Tami Roman shows her model side for the latest issue of Rolling Out magazine. The Basketball Wives star chops it up with Rolling Out magazine about he portrayal on the VH1 show, her upcoming book, and more. Check out what she had to say below.
On why she joined “Basketball Wives?”
Well, I watched the first season of “Basketball Wives” and just felt like the things that I was going through weren’t really represented on the show. I had been a basketball wife, and now that I was divorced, things weren’t as golden as they portrayed on the show. I wasn’t eating out and getting manicures every day … and I wasn’t drinking all night, every night. That wasn’t my world, so for me, I felt like my individual story would be valuable.
You’re a television veteran, but were you prepared for the real-time responses and criticisms that celebrities now experience with social media?
When I did the “Real World,” we didn’t have Facebook, Twitter, or blogs, so I didn’t really know how people felt about the things that I did, [unless] they took the time to write a fan letter. So social media is very new to me, and it’s something I had to get used to because people will criticize you, judge you and lash out at you. People will feel like that can say anything to you and you’re just supposed to take it. I haven’t always done that because I’m a human being with feelings. So if you hurt me or my loved ones, I’m going to address it accordingly. I realize now that I can’t do that though, I can’t curse out every person who doesn’t like me on Twitter.
Do you feel like the producers have done a good job portraying you?
I think that the producers have done a fantastic job of blowing out of proportion one aspect of my personality. Now I’m not going to say that it’s the editing, and I’m not going to try and blame it on anything else, because Tami will go off on you [laughs] … that is a part of my personality. Whether you like it or not, I’m going to tell you the truth because I feel like everybody should be able to deal with the truth. That way, you can know what you’re dealing with. I’ve always been a big fan of that, of honesty and loyalty. So while what you see on TV is a part of my personality, it’s not all of who I am. I think that the audience who watches “Basketball Wives” is only seeing that aspect of my personality 100 percent magnified. They don’t see me working with my charity, and they didn’t see me when I was a part of corporate America going to work in a business suit every day. And they don’t see me with my mother, or me with my dude. There’s so much about me that you don’t see because that’s not what “Basketball Wives” wants to show.
You said that you are a fan of the truth. Do you ever have problems receiving the truth if it’s not what you want to hear?
I prefer the truth, and anybody that watches “Basketball Wives” knows that is all I asked … just be truthful with me, and if you have an opinion directly about my life, say it to me. Don’t talk behind my back. So whatever you have said, I think that everybody should be woman enough to bring those opinions or concerns to the person directly. When that’s not done, that’s when I really have a problem with you.
The word on the street is that you’re about to become an author. Is that true?
Yes! I’m working on my book, and I will say that several ladies on the show have books coming out … well, all of us except Suzie [laughs]. I know with my situation in particular, everybody knows me from the “Real World” and from “Basketball Wives.” I think that there is so much more to my life that they don’t know about and that they don’t get a chance to see. So I want to really open up myself to people to give a lot of backstory to me, my family, how I was raised, and the things I’m going through or have gone through. Hopefully, someone can read my book, understand my situation, and learn how to get through something similar that they may be going through. You have always come across as a very strong woman.
Do you ever have moments where you feel weak or vulnerable?
Yes, I do all the time. There was a point in my life where we fell on hardships. After years of spending money and living through people, I woke up one day and all of that money was gone. I was at an all-time low … I had to get on food stamps, I had to go get on medical assistance, and I cried a lot. But I realized that I did it to myself by trying to live up to images, and trying to live up to public perception rather than being true to myself. I vowed from that moment on that I didn’t want my daughters to see me this way, and that I was going to do whatever it took to bring us back to the top.
So how would you use your rediscovered platform to reach, influence and positively impact the world?
Well honestly, I’d love to be doing panels, expos, and things of that nature so I can speak directly to younger girls. I feel like wisdom is the best teacher, and I have been through a lot. That’s why I’m so hopeful that my book will actually come out, because I think people will be like “well damn, you’re still here, and you’re still standing and still fighting.” So I want to be able to use “Basketball Wives” and dilute the imagery that is seen on that show by doing panels, and doing expos so people can see the other side of me. Because I’m not always yelling, and I’m not always fighting … I’m just not always that person, so I would love to be able to mentor youth and give back. That’s the impact that I want to make on society.
Source: TheYBF
I believe that Tami is full of BS. As a mother and a women she, couldn’t give me any advice. What’s hard for me to understand is, you and EV talk about everyone on the show. So how can youn get upset and speak to these other women as if they are a child? As a black women that has already faced so many challenges in life, one would think that you had a little more character. I was shocked at your demeanor on Monday night. How can you share anything with young girls when you behave like one yourself on this show. It appears that Tami and Ev have gotten besides themselves and wants to be the stars of the show. What you are going to find is ratings are going to go down due to such negative behavior. I’m in disbelief that Shaunie is like a snake that just sit back and indulge in all of this ingorance. Many of you are really making black women look a hot mess on this show. I will not support your book. I will not support Ev and her cheating man show, and I hope the show gets better before you get canceled. I use to love watching Tami and she use to be my favortie, but honey I don’t know who told you that you have the right to speake to people the way that you do. Get a life!
One rule, if people say things to Tami’s face instead of behind her back, then they wouldn’t get the reaction they received. Val- if u don’t want to watch the show, change the channel…one monkey never stops a show…
This comment is so true. Tami is a hot mess anf Ev too. they really need to grow up. There daughters act more like woman then they do. they talk about each other and bully and pick on one another all the lime and all tami does is keep up drama. Shaunie I am really disapointed that you would he hanging and attaching your name to some mess like this all Shaunie does is sit there and watch them look like fools.