Ten Seasons Later: Growth, Boundaries & Becoming

Summary

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Keep It Positive, Sweetie – “Ten Seasons Later: Growth, Boundaries & Becoming”

Podcast: Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett (The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Ten Seasons Later: Growth, Boundaries & Becoming
Air Date: March 22, 2026

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Overview

This episode is a deep, personal reflection by Crystal Renee Hayslett as she celebrates ten seasons of the TV series “Sistas” and explores what it means to embody growth, boundaries, and becoming—both as her character, Fatima, and in her own life. It's an intimate look at navigating visibility, evolving in public, and balancing the realities of fame, womanhood, and community building.

Crystal shares lessons learned from her decade-long journey, discusses Fatima’s transformation, touches on real-world issues addressed in the show, and highlights the impact of “We Got You, Sis” community events. The tone is honest, encouraging, and intentionally positive—a hallmark of her “Keep It Positive, Sweetie” movement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Weight and Gift of Ten Seasons

• Milestone Reflection:
  Crystal recognizes the significance of a decade on air, emphasizing that longevity is about more than numbers—it's about “evolution.”

  “10 seasons is not just about longevity. It’s about evolution. And it’s about women who have been watching from the very beginning.” (03:18)

• Audience Engagement:
  The consistent investment of viewers is described as a form of trust and community building.

2. Fatima: Then and Now

• Character Development:
  Fatima’s journey from Andy’s nameless assistant to a developed, beloved character parallels Crystal’s personal and professional growth.

  “Where Fatima began, season one to where she is now is leaps and bounds.” (04:10)

• Growth & Maturity:
  Fatima is now more intentional, less reactionary, focused on law school, starting a family, and carefully balancing relationships and self-interest.

• Portraying Pregnancy:
  Crystal discusses researching real women’s experiences to authentically depict Fatima’s pregnancy, showing more calculated restraint and sharper boundaries.

• Strength and Restraint:

  “Season 10, Fatima doesn’t feel so reactive… her strength feels quieter. She’s not busting windows out of cars this season.” (08:12)

3. Navigating Fame and Visibility

• Public Perception:
  Crystal discusses the blurring of her identity with Fatima and how fame shifted her day-to-day life, requiring more discipline and self-care.

• Identity Boundaries:

  “Everywhere I go, I’m Fatima. I’m no longer Crystal… I’ve had to learn how to hold space for both the woman who plays Fatima and the woman who is still growing.” (21:30)

• Maintaining Softness:
  Crystal champions the power of vulnerability, emphasizing that “the strongest thing about you can honestly be the thing that keeps you the softest.” (22:55)

4. The Stakes: In Life and On Screen

• Higher Stakes:
  Season 10 deals with layered, high-stakes issues, including pregnancy, career, and Black maternal health—a reflection of real challenges faced by the viewers.

• Grounded Conversations:
  Storylines are more measured, intentionally mirroring real-life challenges.

  "These are real things that people really go through. I love that we're touching on all these different topics.” (10:23)

• Real-World Parallels:
  Theme of “We Got You, Sis” events emphasizes Black women’s healthcare and the importance of safe, supportive community spaces.

5. Craft, Longevity, and Discipline

• Acting Approach:
  After ten seasons, Crystal discusses “experiencing” her character’s growth firsthand and the discipline required to maintain consistency, self-care, and creative freshness.

• Separation of Roles:

  “Crystal ends when Armani Ortiz says ‘and action’, and Fatima begins. Once I’m off that camera, Fatima’s done.” (29:25)

• Unexpected Growth:
  She’s surprised at story arcs and Fatima’s ability to set aside pride and collaborate with former adversaries (e.g., Hayden).

6. Impact and Responsibilities

• Community Resonance:
  Crystal shares moving anecdotes from fans—like a man who began weekly discussions with his family because of the show.

  “It’s bigger than me. This is a community. ‘Sistas’ is a whole tribe.” (38:00)

• The Power of Listening:
  Listening is highlighted as an underappreciated but vital form of leadership and connection, shaped by both therapy and community events.

• Representation:
  Crystal stresses the importance and responsibility that comes with telling stories that reflect and impact the experiences of Black women.

7. Personal Growth and “Becoming”

• Maturity & Discipline:
  Growth is reframed as layered and intentional, not always dramatic. Crystal acknowledges her own evolving boundaries and ambitions.

• Entrepreneurial Lessons:
  As she builds new ventures (hair care brand, podcast, sports ownership), she discusses the unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship and the importance of structure and ambition.

• Advice for Listeners:

  “The biggest thing that I think people miss when it comes to getting to where you want to get to and who you want to become is the discipline. It's the structure and ambition.” (44:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Consistency, Trust, and Community:

  “It’s about you choosing to come back every single week… what feels different to me in this season is not the chaos, it’s the maturity.” (03:42)

• On Fatima’s Pregnancy and Change:

  “Responsibility shifts the posture, and the stakes aren’t just emotional—they’re structural, they’re long term.” (08:24)

• On Fame & Boundaries:

  “Playing Fatima and being on this dynamic show has definitely made me more aware of my own boundaries. ‘No’ is my favorite word. I love it.” (23:26)

• On Softness as Strength:

  “There’s so much strength in a soft woman. I think we’ve taken on this armor of ‘I gotta be so strong’… but find those moments to be soft—even with yourself.” (24:28)

• On Separating Crystal from Fatima:

  “It’s very important as an actor to be able to know how to separate yourself from your character… especially when you’re playing roles that are intense.” (29:42)

• On Discipline:

  “How I do one thing is how I do everything. Discipline is everything to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t disciplined.” (31:38)

• On Impact:

  “A fan came up and said: ‘It’s because of you that I talk to my mom and sisters every Wednesday night.’ I realized then that it’s bigger than us. This is a community.” (38:00)

• On Real Life Growth:

  “Season 10 reminded me that maturity is not loud. It’s intentional, and protecting your peace requires discipline. Growth requires awareness.” (43:00)

• On Becoming:

  “As I am doing this, I am failing as I’m growing and as I’m becoming. And as I’m learning it, I’m able to teach the next person coming up. I love it.” (44:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Anniversary Reflections: 03:08–05:00
• Fatima’s Evolution & Growth Parallels: 05:00–10:30
• Pregnancy’s Impact on Character & Performance: 10:30–14:05
• Boundaries, Visibility, and Public Life: 21:03–25:00
• On Longevity and Maintaining the Craft: 29:23–36:45
• Community Impact & “We Got You, Sis”: 37:30–41:30
• Personal Growth, Entrepreneurship & Final Thoughts: 43:00–46:30

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Conclusion

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to growth—for a character, an actress, and a community. Crystal shares authentic, vulnerable insights about navigating public life, setting boundaries, and embracing continuous evolution. The “Keep it Positive, Sweetie” movement shines as a space for healing, growth, and support, both on and off screen.

If you’re craving inspiration, authenticity, and real talk about what it means to grow—through fame, womanhood, or just everyday challenges—this episode is for you.

Transcript

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[Crystal Renee Hazel]

Welcome to the Keep It Positive Sweetie show. A space where we heal, grow and learn together. Today's episode is personal, y'. All. We are 10 seasons into Sistas and over 1 million viewers tuned into the season 10 premiere. And when I sit with that, it just feels bigger than numbers. It feels like growth, not just for the show, but for me, too. So today I want to talk about what season 10 really feels like from my perspective. What shifted for Fatima and what visibility has taught me and what it means to grow in public while still becoming. Let's get into it, guys. 10 seasons is not something that I take lightly. I mean, when I really sit with it, 10 seasons is not just about longevity. It's about evolution. And it's about women who have been watching from the very beginning. You know, it's about how many seasons of life that we have lived while this show has been unfolding. My goodness, when I think about it, it's been crazy. Season 10 premiered with over 1 million views and with me. And for me, honestly, guys, that wasn't just a number. It's about consistency. It's about trust, and it's about you choosing to come back every single week. And what feels different to me in this season. It isn't the chaos. It's the maturity. It's the conversations that feel layered, the tension that feels earned and doesn't feel like we're watching reactions anym. It feels like we're watching decisions. I love that. So let's unpack it, shall we? Can we unpack a little bit? What does it mean to carry a character into a tenth season? Man, where Fatima began, season one to where she is now is leaps and bounds. And I don't take that privilege or responsibility because it's a privilege. But it's also a responsibility to carry a character for 10 seasons. I don't take it lightly. It's an Honor, you know, to watch her grow, to see her really come into her own. You know, in the beginning, she was Andy's assistant. Fatima didn't even have a name. So to see where she is now and to be a household name that everybody loves, it's an honor. And I'm just grateful that I'm able to play this character that so many of you resonate with. So it's definitely been an honor. How does it feel knowing so many people are still invested? Listen, it is mind blowing, okay? It blows my mind every week when I see you guys in the comments and you're on Twitter and you're on threads and you're talking about this show, and we are. This is 10 seasons later, and you're still just as invested as you were season one. It's amazing to know that what Tyler Perry has built for us by us, is standing the test of time. And I'm just grateful to be a part of this journey and to have you guys along with us. Where do I feel the growth most? In the show or in myself? In both. I'll start with Fatima. I feel like Fatima1, she's finally taking law school serious. She's in a relationship. She's pregnant. She loves her fiance, but she also loves her girls. And watching her learn to balance that, because for so long, Fatima was just like, I'm about my girls, my girls, my girls. And a lot of times Zach would. He would kind of feel a way about that. So to see her being forced to finally choose herself, her child, and her man is beautiful, you know, and finding balance, but still being there for her girls. And as far as Crystal, I would say that in the past six years, I have grown in so many different ways. You know, I was a lot younger. I don't feel like I really had a lot of direction. I knew what I was trying to do, but to step into this new space and this new world was just. It was scary, you know? And to see how much I've learned during this time, how I've matured, and even with this podcast, how I've been able to step off the camera and off set and then come and sit in front of this camera and talk to you all about who I am and bring people on to really share our worlds with you, has been amazing. And the community we've built through, keep it positive. Sweetie is. It's my baby, and I'm so proud of it. And the places that we're going and will continue to go, I'm really excited about it. But I have grown leaps and bounds through this. Just even being pushed into the limelight and attaining fame and wealth has been something that I've had to adjust to as well. You know, being able to go to Target or Walmart and shop without anybody knowing you is different. When you go and as soon as you get out of the car, somebody's like, is that Fatima? So adjusting to that and understanding that it comes along with it, but it's something that I carry with pride, and I'm honored to be someone that you guys know and that you watch both on Sistas and on Keep it positive, sweetie. So thank you, guys. Does this season feel more grounded than explosive? I mean, we're talking about Courtney Glade here. The man is just. I don't know if there's grounded in Courtney. Claudette. I'm not sure if those two words go in the same sentence. I'm joking, Courtney. I'm joking. We've seen what Courtney does online, so we're not gonna do anything to ruffle his feathers today. But no, I feel like it's both. You know, I feel like this is tv. We need the explosiveness, and we need the groundedness equally the same. And I feel like these characters are definitely showing growth. We're evolving, and you're seeing us make wiser decisions. Some of us are. Me still making decisions where I'm thinking haphazardly. I'll just call it baby brain. I don't know. But I think that you are seeing some of the characters mature. You're seeing us go through some things that have been hard to go through and hard for you all to watch. But these are real things that people really go through. So I love that we're touching on all these different topics. Fatima then versus now. Mm. Okay. When Fatima first entered the chat in season one, she was strong. She was clear, direct, but she was also navigating some instability. A lot of her strength was about protecting and even protecting herself in response to what was happening around her. Season 10, Fatima doesn't feel so reactive, does she? I don't know. But she also feels intentional. Pregnancy changes the lens. Responsibility shifts the posture, and the stakes aren't just emotional. They're structural. They're long term. All right, we in and out. Zach is not playing with me. It's about civility, and she's not proving herself anymore. I think she's beyond that moment and portraying this. It requires a different type of discipline. All right, so let's get into season 10. Fatima, what she got going on? All right, what is season 10 Fatima no longer entertaining? Mm, that's good. What? Is she no longer entertaining in season 10? I don't know if Fatima has entertained a lot, you know? Well, she. She definitely entertained. No B.S. you know, she has a family to worry about. She's not entertaining anything that is blocking or distracting her from her goals. She's in law school. She's focused, you know, she's focused on the family. She's focus. Focused on longevity and securing a legacy for her. Her family. Yeah, I don't know. I don't. Entertaining self fatigue. Never really entertained too much that didn't stand for what she was already trying to go for. This is good. How has pregnancy shifted the way I approach her emotionally? So I've never carried a child. So I've had to talk to my friends who are mothers to see how do you act now, you know, when you're pregnant or how do your hormones change and what is. What shifts happen as you become a mother and your maternal instincts kick in. And I've taken those things, kind of doing interviews and case studies on my friends who are mothers and asking them, and I'll take that into the character. So you may see me a little more snappy, you know, without really thinking, because I can't help it. My hormones are all over the place. I'm pregnant, so that's one thing, but trying to think what else? She's a little more calculated. You know, Fatima has never been the one to just, okay, that's a lie. She has been known to fly off the handle a few times and react. Yeah. But I feel like this season in her life, she's more calculated. She knows that she is carrying precious cargo, and Zach reminds her of that all the time. Does her strength feel quieter? Now, that's a good question, too. Does her strength feel quieter? It's definitely quieter. She's not busting windows out of cars this season. I mean, last night, y' all saw. She's back up to her old ways, though. She about to go wreck somebody. But I feel like anything Fatima does is warranted. She don't mess with nobody who don't mess with her or the people she loves. I know that much. So she's only allowed when she has to be. What surprised me about her restraints this season, I definitely had restraints with Cheyenne when she was all over my man. I didn't like that. Okay, Cheyenne, listen. We're gonna have to have a talk, all right? When Cheyenne came to the law firm and her and Zach were having this moment and Andy and I walked in, I was like, all right, Andy, get your sister. You know? So that was a moment where I was like, okay, girl, I'm proud of you. You pulled the tissue out and said the gun. That was good. That was good. That's growth. That's what we're talking about this season. Where do I see the biggest shift from season one to now? Man, the biggest shift that I see from season one to now is honestly the evolution of the characters. You know, where we are now, what we're doing. And I wouldn't say it's leaps and bounds, because this time period is not a very long time period that we've crossed from season one to season 10. Each season is just a few days, so sometimes a week, if that. So we try to push the stories so that we can continue to show growth in different ways and keep the storylines moving. But I feel like from season one to now, I feel like the stories and characters are layered even more than they were before because we've had so much to build off of, and I think that would be the biggest thing. Let's talk higher stakes and shifting dynamics. What stands out to me about this season is the stakes, honey. They are high, okay? When life changes, the emotional temperature changes, and pregnancy, it shifts the way relationships feel. The future feels closer. Stability feels urgent. And when you're building something long term, you notice that the small missile alignments, you kind of notice a little more. Right. Not in a dramatic way, but in a more layered way. So there's something about trust this season that feels more intentional. It feels more aware and less impulsive. And Fatima isn't reacting to instability anymore. She's evaluating the sustainability. We like that for her, and that's different. All right, let's unpack that. How does pregnancy change the way Fatima handles attention? I think she has less bandwidth for attention. You know, like, you already understand when you're pregnant everything that you go through. The baby feels. Well, I don't know that, but I heard that from all my baby mothers. That's what they said. They said, whatever you feeling the baby gonna feel, so you gotta be calm. Okay? So I think Fatima tries to. She stands up for what she needs to stand up for and takes on what she needs to take on. But anything she doesn't, she's like, I don't have the time or the bandwidth for that. I love that for her boundaries. We like that. What does security mean to her now? It means everything. I feel like everything that Zach is doing, everything that he's done, we talked about trust. Zach is showing Fatima that he is ready for a family. And sometimes Fatima is the one doing stuff, and Zach is the more stable when in the relationship. That's crazy. But I feel like he has built a home for me to feel secure and stable, to bring our child into. And that is something that I love about our relationship and where we are now, because there was times and seasons, child, where I was like, in the car, bags. Y' all know Fatima quick to pack them bags and get in the car and go, all right. But, yeah, now I feel like we have more security in our relationship. Does she move slower when something feels off? Yes. We talked about Fatima being more calculated. She gonna think things through. She's not so quick to jump off the cliff. You know, there was a time where she was like, well, we got pop, pop ready all the time. Y' all remember that scene? I don't remember what season it was, but Fatima was getting. I mean, Andy was getting jumped in the garage, and Fatima jumped out the car and pulled the gun out, you know? Now I don't know if Fatima would do that. You know, she might think things through for a second because she could get hurt. So, Andy, please don't. Don't get jumped and get no fights, all right? Cause I. I can't do nothing, sis. All right. I got you, girl. We got you, sis. I'm joking. Are the conversations this season more measured? I do believe they are. And shout out to Courtney Glaude, our writer for this season of Sistas, and our director, Armani, who allows us the time to really have these conversations and flush them out and make sure that we are getting the points and the things that we want to get across our audience. You, the women that watch the show, and the men who are supporting the beautiful women that watch this show. I think it also helps the conversations we have. Have our conversations that are helping the family dynamic for the viewers that are watching. It's helping relationships. I see so many people that are healing so many relationships that are being mended by these conversations because they are more measured. And we're thinking about what you all and what we all as a culture are going through. And I think that's very important when it comes to the writing, to make sure that we are touching on things that are relatable so that we can see the change that we want to see. Where do I see the stakes affecting her posture the most? There's a lot going on with Andy and the threats that she's been getting. There's a lot going on with, I guess you would say, the things that kind of overlapped when Karen was pregnant and having her child. I think we're dealing with that right now. And the stakes are really high because the cases that Andy is working on right now are one cases that could change delivery outcomes for a lot of women if we win this case. And this is something that we see statistically. Black women all across the nation and I'm sure in other countries are not given the proper health care or taken care of as much as our counterparts. So I. I'm excited and happy that we're touching on this. But it's also one of those things where this is like a high stakes. Andy is like, she's in over her head with this because one, she has a friend that she almost lost due to pregnancy mortality. And then being the woman that has met with all these other women that dealt with the same thing. And then we go out and we have the we got you, sis. Events where we're hearing women tell their stories, saying, I went through that too. I know so many of my friends who have stories, whether it was them or someone in their family that went through that as well. So that's probably one of the things that definitely changed Fatima's posture, you know? Cause she was a little aloof, trying to do the athlete thing and trying to do her own thing and not really paying attention to what Andy was really working towards and understanding the stakes that were. That were at place right there for what she had going on. All right, let's talk about visibility and identity. There is something that happens when you play a strong woman on television. For years, people begin to associate you with her. Everywhere I go, I'm Fatima. I'm no longer Crystal. They see her boundaries, and they assume that they are yours. They also see her firmness and assume that's how you operate all the time. And I've had to learn how to hold space for both the woman who plays Fatima and the woman who is still growing. Guys, visibility changes how people approach you. It changes how they even have the expectations for you. And it also changes how people assume how strong you are. And sometimes the strongest thing about you can honestly be the thing that keeps you the softest. All right, so let's see. Do people project Fatima onto me?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Crystal Renee Hazel]

All the time. They're like, fatima, I know that's not your name, but, hey, Fatima, I love it. Y'. All, listen, first of all, I love it because that means you're watching the show, and that means I still got a job. So thank you for that. But for guys like. Yes, but yeah, people do. They project that on me all the time, but they don't try to project because I do such a good job. And I'm very intentional about making sure that what you see on Keep it positive, Sweetie shows you who Crystal is. We have the character and definitely have similarities for Fatima and Crystal, for sure. But I think you guys know who Crystal is by now. Has playing her shaped how I carry myself publicly? I mean, honestly, being on tv, I feel like it shapes. It's gonna shape you anyway, because, one, everybody's on you. You don't know if a camera's on you at all times. So you just have to be on point and on guard at all times, you know, because somebody's watching, somebody's gonna see you. It definitely has shaped how I am in public and how I carry myself. One, because I wanna make sure that I'm constantly representing myself well. I'm constantly representing the brand. Well, and not only the brand, but also sistas brand. Cause everything you do, once you become a household name or become famous and you have your own brand, you're not only carrying yourself a certain way for yourself, it's for everybody else that comes along with that. So I never want anybody to be like, oh, did you see that girl from Tyler Perry Sisters out doing all this? No. Like, every time you see me, I like to have a good time. I'm gonna have some fun. But at the end of the day, you're never gonna be able to say anything negative or I was out here acting crazy. We not gonna do that. I'm gonna make sure everybody around me, I'm gonna make them look good. All right. You know how your mama say, all right, don't come out here embarrassing me. I ain't gonna embarrass y', all, I promise. Has it made me more aware of my own boundaries? Absolutely. Playing Fatima and being on this dynamic show has definitely made me more aware of my own boundaries. Made me aware of when I need to say no or when I need some me time, when I need to pour in the crystal. Because what I signed up for is a. It's a version of ministry, you know, and so I'm constantly pouring into other people. But I also have to make sure I'm very intentional about how I pour into myself so I can be the best crystal for you guys and show up for Fatima. Because if I'm not poured into myself, I can't show up to work and give you guys the best version of Fatima and give that character what she deserves as well. So definitely boundaries are so important. And know is my favorite word. I love it. Don't ask me anything. Nobody. No, that is my answer. I'm joking. I say yes to a lot. Hence why I'm doing this right now. Yes, absolutely. I'll do it. How do I maintain softness while portraying firmness? You know what? There is, I feel like there's so much strength in a soft woman. It really is. And I think we've taken on this armor of like, I gotta be so strong and I gotta be this. Yes, we do have to be those things. Especially women bosses. All my women bosses. There is a part of the job that calls for us to be strong, but there also are parts of our lives where we can like take that off and be soft. Whether it's with your man, with your family, your friends, find those moments. Or even with yourself. Honey, it don't have to be for anybody else. Else find those moments to be soft. I know I do because when I finish this, I want to get a massage. You know, like just little soft girl area. I need that. All right. So yeah, maintain it at all times. You don't have to. There's always a space for softness for women. That's what I believe.

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[Crystal Renee Hazel]

Where does Crystal end and Fatima begin? Crystal ends when Armani Ortiz says and action. And Fatima hold on. Yeah. And then Fatima begins then. And then she also ends when he goes. And that is a camera. Rap on Crystal. Renee Hazel, who plays Fatima. Once I'm off that camera, Fatima's done. When you see me, when I'm in my room or if you see me out in public, that's Crystal. I don't carry Fatima off the set. I can't. It's just too much. And I don't know if y' all want that. Y' all want a Fatima out here running around on the loose. I don't know if y' all like that, but yeah, definitely. I think there's a. It's very important as an actor to be able to know how to separate yourself from your character because it can get a little. A little tricky if you don't. I think that's for every actor, especially when you're playing roles that are or a little intense. You want to be able to have that cut off where you're like, all right, I'm done. Now let's talk about longevity and craft. You know, I'm all about the longevity. And guys, there is something subtle about staying in character for nearly 10 seasons. You don't have to just perform her growth. You honestly experience it with her. Longevity requires consistency and it requires discipline and it requires awareness. You have to honor who she is while allowing her to evolve. And as I've grown personally, I've definitely understood her. There Are traits that I feel closer to her and to me now than I did before. And there are moments that land differently now than they would have in season two. So let's unpack it. All right. You can stop it. All right. What has nearly 10 seasons taught me about discipline? Man, Everything. You know, I feel like 10 seasons of anything, especially on a show, your territory enlarges. I've always prayed like God, enlarge my territory. Enlarge it. And now I feel like it is definitely being enlarged and I'm being stretched. But with that comes discipline because to be able to obtain and sustain anything, it requires discipline. So I've had to be very structured in my scheduling, structured in my rest, taking care of my body. And that comes with being on a TV show. You know, schedules change, things change, and we shoot so fast. I can't not take care of myself and live a disciplined life and be able to jump in and jump out of this character. So I would say how I do one thing is how I do everything. And discipline is everything to me. I wouldn't be where I am today if I wasn't disciplined. And I tell anybody that who's. Who has dreams, who wants to be successful, who wants to do anything, that maybe that will take some work, which most things do. If you want to be great at it, you got to have discipline. Point blank, period. Have I seen Fatima grow in ways that surprise me? Yes. Yes. Hayden and Fatima. The fact when. When they wrote Hayden and Fatima working together with those NBA players, I said, I know you lying and I know the audience said the same thing because when I say arch nemesis, listen, I could not stand Hayden. Do you hear me? But I was really surprised about that. And I was surprised at the growth of Fatima to be able to put her pride aside and put any differences that they had aside to come together and work. And I loved my scenes with Hayden, Matt. I really. I was like, why did y' all change it? Because I really wanted to continue working with him because, one, he is funny as hell. He's funny. So funny. And then people like, actually, they're like, I actually like this dynamic seeing them two work together because they hated each other for so long. How do I keep her fresh for the audience? Honestly, I have no control over that. I have no control over keeping Fatima. All I can do is do what Courtney Glaude and what Tyler have written for all these years. It took me a long time not to judge the character. It took me a long time to just come in and get the script and Be like, all right, bet this is what we're doing, you know? So for me, it's really about doing, performing what's on the script. Yeah, that's up to Courtney. Keep me fresh, Courtney. All right. For the audience. How do I stay present in character? How do I stay present in a character? People feel they already know. One of the biggest things about acting is being present. So when I get to work and I've clocked in as Fatima, I am that. And. And honestly, I think that she is a character everybody knows, whether it's on TV or in their real life. Everybody knows a Fatima, the girl that's gonna be right there with you. A girl that's ready to fight whoever, whenever, wherever. I feel like we all know that ride or die that's in our tribe. And the way I stay present in it is I just live in that world until we rap. Has longevity changed how I approach acting as a whole? Yes. Having longevity and being on a show for 10 seasons, I don't go into it in flight or flight mode. It's like, okay, I'm okay. I can breathe. You know, I don't go into it thinking that the rug is gonna be ripped under me, out from under me at any moment. You know, knowing that I've honored and steward over the 10 seasons that I had has given me the space to breathe. Because the industry that we're in, it can cause you to approach it in a way of like, oh, my God, is this going to be gone tomorrow? Like, I got to. I got to stay on things, and. Yes, you do, because the reality of it is, yes, it could all end tomorrow. We hope it doesn't, but that's the reality of this industry. So I would say longevity has definitely helped me move with a little more ease, confidence, and trust. And just knowing that whatever is for me is going to be for me. And we're in 10 seasons, and if it's God's will, we'll have 10 more or 20 more or however long General Hospital and Days of our Lives. And I haven't been going, we can go that long, too. I would love that. We got you, sis. And real life impact. One thing I appreciate about Sisters is that it doesn't stop when the credits roll. We got you, sis wasn't about just extending the brand. It was about extending the conversation. The show surfaces ambition, heartbreak, boundaries, friendship, tension, delayed timelines, career pressure, and real life women. We're navigating it all. We really are. And listening to women in those spaces, it really changed me. It Deepened my awareness. It reminded me that representation is not casual. It really does matter. And sometimes leadership. It looks like listening. It honestly does. All right, let me stop that. All right. What have women shared that have stayed with me? Okay. What have women shared that stayed with me? Honestly, one of the most memorable moments with a fan interaction was a man. He came up to me and said, it's because of you that I talked to my mom and sisters every Wednesday night. And I said, what? And he said, yes. He said, my sister got me watching the show. He said. And we didn't really talk like that. And now, because of the show, we sit down every Wednesday and we recap and talk about what happened on sistas. And I was like, wow. And in that moment, I realized that it's bigger than me. It's bigger than all of us on the show. This is a community. Like, we're entire. Sistas is a whole community. It has its own tribe. And it's bigger than just the people that are on TV understanding the lives that we touch. There have been so many women that have come up and said, man, like, I am Fatima. I'm that ride or die girl. But sometimes I don't feel like I'm poured into. And sometimes I feel like I'm just giving and giving, giving I'm not getting back. And I see myself so in. In you so much. Or my husband or my boyfriend was locked up, and now he's out. And I'm trying to figure out how to live this life with him being out now and adjusting to that and the fact that Fatima is that outlet and the mirror for so many of those women. And it's absolutely beautiful to know that our characters are letting them know that they're not alone and we're bringing families together. That's super dope. How has listening shaped how I portray certain moments? Listening is everything. I think therapy taught me to listen and not react. And when it comes to the we got you, sis events that we do, actually sitting down, face to face with these women that watch us week after week, it's something about just listening. Sometimes they just need us soft landing place, you know, like a lot of us do. And to be that for them is a beautiful moment. And everybody is not looking for a response. Sometimes it's like, I just need to get that out, you know, and to be that for them. I absolutely love it. Why do women resonate so deeply with these dynamics? Honestly, I think women resonate with these dynamics and these activations because a lot of times they're the ones carrying everything, they're the ones that are carrying their friends, they're carrying their relationships, they're carrying their families. And a lot of times they don't have anybody to really talk to. So when they can come to these events, we have nail salons, we do spas and workout sessions, wellness, all the things. And to see them come in and have a moment just for themselves, sometimes they don't get that. And when we're ambitious, we have all these goals, and we're just running and trying to succeed at everything that we wanna do. That oftentimes we don't take time for ourselves because we're carrying so much. So I love that when they can come to these events, they're actually able to sit down, be heard, they're able to be seen. And sometimes you need to feel seen as well. So I feel like everything that we got you SIS is doing at these events is giving black women everything they need. And that's why they resonate with it so much. What responsibility comes with representing their stories? It's a huge responsibility. It really is. And it's an honor to be able to tell these stories. And I don't take it lightly. Every time I get a new script, I look at different ways to make sure that I'm telling the story. Whether it's the emotion that I'm giving or being nonchalant about something, whatever energy and emotion I need to bring to that, I want to make sure that I'm giving it so that the woman or the man, whoever's watching the other side of the screen feels it. You know, so the. The responsibility that comes with it, it's. It's a big one. It really is. And there's not a lot of shows on television that are telling our stories. So that makes it even more important and powerful. Why is safe space important beyond television? It's so important. People forget about community. They forget about talking to one another. We're on our phones all day long. We're talking. We're just steady typing and watching videos. And human interaction is so important. So I think that beyond the television, keeping these conversations going, whether it's with your girlfriends or coming to a We got you SIS event, or talking to your man or whoever. Whoever. Or journaling about it, whatever the case may be, it's something about keeping this going on beyond TV so that we can continue to see change in our community and culture. Year let's talk about personal growth. Season 10 reminded me that maturity is not loud. It's intentional and protecting your Peace requires discipline. Growth requires awareness. And keeping it positive doesn't mean that you are ignoring the tension. It means handling it with clarity. As much as this season is about Fatima's evolution, it's also about mine. And we are still both becoming, and I love that for us. What did this season teach me personally? This season taught me that I have to continue to be mindful about what I have going on in my life. It taught me to be more disciplined. It taught me to listen more. We talked about that. It taught me to listen more, and it taught me to steward over what you've been giving before asking for more. That's what this season has taught me. What version of myself am I shedding? That is really good. My team might shake their head, but I'm trying. I'm trying to let go of, like, being so, like, controlling. They're like. I'm trying to. It's like a little. A little bit came up. It's trying to say goodbye. All right. What does protection look like in real life, man? Oh, that's good. Protection in real life looks like being seen. It feels like being heard. It feels like support. It feels like action behind the words. It feels like, hmm. What else does protection? I mean, it feels like being cared for. It feels like somebody has your back. And if I go here, I know I'm not going alone. That's what protection feels like to me. What does becoming look like for me right now? Wow. I have so many things going on in this season of my life. Building a hair care brand. I am still doing the podcast ownership for a soccer team. It's so many different things that I'm doing and so many more things that I want to do as an entrepreneur and understanding that every month. When you're an entrepreneur. Let me explain something to you. When you're an entrepreneur, one month can be great, and the next month can be like, lord, where is the help? Okay, and what have I gotten myself into? But what I am learning is you take those. Those down months where you're like, all right, y', all, we gotta regroup and figure this out. You take those moments and you learn from it and figure out how not to get back in that position. And as I am doing this, I am failing. As I'm growing and as I'm becoming and I'm learning the lessons as I'm becoming, and. And I love it, because as I'm learning it, I'm able to teach the next person coming up. So I'm not just keeping all these lessons to myself. I'm able to take these lessons and share them with the other young women that are coming behind me and young men that are coming behind me. So I am, yeah, I'm excited about who I'm becoming. Disciplined, discipline, discipline, discipline. I cannot hone that in and drill that in any more than I am. But the biggest thing that I think people miss when it comes to getting to where you want to get to and who you want to become is the discipline. It is the structure, and it's that ambition that you have to have that other people don't have, and that's how you get to where you want to get. So, yeah, that's what becoming looks like for me right now. Wow. Ten seasons later, and I understand something differently. Growth isn't dramatic, it's layered. Strength isn't always loud, it's intentional. And sisterhood isn't about staying the same. It's about growing. Honestly. Thank you guys so much for being with us on this journey. Make sure you guys watch Sisters every Wednesday on BET at 9A Central, and be sure to subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs it. And if you ever need some advice or positivity and want to share what you're going through with us, email [e-mail] and as always, stay blessed, stay encouraged. And in the meantime, in between time, y' all already know what to do. Keep it positive, sweeties. See y' all next time.

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[Danielle Fishel]

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