Mashonda covers King magazine’s May/June 2011 issue. The headline, “On To The Next One,” seems to take a jab at her ex-husband Swizz Beatz, referring to his and Jay-Z’s hit song of the same name.
Read an excerpt below:
Can you explain the “Loyalty” tattoo on your hand?
I got it a year after everything started going downhill. It’s a reminder to me that I have to be loyal to myself for once. I was so loyal to everyone, and I totally forgot about me. This is what it represents—it represents loyalty to self. Now I have to do things that I love to do, and I have to make myself happy, because I don’t really agree when people say, “I need a man ’cause I want to be happy,” or “I’m not happy because I don’t have a man.” That’s not where it starts. Happiness starts from within, and that’s in my focus.
What is your role with [Fabolous’s baby mama] Emily [on VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop”]?
I’m like her support system, her counselor. I feel like a female Dr. Phil. That person who gives her advice and is not afraid to tell her my story and show her my life, ’cause I really want her to get hers together.
How awkward was it for you to be the shoulder to lean on?
At the time that we shot, I was in a great place, so that’s what made the difference. I felt like that was my therapy, and that’s all I wanted to do. Anytime I’d log in to Facebook or Twitter, there would be tons of women reaching out to me, thanking me for sharing my story. Those messages gave me a lot of strength, a lot of courage. From that point on, I just wanted to help women, and Emily being a good friend of mine, it was easy for me to go on there and talk to her and be honest.
Who is admiring you nowadays? Have you’ve been hitting the dating scene lately?
I have. I recently went on a date, and it was incredible.
Sounds like homeboy is getting a call back.
Yeah, definitely.
Mashonda & Fabolous’ Baby Mama Star In VH1′s “Love & Hip-Hop” [TRAILER]
