How does one describe Tami Roman? She is a mother of two, ex-wife to Kenny Anderson, a reality television maven and as real as they come!
Many don’t know that Tami was on season two of MTV’s “The Real World: Los Angeles,” in 1993; but then again most people don’t know Tami also worked for a reputable financial firm in corporate America.
Tami became a household name upon her second season debut on VH1′s “Basketball Wives.” She was greeted with skepticism by the original cast, but it wasn’t long before she was the “It” girl and a fan favorite. Her unabashed attitude garnished criticism, but it was exactly that factor that catapulted “BBW” into the massive show it has become.
The thing about reality TV and BBW, is that only gives you the tip of Tami’s iceberg. “The show is not indicative of who we are on a everyday basis. I’m a mother. I’m a business owner. I’m a book writer. I’m a script writer. I’m an actress. You will see none of that. I’m a mentor to young girls. You don’t see that because that’s not the drama.”
LIKE My Majic 102.3 On Facebook!
Speaking to Tami shed light on the woman versus the personality whom we’ve seen smack a chick or two. “People have to remember you are watching what they want you to see and the moments they want you to see. But I am just like every other African-American woman out there,” said Roman (not to be confused with Nicki Minaj’s alter-ego).
Despite her attempt to reconnect her children with their father on the show, Tami revealed, during our 30 minute interview, that she and her ex-husband Kenny Anderson aren’t friends! She is raising her two daughters on her own and they are her “living testament” (in case you want to know the real her)!
“My daughter just got accepted to Pepperdine for Pre-Law. My youngest daughter is pursuing her musical aspirations. I have some great children. That’s another thing–if people want to know what Tami is about, they are my living testament! That’s what I’m about–honor roll students. They are bilingual young ladies (French and English) and that is not the typical African-American journey, but I made sure that my kids had the best of everything at the level that I could provide it at the time and moment I was living. I’m so proud of them. They are true representatives of what Tami is about.”
Being a single-parent isn’t even slightly easy. Tami would know, she was once the recipient of food stamps after poor financial choices. Nonetheless, it is a sensitive topic for her. Her patience was put to the test when cast mate Suzie referenced them during a dinner for Shaunie O’ Neal. But, unlike the Tami we have grown to love–she didn’t swing first and ask questions later.
“That’s the journey I teeter-totter on because everything inside of me wanted to punch her. Had I punched her, I’d have millions of people saying, ‘There goes Tami again, she’s always fighting.’ I’m trying to show people there’s more to me than just putting up my fists. I know Suzie outside of ‘Basketball Wives’ and she really is just that simple. She’s like a dumb blonde. She really didn’t mean it maliciously. She called me all night long because she really didn’t mean it from that standpoint, so that’s why I forgave her. But what I wanted her to know in that moment was that ‘Basketball Wives’ didn’t make me. I felt by her bringing up the food stamp comment, that was the implication…like my bank account is OK because of ‘Basketball Wives’ and that’s not the case.”
1 2 Next page »
