner with you, but I'm not going to keep up all day.
I can't do that. 100 100% that's how I am too.
100% how's Brooklyn? Oh my gosh, she's amazing.
She just started her new school.
Um, she is so intelligent.
But I think what I'm really most impressed with Brooklyn is how she's just like
the life of the party. Like she walks in and she's just like, I've arrived and she like literally starts twirling around in the girl.
Wonder where she gets it from.
That day, um, you know, her energy, people are just like drawn to her.
And she has this beautiful spirit, Melissa like I
Did something right in my life. Yes. Yeah, I did something right to have her in my life
You know, it's a be her mom. I'm not the best part of motherhood though that you just look and you're like I
Created this child and she's happy and healthy and vibrant and that's like you're winning
She's such a vibrant little thing and she's happy and healthy and vibrant, and that's like, you're winning. She's such a vibrant little thing,
and she's a winner.
I can't describe it any other way.
She is going to change the world.
I don't know how, but she is.
I love that.
I love that.
Love how powerful her little spirit is.
And I know that you just had a big birthday for her
on the show, too, over the top. Would you throw a different big birthday for her on the show to over the top.
Would you throw a different party if you weren't filming opposed to if you were filming?
Or is it the same party whether the cameras are there or not?
Is there more pressure with the cameras?
I grew up as a Jehovah's Witness and I never celebrated birthdays.
I do not know that.
Yeah, my grandmother who raised me was Jehovah's Witness.
I used to go door to door as a little kid.
I used to have to go to like our, you know, place of worship two or three times a week.
We would have Bible study in our home.
So once a week, you know, the congregation would come and we would do our Bible study in the basement. Like it was serious, you know, so I never celebrated holidays.
So that's why I don't necessarily celebrate Christmas.
I don't give gifts to people for, you know, for...
I don't know.
You know, birthdays, no.
A grown person never.
Like never. I would just never, a grown person never. Like never.
I would just never buy a grown person a birthday present.
I would never expect a grown person
to give me a birthday present.
Unless it's my husband or man.
That's it.
Yeah.
I'm just gonna say, hey, birthday is okay,
but to have an actual present, no.
So for Brooklyn, after, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness,
it's just that because you have to be baptized, you have to really study. And I'm just not,
I've never done those things, but for her, it's like, I think it's okay. You know what I mean? I
think it's okay to have a birthday party. So the first birthday party she's ever had, it was in Paris.
Like, I took her to Paris at one.
Oh my God.
Excuse me.
I mean, oh great, it was so great.
Well, as it was everything I ever wanted,
she was so happy.
We have like, you know, so every year,
we go to Paris together.
It's just something that I always wanted to be for,
you know, for us.
So her second birthday party was during COVID,
but I had like an outdoor like farm theme.
So we did like an outdoor barbecue,
like at a petting zoo. So all the kids were outside
the entire time. Geez, it sounds like you celebrate birthdays to me. I mean, that's crazy. But
the idea, you know what, I did the same. I didn't do Paris, but I definitely had like petting
zoos and all types of things. But that I honestly think it's like a thing for daughters and moms if you can to go to Paris, right?
It's like a special, I mean, it's like amazing
that you're able.
You have to be, and this is where the entrepreneur
comes in with you and the fact that you make your own money.
You do not have a man handing you anything.
You really are self-made, which must respect for that.
Honestly, can you really are? Thank you, Melissa. I'm 100% self-made, which must much respect for that. Honestly, can you really are?
Thank you, Melissa.
I'm 100% self-made.
I've never needed a man's money when I bought my first house
before I was 30 years old in California
that I kept for 16 years, never defaulted on a payment.
I won Miss USA.
I was a millionaire at 22. 22, you know, back then,
it was like the prizes, the money,
all the things that you got,
I was instantly a millionaire at 22 years old.
My net worth was well over a million dollars.
So, and before that, you know, I have just,
I was, people don't know this,
but I was a corporation at 17.
I've had advisors around me, I was a model.
And so I started to do a lot of work
and make a lot of money.
And they just took me under their wings
and said, this is how you should operate.
You are a corporation, you need to be alone now.
You need to manage your money this way and that way.
And so I just learn from really successful, wealthy people
on how to basically build your own wealth.
I never talk about money.
I don't believe in giant logos everywhere.
I mean, I can buy a designer thing if I want to, but I don't believe in like giant logos everywhere. I mean, I can buy a designer thing
if I want to, but I don't live for it, you know what I mean? I don't, you know, I, I don't know,
I'm just kind of a little different. I really want to know that my daughter and myself will be okay.
Yes, I will splurge every now and then. But you know, of course, I mean, I'll buy something that's like,
okay, I have to have that Chanel bag or I have to do that.
But it's not like I live for it.
You know what I mean?
I will, I'm wearing Target.
You know what I mean?
I don't care.
I just do what I like.
I try to do that.
Well, you have that hair care line too.
So tell me about that.
That's obviously.
Yeah.
Can you hair care?
Can you more hair care?
Tell me all about, you in Sally's?
You're in Sally's.
I am in Sally and now honey, I am in CVS.
Damn.
Oh my god.
That's amazing.
See?
So it's funny because I always wanted to do a hair care line.
My grandmother who raised me always told me
that hair is your crown and glory.
And so she just always wanted us to have healthy hair
and hair that was our own.
It wasn't about wigs or weaves or pieces or whatever
because they weren't even around
when I was a little girl.
And she just taught us how to like take pride
in our own hair, no matter what the length was,
just to always take pride in your hair.
And I just grew up with this fascination for healthy hair. And and being the entrepreneur that I was in
having that spirit, I said, I have got to do my own hair care line because I have
been in situations where nothing was working. I would break my hair would be
breaking off. I would have all these issues. And nothing was working. And so I
decided, you know what, I'm going to take
matters in my own hands and make something myself that works. And fast forward to six years later,
I'm in over 3,000 retail doors. And we're growing like I'm introducing a new line next year and
another line after that. Like it's everything that I wanted it to be.
And I really want to be a real player in this game, you know, right
along, you know, with, you know, with, yes, yes.
In there, it's you're in CBS, which is pretty awesome.
And this is where the word entrepreneur comes in.
And congratulations on that.
Make sure everyone checks out her shampoos. You have conditioners. You have masks. You have serums. And it's all hair types.
Just because I'm a black girl doesn't mean I'm you know I have a line just for black girls.
This the line is for all hair types. The only hair type it doesn't necessarily work on is extremely oily here. But I mean that's very few people right? Right.
But yeah, all girls in men enjoy my products and even men with beers, they love my
serum, which is our best seller. But yeah, the line is doing exceptionally well.
We have great reviews. And yeah, we're just the door counts are getting higher and
higher and our sales are reflective of where we're you know we're just the door counts are getting higher and higher and our sales are reflective
of where we're going.
Our trajectory is really amazing.
So I'm happy.
Congratulations on that.
I'm very happy for you.
You've given me some shampoo and conditioner and I loved it.
You gave it to me on the girls' trip and I used it.
I love it.
So.
It's good stuff.
Hi podcast listeners.
This is Kelti from the Lady Gang podcast with over 150 million downloads
and about 150 negative reviews on iTunes. You know that people either love us or they hate us
and that makes a great show. Lady Gang is a twice weekly podcast where we help you feel less
alone in your life with the help of our favorite reality stars and housewives But mostly me and my two friends Becca and Jack talk about the ugly and ridiculous and crazy things that happen in our
Lady life come get inspired come get a virtual podcast hug from us every Tuesday and Thursday
Wherever you get your podcasts on Apple podcasts Spotify or wherever else you listen see you there
or wherever else you listen. See you there.
All right, listen, so every podcast,
I do a little thing it's called,
Grilled with Gorgah, okay?
Rapid fire questions, just give me your quick answers.
We'll have a little fun with it, okay?
Here we go, your first celebrity crush.
Oh God, Michael McConaughey.
Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, girl. He is gorgeous.
Oh, he is. Oh, my God. Okay.
I saw him person. I, I fell out on the floor.
I just can't take all that beauty. I was just like, oh, my God.
I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
Yeah. I love it. Where's he at?
beautiful in my life. Yeah. I love it. Where's he at?
Damn.
Your favorite 80s song.
Like a virgin.
Touched for the very first time. Okay. Like a virgin.
You know, I always make everyone sing it. It's like you know this this already. And you just started to sing. I love it.
What is your biggest regret?
Oh, I gotta have a regret.
I don't have one, honestly. I don't know.
No, I don't have a-
No regrets.
I think everything is a teachable moment.
Like it's, I don't know.
After the really think about that.
All right, what about your best decision you've ever made? Like what? What?
I just start my own hair care line to be an entrepreneur.
So you know, yeah. What is your pet peeve? Like what drives you crazy about
sliders? Liars. Liars. Liars and just fucking cruel people.
Liars, liars and just fucking cruel people.
Liars, yes. Who's the biggest liar in your franchise?
Oh, Marlowe, she will literally lie straight to your face
and then turn around and go, and I don't lie.
I mean, that's just like, it's just like, girl.
Don't you love a good liar that then swears on it?
Yes, she said she literally was outside one of the episodes.
And she said something, well, you're not
going to be going to someone.
And that's on God.
She said, and that's on God and guess what?
Yes.
And I went so that what you guys say.
Right.
It's okay.
Who says something like that and put it on God? Someone who doesn't believe in God.
Someone who's Godless. So yeah. Oh, I love a feisty Kenya. There she is. There she is. Ladies and gentlemen.
I don't do her. I don't do her. I don't do her. That's the devil right there. And I just a devil woman.
I would I would rather deal with Ramona than deal with her any day.
Really?
Yeah.
Wow.
Okay.
That's some tea right there.
Yeah.
That's interesting.
Okay.
What is your worst date you've ever been on?
Oh my God.
I've had a few.
But I remember a guy when I was really young. Uh, okay, Troy, I'm gonna feed you.
I remember a guy when I was really young.
We went out somewhere and it was just such a bad day and he was so presumptuous.
And I remember we ended up like having the sleep in a hotel.
And I remember I was all covered up all in the covers
Like wrapped all around me because I was like you will please don't try to not touch me
And he I remember he we got food and I remember he was like you can't eat food in my car
And then I was like okay, can we put it in the trunk?
And then we put it in the trunk and then he was like no you have to take the food you have to throw the food away
You can't eat food in my car
And I was just like oh my god this And I was just like, oh my god, this guy is
horrible. So yeah, he will be my- Oh my god, I hate him. Yeah, oh, he was awful. Awful.
Oh, okay, definitely the worst day. Okay, first concert you've ever been to. Oh, easy, boy
George. Oh, love, really? My gosh, I was obsessed with boy George.
I used to dress like boy George.
I used to wear the little things in my hair like boy George
and the little cut off gloves, all of that.
The big baggy clothes.
Oh, boy George.
Comic, comic, comic, comic, comic, comic,
beauty, yeah, yes, Melissa.
He come and go, I love it.
Okay. Tell me something about you that would surprise us. I feel like we know so much, but what don't we know?
I don't know. You guys like I'm a total like Martha Stewart that can also uses her hands that can build things.
Like I really, what's the last thing you built on outside right now?
You can't see, but I'm outside building a barbecue.
I'm like building a whole barbecue section.
Like I'm literally now I'm putting the wood pieces on the outside,
but I built it from steel pieces.
And then I had to put like cement board over it to cover the steel.
And now I'm putting the wood pieces over it.
And yeah, and then I'm going to put doors on it like I love to build stuff.
I'm but all right, that's a surprise.
I definitely would never in a million years think that that's what you were going to say.
Unbelievable. okay.
So what is your favorite late night snack?
Oh, I got it.
That's easy.
A bakery cake.
What kind of cake?
Bakery cake.
Like just like a cake that's wide on it.
And they slice it, bakery cake.
Bakery cake.
You can be a flat one, you know, the flat ones you buy, like for someone's birthday.
Yes.
Yes, bakery cake.
How many nights do you eat this?
Oh seven.
Really, like you always want a piece of cake.
I don't know what it is, it's like a comfort thing.
Because I can't, I'm so obsessed with this cake
and it's a public cake.
I'm so obsessed with it, I cannot buy the whole cake because I would eat it
in like two nights.
So I just buy one slice at a time and eat it once a day.
Okay.
Okay.
That's fair.
I'm learning so much.
All right.
Your favorite.
Well, what was your first job?
I worked in McDonald's.
My first work in McDonald's?
Yeah, well, my first paycheck job.
Before that, I worked in my grandmother's boutique.
She had a boutique and I worked like,
you know, like modeling for her.
So one is a real like paycheck paycheck
and the other is like come over here working,
we'll give you $10.
So like.
Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no, we have to consider
the paycheck job, which is McDonald's.
Yeah, I love it.
McDonald's.
Okay.
And I'm waiting to fry girls, fry girl very quickly.
Uh-huh.
And did you eat all the fries?
I didn't like, yeah, I didn't really love McDonald's
like that.
I don't know why, but I love McDonald's more now
than I did when I was, you know, 14.
Looking at it every day.
But it's all in the process. It just, it didn't do it for me.
Right. What show are you binge watching right now?
Nothing. I don't have time to watch TV.
Zero. No, zero. Really? Yeah.
First one who ever answered that question like that. I just don't I can't watch TV.
The only time when I do watch TV I'm binge watching HDTV. I can see that now that you
told me you build bar like on your backyard. I'm into this new show called In and Out, In or Out.
Or is the inner outer in and out I don't know,
but I love that show so far.
But that's okay, good.
Yeah.
I always end with, if the day is all about Kenya,
how do you treat yourself?
What do you do if it's just a Kenya day?
Oh, okay, so I love painting. So I would do some painting, like, you know, like I, I,
do abstract paintings. So I would do some painting. I would definitely get a massage. I would get
a head massage. That is my favorite in the whole world. A head massage, but some fresh.
Oh, amazing.
I would eat some bakery cake from publics and crab. I love crab.
And, uh, yeah. Yeah, and I guess I would do my hair and get it, you know,
use some Kenya more haircare.
I love it.
Sounds like it sounds like the perfect day.
Kenya, you are so much fun.
I always loved you so much.
You are incredible.
Keep on keeping that dollar worth of dimes around you.
Okay.
Good luck to Brooklyn on her first week of school here.
And all my listeners do yourself a favor
and grab her hair care line.
It really is incredible.
I've tried it.
I absolutely love it.
And I cannot wait to see you at BravoCon.
We are definitely having a night out.
Yes, I love you, Melissa.
I love you, bag babe.
Kids Brooklyn for me and I will see you soon.
Okay, I will. Bye bye, babe. Kids Brooklyn for me and I will see you soon. Okay, I will. Bye bye babe. Bye Yeah!
you