Podcast Summary: Keep it Positive, Sweetie

Episode: "More Than What Meets The Eye" with Eva Marcille
Date: September 19, 2023
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Eva Marcille
Podcast Network: The Black Effect & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This heartfelt and empowering episode explores the multi-faceted journey of Eva Marcille—model, actress, mother, and unapologetic advocate for purpose, authenticity, and Black excellence. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett holds a candid, laughter-filled, and at times tearful conversation with Eva about self-worth, navigating show business, maintaining faith, advocating for oneself, the power of representation, and the transformative journey of motherhood.

The episode radiates encouragement and vulnerability, providing listeners with practical wisdom for personal growth, industry navigation, and the courage to keep it positive, sweetie.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Owning Your Identity & Confidence

• Eva’s Childhood and Upbringing:
  Raised in South Central LA by an unapologetically Black mother active in women’s liberation and a jazz musician father, Eva learned the importance of self-definition and not conforming for inclusion.

  • “You don't do what everyone else does because you're not like everyone else. And accepting that… I learned that it's not for me to be with everyone and for everyone. I'm for one person. It's God's purpose.” — Eva Marcille [03:12]

• Discovering Self in College and Beyond:
  Attending Clark Atlanta University shaped Eva’s sense of self—academically, culturally, and spiritually.

  • “At Clark, I was on the dean's list, super Academic Debate and Forensic Society. So that was like my outlet, my release.” — Eva Marcille [06:17]

• Reinforcing Self-Worth Despite Opinions:
  Eva rejects societal pressure to conform, learning to ignore outside noise and focus on God-given purpose.

  • “People will always have opinion, but their opinions don't define me. They can't.” — Eva Marcille [03:44]

2. America’s Next Top Model & Redefining Beauty

• Unconventional Road to the Show:
  Eva shares her humble and humorous ANTM audition story—missing Atlanta auditions, road tripping to Memphis, and improvising her way into callbacks.

  • “I drove my little Nissan Sentra with a donut on one tag….We did not have a hotel room. I had just enough money to make it to Atlanta, to Memphis and back.” — Eva Marcille [07:33]

• Representation and Breaking Norms:
  Tyra Banks’ risk in casting Eva changed industry norms around beauty and Black representation.

  • “I think the biggest nod and flex—it’s not just winning the show. It is showing that beauty comes in so many different forms….Now today, it's like, clearly, why not?” — Eva Marcille [10:44]
  • “Tyra helped me be selective about my career choices. She taught me to earn it every day.” — Eva Marcille [12:09]

3. Grounded Faith & Living Purposefully

• Faith as Foundation:
  Eva credits her faith for grounding her amid fame and industry pressures.

  • “There's so many rooms I've been in, and it's just me and God. It's just me and him. He's the only one that's always, always, always, always been there. Always.” — Eva Marcille [13:22]

• On God’s Answers:

  • “God has three answers: yes, yes but wait, no because I have something better.” — Eva Marcille [14:04], a lesson from her mother.

4. Motherhood, Legacy, and Kindness

• Instilling Integrity in Children:
  Eva discusses raising her daughter Marley (and her two sons) with a focus on kindness, leadership, and inner strength.

  • “Remember, when you walk out of the house, always be a lady. You are a leader, not a follower. You are the head, not the tail. And be kind. Kindness, kindness. It's so important.” — Eva Marcille [39:05]

• Kindness as Beauty:
  Marley’s compassion at school moves Eva to tears, exemplifying the values she hopes to pass down.

  • “Be kind is to be beautiful. Kindness is the new beauty.” — Eva Marcille [42:04]

• Being a Safe Place:
  Eva wants her children to have the security to confide in her, regardless of their journey or identity.

  • “I want to be the person that said, keep drawing…I want to be the conduit, the circuit that makes her light continue to always shine.” — Eva Marcille [54:04]

5. Navigating the Business as a Black Woman

• Knowing Your Value:
  Eva stresses the power of negotiation—having the strength to say no, knowing your irreplaceability.

  • “I taught them or the business. They need me as much as I need that dollar…and the power of my negotiation is my ability to say no.” — Eva Marcille [18:13]

• Insisting on Authentic Representation:
  Eva advocates for Black beauty and hair representation on set, pushing for the normalization of natural hair and hiring of Black professionals.

  • “I wanted black girls and women, moreover, to know that the way their hair grows out of their hair is sexy, it is professional, it is beautiful, it is everyday…” — Eva Marcille [29:25]

• Changing the Room:
  When producers couldn’t find Black hairstylists, Eva used her platform to bring new talent into the industry.

  • “I went and found [a loctician] out of a hair salon who had never worked a day on set ever. Wow. She was head of hair.…Now she’s done every movie that company had since then.” — Eva Marcille [32:20]

6. Faith, Friendship, and Healing

• Finding Strength in Community:
  Eva opens up about church hurt, longing for authenticity in faith communities, and being drawn back to church by Crystal’s light.

  • “It was you. You were the reason I wanted to—your light.” — Eva Marcille [43:44]

• Reciprocity and Purpose in Giving Love:
  Eva reflects on the importance of giving love because it's a calling, not for direct reciprocity.

  • “You give love because your heart said, and God said you were charged to give love. God is going to make sure you receive something of that level and magnitude… it's gonna come.” — Eva Marcille [42:53]

7. Industry Challenges: Strikes & Hustle Mentality

• Impact of Hollywood Strikes:
  Eva details the financial pressures and broader reverberations throughout the entertainment industry, but keeps faith alive.

  • “I just know that my God has a plan, a big plan. He has such a plan. Yes, he does.” — Eva Marcille [58:42]

• Having Multiple Hustles:
  Eva’s always maintained several streams of income and encourages listeners to cultivate skills and ownership beyond their primary industry.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purpose & Self-Worth:
  “I've learned that I can only live for myself. I cannot focus on the world's idea of who they think I am or who I'm supposed to be. I can only be the best me.” — Crystal quoting Eva [01:04]

• On Negotiating Value:
  “You say no, then you gonna leave that money on the table. I'm not gonna leave that money on the table. I'm go pick up this other money. But because the bag that is for me is for me. You're not gonna find another me.” — Eva Marcille [18:13]

• On Representation:
  “If we don't [speak up], how do we get there? How do you get a location on set unless you tell someone? Closed mouth don't get fed.” — Eva Marcille [34:32]

• On Parenting for Kindness:
  “Be kind is to be beautiful. Kindness is the new beauty.” — Eva Marcille [42:04]

• On Faith and Friendship:
  “Your light has helped me through one of the toughest times of my life. ...If your light is on, it's gonna cast brightness on everything around you.” — Eva Marcille to Crystal [44:58]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Eva’s Upbringing & Early Lessons – [01:53] to [03:44]
• ANTM Journey & Redefining Beauty – [05:51] to [11:55]
• Faith and Staying Grounded – [13:06] to [14:41]
• On Being Unapologetically Black – [15:00] to [16:52]
• Negotiating Worth as a Black Woman – [17:02] to [19:52]
• Career Evolution: Modeling to Acting – [20:21] to [28:51]
• Representation on Set, Hair, and Glam – [28:54] to [35:01]
• Working with Devale Ellis – [35:17] to [38:03]
• Parenting, Kindness, and Marley – [39:00] to [43:20]
• Faith, Church Hurt, Community – [43:41] to [45:47]
• Motherhood Philosophy: Being a Safe Place – [50:22] to [54:19]
• Industry Strikes & Faith in Hard Times – [56:01] to [63:14]
• Listener Letter: Marriage Crossroads Advice – [64:03] to [69:52]
• What We’re Going Through / Growing Through – [70:03] to [73:55]
• Closing: Keep it Kind, Sweetie – [74:53] to End

Episode Takeaways

• Be Unapologetically Yourself: Define your worth from within, not by others’ opinions.
• Faith and Community Matter: Let your light shine, and allow authentic friends and faith to nourish you.
• Advocate for Yourself & Others: In personal life and business, set your standards; fight for representation and diversity.
• Practical Kindness is Power: Teach and model compassion; it is a transformative legacy.
• The Journey is the Joy: Embrace the growth, the hard-earned lessons, and the pauses.
• Keep it Positive, Sweetie: Hold onto hope, invest in multiple streams, and always choose gratitude.

Final Words

The episode concludes with the recurring affirmation to “keep it kind, sweetie” and “keep it gracious, sweetie,” encapsulating the entire conversation’s theme—authenticity, faith, kindness, and positive growth.