My Glam Interview With Single Ladies Star LisaRaye McCoy!

I know you’ve probably heard this before but LisaRaye McCoy keeps it real. I was able to catch up with the busy multifaceted actress for a quick chat and we had an awesome time!

She dished on everything from what we can expect on the next season of Single Ladies to President Barack Obama‘s re-election and she also gave me the tea on her upcoming fashion and beauty projects.  Check out the glam interview below!

Glamazon Margo: You’re one of the leading ladies on the hot VH1 series Single Ladies. What can we expect from Keshia and the girls next season?

LR: We won’t know until we go back to work. There have been a few changes that have been made. The creator and head writer Stacie. A. Littlejohn is no longer with the show. I’ m waiting to see what whoever takes over’s vision would be for the show and if it’s consistent with what we’ve been doing. I’m excited to see what new storylines they have. I’m just blessed to be working in this economy and to be using my voice and talent.

GM: What other projects do you have in the works?

LR: I’m doing a movie based on the bestselling book called Kaffir Boy. It’s a bestselling book. [ It’s] a political, humanitarian [and] spiritual piece. I’m playing a South African second grade teacher. I’m actually leaving to head there next month or so and I’m excited. It’s a very different role for me. I’m taking on the accent as well. I’m getting a new jean line deal to bring my line out again. I’m no longer with PZI because we couldn’t see eye-to-eye on marketing. I’m also working on solidifying my new hair deal.

GM: You’re quite the busy lady! My mom and I were huge fans of your reality series on TV One called LisaRaye: The Real McCoy. Is it coming back?

I stepped away from that because I was doing that simultaneously with Single Ladies and it was just too heavy for me. With reality TV changing so much with all of the drama selling—TV One went in a different direction that I wasn’t willing to be on board with. We shook hands and parted ways.

GM: You’ve been very vocal about your feelings toward the way that black women behave on reality tv. Any thoughts on the current state of things?

LR:It’s a damn shame what we as black women do with the platform that the networks give us. We are professionals;  we are mothers; we are daughters; we are grown. Some things—leave to the imagination. Some things—leave behind closed doors. You don’t need to tell everything—especially the stupid, silly ghetto stuff. Keep that within your household because you know that other people are watching and we’re training our kids to look at this.

I get it. It’s real life. It’s what you’re going through—it’s your story. It may help somebody, but not when you’re acting a damn fool .That’s not helping anybody.The older that I get, the more I want to take advantage of the experiences that I’ve had and the mistakes that I’ve made and to reach and teach others by example. Not just by playing the fool or letting someone play me like a fool for the world to see.

GM: You were a strong supporter of President Barack Obama for this year’s election. How did you feel when he won a second term in office?

LR: When it happened I had this sense of  “Yes!” It was excitement and a determination of a concrete “Yes, we can!” and “Thank You Jesus!”

GM: I know that’s right!

LR: A couple of years ago I was involved in the Obama’s educational tour with the Reverend Al Sharpton and our Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. We kicked that off in Philadelphia. Just sitting there with all of the power-heads, I realized that the kids kind of gravitated toward me because it could be a little intimidating to have all of those people in a classroom with kids because once you say their titles it’s like “They’re real adults. They run the world.”

With me being on TV, it automatically makes me cool because I’m an actress and I’m this person that stepped off the TV.  What’s important is what comes out of my mouth and I have a platform to use and I have a voice. I started realizing that I wanted to be that advocate, and education is something that’s very dear to my heart.

GM: You released pictures of yourself with a mural of President Obama on your back to show your support. What inspired this campaign?

LR: I always wanted to have an artist paint something on my back or tattoo something on my back but I couldn’t figure out what I would use those pictures for. I was like if I get him to paint a portrait of Obama on my back, then that means I’ve got his back! I’m going to be a teacher, and I’m going to get everybody to have his back. It came out exactly how I wanted it to be.

GM: How long did the mural take?

LR: Girl, 4 hours!

GM: Wow! Well, it came out great! You’re a very beautiful woman who is aging gracefully. What’s a go-to- beauty secret that you would like to share?

LR: I keep oil in my hair. I keep my hair saturated. I wear wigs when I play Keisha on Single Ladies and I rarely wear my own hair when I’m working.  I have hair and it’s pretty long, and I want to keep it that way! I use jojoba oil or coconut oil.

Speaking with LisaRaye was just what I needed after a long, tedious day in the office! It felt like I was catching up with a girlfriend that I hadn’t spoken to in a while. She’s definitely The Real McCoy!

Be sure to follow her @TheRealLRaye  and to check out her official website here!

Ciao Bellas,

Margo