Items and descripts from Nicole's jewelry and clothing lines. Those sillhouttes of some of the clothing are very Asian (Japanese actually) .. and the jewelry...okay, I like the concept, but it's clear that it's geared towards actors, rock stars, and the spiritual crowd who will incidentally have to be very affluent to afford it :

About Open Hours

We imagined our favorite boutique being open 24 hours a day. We dreamt of clothes that would complement our daily work grind, unwind with the sun, then savor a sexy night out. We yearned for “pack-&-go” comfortable travel clothes that didn’t scream Bikram. We felt passionate about keeping the business here and have partnered with the best manufacturers in Los Angeles. At Open Hours, we blend California casual with New York sophistication – a little grunge with a lot of polish.

Knotted black lava & 5 18Kwhite gold W/VSI white diamond pave beads - $7875.00

FLP JEWELRY DESIGN was launched in late November of 2009. This unique collection of jewelry sprang from the designers’ desire to create beautiful pieces inspired by nature. Finding their inspiration from their experiences in the fashion industry and their passion for jewelry-making, best friends Nicole Murphy and Yolanda Braddy, bring their knowledge of craftsmanship and jewelry design to their new line of jewelry for men and women.

...The pieces are comprised of lava stones, Bali beads, Chinese crystal, smoky topaz, ebony wood, bone and turquoise and highlighted pave diamond stonework. FLP jewelry features a mix of textures, stones, and metals that offer understated luxury – The simple and perfect finishing touch to a modern wardrobe for both men and women.

Ottensen said:

Not really any interesting media out on the ladies this week (or rather, I've been too lazy to have a look). Here, at least, are a couple of pics from the girls attending the VH1 Do Something Awards. What do we think of the fashion, everybody?

2012 Do Something Awards ... | VH1.com

I think they are all beautiful but I think Sheree's hair makes her look much older than what she is. She either needs to lose the length or the highlights or both.

lauralevesque said:

Ottensen said:

Not really any interesting media out on the ladies this week (or rather, I've been too lazy to have a look). Here, at least, are a couple of pics from the girls attending the VH1 Do Something Awards. What do we think of the fashion, everybody?

2012 Do Something Awards ... | VH1.com

Mayte looks GORGEOUS- as usual

Nicole is so stunning- again, as usual

and, sorry- Sherree does nothing for me.

I've only noticed lately what a big ass head Mayte has lol. Never thought she was as beautiful as Prince fans did though but she has a nice body and is a nice looking lady. Not gorgeous to me tho but definitely pretty and seems like a nice person for the most part.

Nicole is stunning.

Sheree's looks have really gone down hill. I thought she was pretty when she was younger.

She needs to go back to the black hair.

lauralevesque said:

MJ007 said:

I personally loved her clothing line. They were casual yet stylish. Wet Seal you say? I hope they have one in Chicago because I'm 5'2" and I would look like I was melting in Nicole's clothes. Thanks for the tip though.

One thing about Nicole is that she sure does swear alot. If you drank a shot everytime she said a cuss word, you'd be blitzed off your ass.

I usually don't like women cursing but I love her "Got-damn!" 's - To me she knows how to swear and can pull it off without looking trashy- which is hard to do

I just love her- everytime I see that show I think, "Now THAT is a real woman!" She doesn't seem to put up with any foolish business and she seems very REAL- despite the fact that she must have a bowling alley in her house- to me she's the best one on that hokey show.

Exactly! I don't like to hear women curse either(only in bed) But i'm sure she learned how to swear from from her ex. Eddie hid a gem. Who knew she had so much personality & charisma & was so real & down to earth & equally beautiful. Also congrats to her equally charming fiance Michael Strahan(Who was just picked out of hundreds to take Regis place On "Live wuth Kelly Ripa. I was rooting for him. That show needed some color badly.

I bet U can't get through a dinner outing with them without cracking up...

Sheree's looks have really gone down hill. I thought she was pretty when she was younger.

She needs to go back to the black hair.

She was gorgeous with Will. She still is pretty. But Will & Jada make a better couple with Sheree they we're boring...

Cinnamon234 said:

lauralevesque said:

Mayte looks GORGEOUS- as usual

Nicole is so stunning- again, as usual

and, sorry- Sherree does nothing for me.

I've only noticed lately what a big ass head Mayte has lol. Never thought she was as beautiful as Prince fans did though but she has a nice body and is a nice looking lady. Not gorgeous to me tho but definitely pretty and seems like a nice person for the most part.

Nicole is stunning.

Sheree's looks have really gone down hill. I thought she was pretty when she was younger.

She needs to go back to the black hair.

Sheree's looks gone downhill? Damn. Y'all really have some high expectations for how women should look once they hit middle age

morningsong said:

I take it nobody's feeling the apology?

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

Ottensen said:

Cinnamon234 said:

I've only noticed lately what a big ass head Mayte has lol. Never thought she was as beautiful as Prince fans did though but she has a nice body and is a nice looking lady. Not gorgeous to me tho but definitely pretty and seems like a nice person for the most part.

Nicole is stunning.

Sheree's looks have really gone down hill. I thought she was pretty when she was younger.

She needs to go back to the black hair.

Sheree's looks gone downhill? Damn. Y'all really have some high expectations for how women should look once they hit middle age

Don't they? I think she is still an attractive woman.

artist76 said:

morningsong said:

I take it nobody's feeling the apology?

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

Very good points!

Yes, Mayte comes across as boring. But, in all fairness, that's her reality. I think a lot (too many) of people tuned in hoping for some juicy Prince-related Freudian slips and are now crying foul because there weren't any. Beside the monogrammed china and the random article of monogrammed clothing, Mayte could easily be just another real housewife.

Andrea is indeed very animated in her response to situations and I like that about her. I, also, agree that of all the exes, her story is the oddest. No one, in the general public, knew she was Mrs. Kelly. So what shadow does she need to get out of? How hard can it be to be your own person when no one has known you as anything else? I think she's trying to be some sympathy votes, but I don't think that there are any available. She chose to be in that (imo) fucked up situation, and now that she's out she want the world to valid the marriage. IDK

Sheree has every excuse under the sun why she can't be at home with her husband. And every single one is bullshit at best.

Nichole is just another Shaunie to me. The more I look at her, the more I feel that Eddie married her to get the best of both worlds. A woman who looks like a pretty man.

Ottensen said:

Items and descripts from Nicole's jewelry and clothing lines. Those sillhouttes of some of the clothing are very Asian (Japanese actually) .. and the jewelry...okay, I like the concept, but it's clear that it's geared towards actors, rock stars, and the spiritual crowd who will incidentally have to be very affluent to afford it :

About Open Hours

We imagined our favorite boutique being open 24 hours a day. We dreamt of clothes that would complement our daily work grind, unwind with the sun, then savor a sexy night out. We yearned for “pack-&-go” comfortable travel clothes that didn’t scream Bikram. We felt passionate about keeping the business here and have partnered with the best manufacturers in Los Angeles. At Open Hours, we blend California casual with New York sophistication – a little grunge with a lot of polish.

Knotted black lava & 5 18Kwhite gold W/VSI white diamond pave beads - $7875.00

FLP JEWELRY DESIGN was launched in late November of 2009. This unique collection of jewelry sprang from the designers’ desire to create beautiful pieces inspired by nature. Finding their inspiration from their experiences in the fashion industry and their passion for jewelry-making, best friends Nicole Murphy and Yolanda Braddy, bring their knowledge of craftsmanship and jewelry design to their new line of jewelry for men and women.

...The pieces are comprised of lava stones, Bali beads, Chinese crystal, smoky topaz, ebony wood, bone and turquoise and highlighted pave diamond stonework. FLP jewelry features a mix of textures, stones, and metals that offer understated luxury – The simple and perfect finishing touch to a modern wardrobe for both men and women.

Maybe it's the model, but I could see Angelina Jolie is both of those outfits. Also, that bracelet looks too "costume jewelry-ish" to be worth that much.

artist76 said:

morningsong said:

I take it nobody's feeling the apology?

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

mimi02 said:

artist76 said:

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

Very good points!

Yes, Mayte comes across as boring. But, in all fairness, that's her reality. I think a lot (too many) of people tuned in hoping for some juicy Prince-related Freudian slips and are now crying foul because there weren't any. Beside the monogrammed china and the random article of monogrammed clothing, Mayte could easily be just another real housewife.

Andrea is indeed very animated in her response to situations and I like that about her. I, also, agree that of all the exes, her story is the oddest. No one, in the general public, knew she was Mrs. Kelly. So what shadow does she need to get out of? How hard can it be to be your own person when no one has known you as anything else? I think she's trying to be some sympathy votes, but I don't think that there are any available. She chose to be in that (imo) fucked up situation, and now that she's out she want the world to valid the marriage. IDK

Sheree has every excuse under the sun why she can't be at home with her husband. And every single one is bullshit at best.

Nichole is just another Shaunie to me. The more I look at her, the more I feel that Eddie married her to get the best of both worlds. A woman who looks like a pretty man.

Just saw the last 7 minutes of last week's episode.

Comments...

Bria is very pretty.

OMG, the finale. It's looks like Mayte will be putting the china away.

artist76 said:

morningsong said:

I take it nobody's feeling the apology?

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

Me too. I loved Mayte and thought she was beautiful and interesting before watching this show. Now I find her whiny and boring. I think she would have done better if she had stayed in Minneapolis, having a dance studio there instead of moving out to California. I think people in Minneapolis would have loved to learn dance from "Mayte, Prince's ex"- she could have made a niche there, I think- she just doesn't seem to fit in California. There's just too much competition for her and she doesn't have much to offer as an actress.

mimi02 said:

Ottensen said:

Items and descripts from Nicole's jewelry and clothing lines. Those sillhouttes of some of the clothing are very Asian (Japanese actually) .. and the jewelry...okay, I like the concept, but it's clear that it's geared towards actors, rock stars, and the spiritual crowd who will incidentally have to be very affluent to afford it :

About Open Hours

We imagined our favorite boutique being open 24 hours a day. We dreamt of clothes that would complement our daily work grind, unwind with the sun, then savor a sexy night out. We yearned for “pack-&-go” comfortable travel clothes that didn’t scream Bikram. We felt passionate about keeping the business here and have partnered with the best manufacturers in Los Angeles. At Open Hours, we blend California casual with New York sophistication – a little grunge with a lot of polish.

Knotted black lava & 5 18Kwhite gold W/VSI white diamond pave beads - $7875.00

FLP JEWELRY DESIGN was launched in late November of 2009. This unique collection of jewelry sprang from the designers’ desire to create beautiful pieces inspired by nature. Finding their inspiration from their experiences in the fashion industry and their passion for jewelry-making, best friends Nicole Murphy and Yolanda Braddy, bring their knowledge of craftsmanship and jewelry design to their new line of jewelry for men and women.

...The pieces are comprised of lava stones, Bali beads, Chinese crystal, smoky topaz, ebony wood, bone and turquoise and highlighted pave diamond stonework. FLP jewelry features a mix of textures, stones, and metals that offer understated luxury – The simple and perfect finishing touch to a modern wardrobe for both men and women.

Maybe it's the model, but I could see Angelina Jolie is both of those outfits. Also, that bracelet looks too "costume jewelry-ish" to be worth that much.

It's the pave diamond beads that set the wallet back so much.

prodigalfan said:

artist76 said:

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

right. That is why I was hoping her new acting endeavor would NOT be a reality show. Oh well.

I do kind of agree about celebrities revealing a bit too much of themselves and having to much immediate access to the general public; it takes away a the mystique, and if you haven't had proper grooming you may not knopw how to utilize social media and all the immediacy of 24/7 entertainment for it maximum, productive purposes.

But at the end of the day, whether or not Garcia proves boring on Prince.org won't matter. She has to be appealing to casting directors and those who are in decison making positions, and that's going to be based on the stregnth of her acting reel as opposed to a reality show she did on her down time (although the more press and red carpet photo ops she's done from the show to increase her media hotness factor also has an influence. It's very important for her to photographed everywhere now because casting directors do peruse blogs and mags to see who's trending on red carpets).

Still, I think she might fare okay and keep grinding as an actress just fine. She uses the same acting coaches that taught Halle Berry and Brad Pitt, and her managemnet agency is the same one that handles Oscar winner Renee Zelwegger and Gretchen Moll. What she's missing is a breakout role to propell her career further and keep her from being typecast as "The Wife who's husband is missing/was killed" on this year's most popular tv detective series.

BTW,

you can see samples from her reel here, her dramatic technique is pretty strong, yet her comedy only seems to flow easily if she's playing satire or an "archtype" (like in Firehouse Dog). She needs a breakout role "Money Train" or "Blood and Roses" like J.lo...or another vehicle in which she plays a minor role opposite to a white, male Hollywood A-lister:

Active Submissions - John...yte Garcia

[Edited 8/28/12 2:25am]

Andrea Kelly talks dance and philanthropy

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER: And...ilanthropy

Growing up on 35th and King Drive, Andrea Kelly was destined to be a performer.

As a child, in full dance gear, complete with leg warmers, Kelly would get in the middle of the living room floor and class was in session. Her teacher was Debbie Allen and "Fame" was on the television.

"My mother would move the table out the way and I was ready. Baby, when I tell you I was ready for class, I was. Sometimes my mother couldn't afford to send me to dance class so when "Fame" came on, it was class time. I worked it each time to the instruction of Debbie Allen and the show," Kelly told the Defender.

The dancer-choreographer and now reality television star said she was born to dance.

A graduate of Beasley Academic Center and Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Kelly was involved in anything dance-related and cheerleading.

Afterwards she made a career out of her passion. She was a dancer-choreographer and stylist for entertainers on tour, including ex-husband R. Kelly, and later opened her own dance studio.

Now, the mother of three is in the national spotlight as a breakout star in the reality television show "Hollywood Exes" on VH1.

Kelly, who splits her time among Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles, said she's passed over other reality show offers, namely "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," because it wasn't the right fit for her. But, when she was approached about "Hollywood Exes" and did her homework about the show's premise, "it felt right."

"I get to tell my story from my point of view. You're getting to know me for me," she said.

Viewers get to see firsthand Kelly's love for dance, her passion as a mother and her drive to expand her business.

Kelly closed her local dance studio and is looking to open one in California. Her and fellow castmate Mayte, also a dancer and close friend of Kelly's, are exploring opening a dance studio together.

When she's not dancing, Kelly is involved with her organization "Change for Change."

"I understand that every child can't afford to take dance lessons. I get it. I've been there. We allow a child to bring the change in their pocket as payment. I'm very passionate about what I do and giving back," she said.

While dancing comes natural for Kelly, she's jumping into another section of the arena: a clothing line for dancers.

"I didn't want to be another celebrity with a clothing line. I wanted to stay in my lane and do what I know. My line, Anansa, is about being a dancer and performer. During auditions I would see grown women come in with bubble gum pink leotards or something else like leopard print. When you come to audition, I feel you should come looking the part and ready to perform. My line will provide them with the dancewear to achieve that," she said.

She came up with the name while doing Dance Africa. She expects the line to debut next year.

When she's not dancing or in the reality spotlight, Kelly spends time with her three children, ages 14, 12 and 10.

"Each has their special talents," she said, adding they dance, sing, play piano, keyboards, guitar and drums.

Follow Andrea Kelly on Twitter: @DreaKelly

Was trying to see what Jess what up to these days, but not much out there for a good media post. Did stumble onto her old photos from Playboy during her days as a playmate: homegirl really was studying to be a ballarina when she was younger and she certainly has the body to show for it. Never knew what her second husband looked like, but here's an excerpt of an interview where they were discussing their LA plastic surgery empire together, it's pretty long:

Garth & Jessica Fisher: Building a Beverly Hills Beauty Empire

mimi02 said:

artist76 said:

If you mean Mayte's, I'm not feeling it. Nicole's was fine.

But Mayte's "...and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" was lame.

But in the end, this show and Mayte committed the worst showbiz crime of all -- they proved to be boring.

If you need evidence of that, just look at drop-off in interest on this thread.

The show can be summed up like this:

Mayte - was boring and didn't have much to say. She came off like someone who doesn't have original opinions, but kind of tries to attach herself to someone else's opinions and friends. She looks like someone who needs a lot of validation. How tiresome. And boring. She cried a lot about the baby.

Andrea - was funny and witty until she wasn't. She cried a lot about being "in the shadow of R.Kelley" and needing her own identity (starting the L.A. dance studio), the irony being that nobody knew she was his ex so how can she be in his shadow unless she wants to be. Lame.

Sheree - complained about her long-distance marriage, then finally came up with a sympathetic way to package her non-committal behavior - "I'm afraid of losing my identity, like I did with Will!" Please! She was married to Will like 15 years ago and only for a couple of years, and he was only the Fresh Prince tv star back then, not a global star. Should have thought about "losing your identity" before marrying another man, because marriage does take some compromise and mutual respect, which she's not showing! She also found time to raise her eyebrows at others.

Nicole - ate at nice restaurants, bought a nice house, wore some nice dresses, and smiled a lot. Why shouldn't she - she's still got it made! She didn't have any drama or get worked up about anything because she knew none of these antics - the crying and the complaining about this or that - was worth her time.

And it might not have been worth ours either. How they can sustain another season like this is beyond me.

The saddest part for me, if you can call it that, is that although I dropped out of the Prince world from '98 to '07 and never followed the whole Mayte-Prince thing, there was this illusion about her from their time together, their performances. And I was on those Mayte appreciation threads. People saying they ought to get back together. And now...? Sometimes showing too much of yourself can be a bad thing - it can reveal you to be so very AVERAGE, or worse.

Very good points!

Yes, Mayte comes across as boring. But, in all fairness, that's her reality. I think a lot (too many) of people tuned in hoping for some juicy Prince-related Freudian slips and are now crying foul because there weren't any. Beside the monogrammed china and the random article of monogrammed clothing, Mayte could easily be just another real housewife.

Andrea is indeed very animated in her response to situations and I like that about her. I, also, agree that of all the exes, her story is the oddest. No one, in the general public, knew she was Mrs. Kelly. So what shadow does she need to get out of? How hard can it be to be your own person when no one has known you as anything else? I think she's trying to be some sympathy votes, but I don't think that there are any available. She chose to be in that (imo) fucked up situation, and now that she's out she want the world to valid the marriage. IDK

Sheree has every excuse under the sun why she can't be at home with her husband. And every single one is bullshit at best.

Nichole is just another Shaunie to me. The more I look at her, the more I feel that Eddie married her to get the best of both worlds. A woman who looks like a pretty man.

So true, which leads me to wonder, either she just doesn't give a fuck about him or he isn't good in bed. One or the other. I know it's not the most "sanctified" response, but I'm just keeping it real. Don't NO woman pass up a fine ass man that they are married to unless they are completely selfish or his standards aren't up to par in the bedroom. He seems to be a good man but all it seems she wants to do is to get away from him. I don't think they have any children together, do they? I think if they did, her behavior would be different.

[Edited 8/28/12 4:26am]

missfee said:

mimi02 said:

Very good points!

Yes, Mayte comes across as boring. But, in all fairness, that's her reality. I think a lot (too many) of people tuned in hoping for some juicy Prince-related Freudian slips and are now crying foul because there weren't any. Beside the monogrammed china and the random article of monogrammed clothing, Mayte could easily be just another real housewife.

Andrea is indeed very animated in her response to situations and I like that about her. I, also, agree that of all the exes, her story is the oddest. No one, in the general public, knew she was Mrs. Kelly. So what shadow does she need to get out of? How hard can it be to be your own person when no one has known you as anything else? I think she's trying to be some sympathy votes, but I don't think that there are any available. She chose to be in that (imo) fucked up situation, and now that she's out she want the world to valid the marriage. IDK

Sheree has every excuse under the sun why she can't be at home with her husband. And every single one is bullshit at best.

Nichole is just another Shaunie to me. The more I look at her, the more I feel that Eddie married her to get the best of both worlds. A woman who looks like a pretty man.

So true, which leads me to wonder, either she just doesn't give a fuck about him or he isn't good in bed. One or the other. I know it's not the most "sanctified" response, but I'm just keeping it real. Don't NO woman pass up a fine ass man that they are married to unless they are completely selfish or his standards aren't up to par in the bedroom. He seems to be a good man but all it seems she wants to do is to get away from him. I don't think they have any children together, do they? I think if they did, her behavior would be different.

[Edited 8/28/12 4:26am]

mimi, I think in Andrea's case having to live in the same city which, basically as a high profile celebrity her husband has carte blanche in can be overwhelming. Even if people didn't know her in the mainstream, I'm sure she was still afforded many privileges in closed circles as his wife, and once a woman no longer has that title, even "insiders" (for lack of a better term) will whisper and point and circulate their stories about you. It truly sucks when everywhere you go people have something to say about your ex, what he's doing, what he's up to, what the latest tea is on him, etc., etc., and there is quite often the point in a woman's life that no matter how large or small your role was to your husband on a public level, you just get tired of your ex's name coming out of the mouth of every single person in your field of vision and you just want out.

Sheree....lawd....I actually understood her point about not wanting to be lost playing second fiddle to her husband, I get it- I really do. Unfortunately it usually works that way when a woman is married to a public figure or someone who is notable in his field of employment and it sucks. And...of course it's exponentially intensified for members of the clergy. However, if you choose to marry a man that has a calling from the Lord, then you need to know that generally your place is expected to be by his side tending the flock for the glory of God, and there kind of is no "self" anymore. What's interesting is that in her written and audio interviews Sheree is always talking excitedly about her ministry "Women on the Wall", but even though filming of this show has long since ceased, I still wonder just how effective can she be ministering to the women of her church if she's just arriving on Saturday and leaving on Sunday nights? It's like she has a confusion about the fact that God comes first, then the submission to one another as you both submit to Christ in matrimony, then self.

Sheree is still stuck in her LA Church of Self, and everyone else is getting the short end of the stick and whatever is leftover after her Hollywood parties, red crapet events, & VIP perks playing Will Smith's ex-wife in LA, God included.

Cinnamon234 said:

lauralevesque said:

Mayte looks GORGEOUS- as usual

Nicole is so stunning- again, as usual

and, sorry- Sherree does nothing for me.

I've only noticed lately what a big ass head Mayte has lol. Never thought she was as beautiful as Prince fans did though but she has a nice body and is a nice looking lady. Not gorgeous to me tho but definitely pretty and seems like a nice person for the most part.

Nicole is stunning.

Sheree's looks have really gone down hill. I thought she was pretty when she was younger.

She needs to go back to the black hair.

I normally don't comment on a person's choice to look however they want but I've got to say that I agree with you. These pictures are lovely. However, when she wears her blond hair bone-straight and parted down the middle, she looks like Elvira. All she needs is a goblet of blood. She's worn this look in some of her Hollywood Ex testimonials. Not a good look.

Ottensen said:

missfee said:

So true, which leads me to wonder, either she just doesn't give a fuck about him or he isn't good in bed. One or the other. I know it's not the most "sanctified" response, but I'm just keeping it real. Don't NO woman pass up a fine ass man that they are married to unless they are completely selfish or his standards aren't up to par in the bedroom. He seems to be a good man but all it seems she wants to do is to get away from him. I don't think they have any children together, do they? I think if they did, her behavior would be different.

[Edited 8/28/12 4:26am]

mimi, I think in Andrea's case having to live in the same city which, basically as a high profile celebrity her husband has carte blanche in can be overwhelming. Even if people didn't know her in the mainstream, I'm sure she was still afforded many privileges in closed circles as his wife, and once a woman no longer has that title, even "insiders" (for lack of a better term) will whisper and point and circulate their stories about you. It truly sucks when everywhere you go people have something to say about your ex, what he's doing, what he's up to, what the latest tea is on him, etc., etc., and there is quite often the point in a woman's life that no matter how large or small your role was to your husband on a public level, you just get tired of your ex's name coming out of the mouth of every single person in your field of vision and you just want out.

Sheree....lawd....I actually understood her point about not wanting to be lost playing second fiddle to her husband, I get it- I really do. Unfortunately it usually works that way when a woman is married to a public figure or someone who is notable in his field of employment and it sucks. And...of course it's exponentially intensified for members of the clergy. However, if you choose to marry a man that has a calling from the Lord, then you need to know that generally your place is expected to be by his side tending the flock for the glory of God, and there kind of is no "self" anymore. What's interesting is that in her written and audio interviews Sheree is always talking excitedly about her ministry "Women on the Wall", but even though filming of this show has long since ceased, I still wonder just how effective can she be ministering to the women of her church if she's just arriving on Saturday and leaving on Sunday nights? It's like she has a confusion about the fact that God comes first, then the submission to one another as you both submit to Christ in matrimony, then self.

Sheree is still stuck in her LA Church of Self, and everyone else is getting the short end of the stick and whatever is leftover after her Hollywood parties, red crapet events, & VIP perks playing Will Smith's ex-wife in LA, God included.

Yes, I did think about that...after I posted. But, now that she's gone public about who her ex is, would you say that she has opened herself up to more of the same. Any comment once limited to her inner-circle or her former inner-city is now the general viewing public's. I know for the purpose of the show, she had to be ex to someone, but if her goal is to distance herself from the stigma involving being R Kelly's ex (secret or otherwise), then this would be considered a "fail".

I just feel her situation, moreso than any of her fellow cast members, is the most f'd up. Andrea wants to move forward in her life, but she had to reveal this secret before doing so. Her story is not your average ex-wife tale. So, I guess I do have sympathy for her after all.

Please I can't take mayte anymore.Crying over some dishes.When she was with TL she wasn't crying over Prince.Quit acting like you're still so in love.Personally I think we can all agree this show did her no favors.If there's a 2nd season I don't think she will be asked back.I see know prince gave her the it factor.Without him she's just average.

starafree said:

Please I can't take mayte anymore.Crying over some dishes.When she was with TL she wasn't crying over Prince.Quit acting like you're still so in love.Personally I think we can all agree this show did her no favors.If there's a 2nd season I don't think she will be asked back.I see know prince gave her the it factor.Without him she's just average.

Ok, the notion that Prince somehow validates Mayte is just wrong. Also, I don't think Mayte's tears were due to her being so in love. I think her tears were what comes when you force yourself to confront a long-standing issue in your life and move past it. Now, I will say that I still think the dishes were in her china cabinet for the benefit of the show. But if by chance she really has been keeping those dishes out for the past 12 years, I can understand the tears.

I think the show showed me way more about Prince then I would have cared to know. I believe that we all evolve (hopefully for the better) over time. I pray that this is the case for the present-day Prince. But what I saw from Mayte through this show is that Prince really did a number on her back in the 90s. And to top it all off she lost two children. There is a sadness behind her eyes that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

PurpleChi said:

starafree said:

Please I can't take mayte anymore.Crying over some dishes.When she was with TL she wasn't crying over Prince.Quit acting like you're still so in love.Personally I think we can all agree this show did her no favors.If there's a 2nd season I don't think she will be asked back.I see know prince gave her the it factor.Without him she's just average.

Ok, the notion that Prince somehow validates Mayte is just wrong. Also, I don't think Mayte's tears were due to her being so in love. I think her tears were what comes when you force yourself to confront a long-standing issue in your life and move past it. Now, I will say that I still think the dishes were in her china cabinet for the benefit of the show. But if by chance she really has been keeping those dishes out for the past 12 years, I can understand the tears.

I think the show showed me way more about Prince then I would have cared to know. I believe that we all evolve (hopefully for the better) over time. I pray that this is the case for the present-day Prince. But what I saw from Mayte through this show is that Prince really did a number on her back in the 90s. And to top it all off she lost two children. There is a sadness behind her eyes that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

First of all I never said prince validated her.But lets be honest fans on here talk asif she wouldn't be where she is without him.Don't try to tell me about pain of losing children I lost twins at 7 day old and can't have anymore.Mayte put herself on this show.So I'm allowed to express my feelings.Her fans act as if it's a proven fact prince was so horrible to her.If he was why did she stay another 2 yrs after the divorce.Don't get me wrong I understand her pain about losing her children.Ijust don't buy she's this poor little victim.She's on twitter and facebook friending almost every person prince has everknown.If she wants to be free of him stop talking about him Just move on.

PurpleChi said:

starafree said:

Please I can't take mayte anymore.Crying over some dishes.When she was with TL she wasn't crying over Prince.Quit acting like you're still so in love.Personally I think we can all agree this show did her no favors.If there's a 2nd season I don't think she will be asked back.I see know prince gave her the it factor.Without him she's just average.

Ok, the notion that Prince somehow validates Mayte is just wrong. Also, I don't think Mayte's tears were due to her being so in love. I think her tears were what comes when you force yourself to confront a long-standing issue in your life and move past it. Now, I will say that I still think the dishes were in her china cabinet for the benefit of the show. But if by chance she really has been keeping those dishes out for the past 12 years, I can understand the tears.

I think the show showed me way more about Prince then I would have cared to know. I believe that we all evolve (hopefully for the better) over time. I pray that this is the case for the present-day Prince. But what I saw from Mayte through this show is that Prince really did a number on her back in the 90s. And to top it all off she lost two children. There is a sadness behind her eyes that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

First of all I never said prince validated her.But lets be honest fans on here talk asif she wouldn't be where she is without him.Don't try to tell me about pain of losing children I lost twins at 7 day old and can't have anymore.Mayte put herself on this show.So I'm allowed to express my feelings.Her fans act as if it's a proven fact prince was so horrible to her.If he was why did she stay another 2 yrs after the divorce.Don't get me wrong I understand her pain about losing her children.Ijust don't buy she's this poor little victim.She's on twitter and facebook friending almost every person prince has everknown.If she wants to be free of him stop talking about him Just move on.

Mayte lost two babies by Princey.Cut her some slack. That had 2 b devastating to her. It was an instant paycheck gone in a flash & a heartache that Prince didn't allow her to acknowledge or deal with until now. a woman never gets over that. Plus the babies would have oozed talent. Plus!

she misses being wined & dined & licked by this.....

[img:$uid]http://pic80.picturetrail.com:80/VOL2084/9118410/23615037/394022438.jpg[/img:$uid]

Please people on here act as if prince really could have stop her from talking about her baby if she wanted to.She made the choice to appear on the today show& and oprah.She made the choice to be on a show called hollywood exe.Like I've said I understand the personal pain of child lost.I'm just tired of her playing the victim.Acting as if she had no choices.If she can't talk about her life with prince because of a gag order.She made the choice to sign it.She's the one keeping herself tied to him.Personally I think all of this I can't move on stick is for the show.She moved on when she was in the limo with tommy on his realty show talking about she wanted sex.She moved on when she was with wade robson.I have nothing against mayte I just don't by prince was the worst thing that could have happened to her.plus she's this victim.I think he probly wasn't as nice to her as he could have been.But she stayed until he left her.

[Edited 8/29/12 23:04pm]

starafree said:

Please people on here act as if prince really could have stop her from talking about her baby if she wanted to.She made the choice to appear on the today show& and oprah.She made the choice to be on a show called hollywood exe.Like I've said I understand the personal pain of child lost.I'm just tired of her playing the victim.Acting as if she had no choices.If she can't talk about her life with prince because of a gag order.She made the choice to sign it.She's the one keeping herself tied to him.Personally I think all of this I can't move on stick is for the show.She moved on when she was in the limo with tommy on his realty show talking about she wanted sex.She moved on when she was with wade robson.I have nothing against mayte I just don't by prince was the worst thing that could have happened to her.plus she's this victim.I think he probly wasn't as nice to her as he could have been.But she stayed until he left her.

[Edited 8/29/12 23:04pm]

AMEN! I hope she does not do anymore reality shows. I still think Mayte is a talented dancer and choreographer, but she should drop the pretenses.

[Edited 8/30/12 2:33am]

starafree said:

Please people on here act as if prince really could have stop her from talking about her baby if she wanted to.She made the choice to appear on the today show& and oprah.She made the choice to be on a show called hollywood exe.Like I've said I understand the personal pain of child lost.I'm just tired of her playing the victim.Acting as if she had no choices.If she can't talk about her life with prince because of a gag order.She made the choice to sign it.She's the one keeping herself tied to him.Personally I think all of this I can't move on stick is for the show.She moved on when she was in the limo with tommy on his realty show talking about she wanted sex.She moved on when she was with wade robson.I have nothing against mayte I just don't by prince was the worst thing that could have happened to her.plus she's this victim.I think he probly wasn't as nice to her as he could have been.But she stayed until he left her.

[Edited 8/29/12 23:04pm]

I don't understand how Prince kept her from talking about it. The only way for her to grieve is in a public forum for everyone to see? Everyone knew they had a baby and that baby died. It was not a secret.

She had friends and family and she could have gone to therapy easily to move past her loss. The only thing he did was keep her from taking a private moment and making it public.....or do people forget HE LOST A CHILD AS WELL.

I think that is the thing that makes me angry.....women aren't the only ones who feel the loss of a child. Men go through the whole experience with their significant others, they feel the baby kick, dream of meeting their child.....the only thing they do not do is carry and give birth. They experience the loss of the child just as much as the women do, but for some reason they are always discounted and pushed aside.

This was/is a very private man who went through a very public loss. He wanted (as he does with everything) to keep his private issue, private. She could have talked to whomever she wanted, just not the press.

As for him taking advantage...I do not think she was a naive as people think she was at 16. Hell her mother pimped her out to this man....I don't think she was just this china doll who didn't know what was going on.

As to the china, I also think it was a reminder, and maybe a slap to him, of who she was, but I do think the issue with the loss of the child is more that she LOST PRINCE'S child. For some reason I feel that there is more importance to who's child it was (jmho).

I actually have more sympathy for Prince and less for Mayte after this show.

I wonder if they are doing a re-union.