Loading summary
Transcript390 lines
- [00:00]
A
Foreign.
- [00:08]
B
Hello. Hello, this is Brooke Devard and you're listening to the Naked Beauty Podcast. And if you are hanging out with us here on YouTube, you are watching the Naked Beauty podcast. I am so excited for today's guest, Nia Renee Hill. Let's get into her bio. She is a writer, an actor, a producer, and a creator whose work spans comedy, television and digital media. She's appeared on shows like Santa Clarita, Diet and. And she had a fun Real Housewives of Beverly Hills appearance. She's produced multiple projects behind the scenes and became a fan favorite through her candid, funny, sharp appearances on the Monday morning podcast with comedian Bill Burr. More recently, Nia has stepped into a dynamic new chapter, building a growing food and lifestyle brand and whole content series with her show at the Table with Nia Renee Hill, championing black chefs in the world of fine dining. Today, I'm so excited to talk to her about her own personal transformation into a more visible, even more fabulous, even more stylish version of herself. We're going to talk about reinvention, self expression, and the second act of womanhood. Nia, welcome to Naked Beauty.
- [01:16]
A
Thank you. I'm so excited to be here. This has been a long time coming. This has been a long time coming.
- [01:23]
B
Yes.
- [01:23]
A
Did you first reach out to me about doing this podcast? Was. It was a long time ago.
- [01:27]
B
It was in 2016. Yeah, 2017.
- [01:31]
A
Yeah, yeah, I think 2017, actually. Yeah. You. You emailed me and I. It wasn't until after we became friends and corresponding that I went to look back. But yes, you emailed me in February, I think, of 2017. I had my daughter in January. Okay. So I was not in any place. I don't think I looked at emails for like a year.
- [01:51]
B
Okay. It's taken nine years that you're here, but we're here. But you're. We finally made it. Finally got you on the podcast.
- [01:57]
A
I love it. Thank you so much for having me.
- [01:59]
B
I am like, honestly, I mean, you know from me emailing you in 2017 that I am just like, longtime fan of yours.
- [02:07]
A
Thank you.
- [02:08]
B
And it's so funny, I told umout this, like, we were, like, gonna meet up for the first time. I think we were like, we had like a little. We, you know, we'd been dming and talking, and you're like, oh, meet me in la. We're gonna. I'm gonna go to the Prada store. I said, like, should I tell Nia this? And he was like, no, wait, absolutely. Don't tell her. But let me Tell you what, I'm gonna tell you now. So I lived in London. Picture this. I'm living in London in my flat. I'm a single woman. No, man, it's just me. And I have a lot of time at home because I just basically, I go to work and I come home. Someone made a YouTube compilation of like all of the times that you've been on your husband's podcast. Build their podcast. It's like a three hour long YouTube series, but it's just of your appearances. And I would listen to that all the time. No way. All the time. Oh, my God. So often. Just this, like, compilation of all of the times you've been on the podcast. And I told him that. I was like. He was like, don't. He's like, that's honestly so creepy. He was like, don't tell her that.
- [03:04]
A
No, I love that. No, I actually will sometimes consume some of that media myself because I've forgotten a lot of the times that I was on there. So I like revisiting it too. It was really, really fun.
- [03:15]
B
Yes. And you're just. To me, you are like, I know you're not a comedian yourself. I mean, like, are you. Do you consider yourself a comedian?
- [03:22]
A
I'm not.
- [03:23]
B
But I mean, you're so funny.
- [03:24]
A
Right? I think that's the thing. I think I'm just really funny, but I'm not a comedian. I don't know that I could necessarily go on stage and like, write and act and do that sort of thing. I like being funny with, like, friends and in social situations more. So there's never been any kind of desire or draw for me to be on stage doing comedy. I'd rather just like, make you laugh, you know? That's how I feel.
- [03:45]
B
Okay. I want to go back to the very beginning. You're little Nia.
- [03:49]
A
Yes.
- [03:50]
B
You're growing up kind of like between two households, right?
- [03:53]
A
Yeah.
- [03:53]
B
And also like kind of different parts of the country.
- [03:56]
A
Yes, that's right.
- [03:58]
B
Did you feel beautiful growing up? What was your early relationship to Beauty?
- [04:02]
A
Wow, that's a great question. You know. No, I don't think that I felt particularly beautiful growing up. I was never, you know, that girl that got told by adults like, oh, my God, you're so pretty. Oh, my God, you're so beautiful. I feel like maybe they weren't complimenting children back then like that. But no, I definitely never felt that that was, like, who I was. I think it was more like, oh, I'm smart, I'm funny. Maybe I'm like, kind of adorable. You know what I mean? But it was never like, oh, I'm this beautiful person. Like, I never grew up with that ideal. I think about that a lot, though, because I tell my daughter that a lot. I try to tell her that she's smart and all these other things too, but she hears she's beautiful a lot, and I wonder how that will kind of, like, affect her at all. You know, she kind of ignores a lot of that because she's so not into that. She's not a girly girl. She doesn't really care about being beautiful. She wants to be, like, funny and cool and, like, do athletics.
- [04:57]
B
How old is she now?
- [04:57]
A
She's eight.
- [04:58]
B
Okay. Yeah. I feel like I don't think I cared until I was 12. 12 is a real turning point for me.
- [05:04]
A
Yeah, Well, I think, too, when, like, boys are starting to notice other girls and you're talking about, like, being beautiful and, like, you know, your bra or whatever, like, that's when you kind of start to have this realization, like, wait, like, I want to be beautiful, I want to be noticed. I definitely went through that. For sure.
- [05:20]
B
Yes.
- [05:21]
A
Yeah.
- [05:21]
B
So when you. When you did want to feel beautiful and feel noticed, did you have early forays into, like, experimenting with makeup?
- [05:28]
A
Yeah, but my mom was so strict about it that I really couldn't do a whole lot. It was definitely more of, like, lip gloss on the low. Like, when I got that strict. Yeah, yeah. It wasn't. I never really had any makeup around her.
- [05:41]
B
Where's your mom from?
- [05:42]
A
She is from Boston.
- [05:43]
B
Okay.
- [05:44]
A
And I just. I never got the sense that that was something that she was into. My mother is very beautiful, and she's always taking care of herself. And I think she actually had some dreams of modeling for a little while, so maybe she wouldn't have been, but I just was kind of like, I'm just not trying to push it with her, you know, So I would just have my little lip gloss and stuff like that that I put on at school.
- [06:04]
B
At school? Was your dad strict?
- [06:06]
A
No, no. My dad was very, like, chill. It was interesting. You're talking about, you know, growing up in two places. So I grew up in Atlanta, mostly from Boston. Grew up in Atlanta, but my dad lived out here in la. So I had two very different growing up experiences. My dad worked in the entertainment industry. He managed comedians. So go figure that I would end up marrying a comedian.
- [06:25]
B
So, like, does that make you a Nepo baby? A little bit.
- [06:27]
A
A little bit. To be honest with you.
- [06:30]
B
Mia Hill, the Nepo baby, it's true.
- [06:32]
A
Well, when I started working at Comedy Central and MTV and in places like this, people knew my father. In the comedy space. Yes. Because he represented comedians. He, you know, he booked comedians on at Showtime at the Apollo, which is where I met Bill. So people definitely knew him and his friends were also in the business, of course. So I definitely had some, like, inroads to certain things. But, you know, you have to, like, take it to the finish line. That's the thing about the Nepo baby thing. It's like you can be a Nepo baby all day, but if you're not gonna do shit with it, then who cares? You know what I mean? So Dakota Johnson could just be like a drunk partying, you know, Nepo baby, but now she's like a movie star because she took it and she. She ran with it, you know.
- [07:13]
B
Right, right. So when you were with your dad in la, did you have more, like, license to experiment and do things with your beauty?
- [07:20]
A
Look, I definitely feel like I did. I think I took more of those chances. My dad and I were just talking about this the other day, so he made me go to summer school because I was struggling in math. And I was like this, why do I need to. I don't know these people. And I get, you know, I get to the school and I'm like, oh, my God, these are all the kids that, like, failed, you know, so of course I did great. But I went to Catholic school in Atlanta, so there was no makeup. There was uniforms every day. And when I got there, I'm like, everyone is just, the girls are full on makeup. They were curling their hair with a curling iron at school.
- [07:53]
B
Like, I couldn't even believe. Listen, welcome to la.
- [07:56]
A
I couldn't believe it. But it was then that I was like, okay, let me try to up my game a little bit. And I feel like at that time, we were definitely wearing like our Calvin Klein's, like peeking out of like a.
- [08:08]
B
Low slung jean, which is like back now.
- [08:10]
A
It's totally back now. And like a little teeny little, like cardigan type tank top. So I was definitely rocking that. I had a whole new identity during that summer because that was. I was not that girl. That was the LA Nia. Because Atlanta Nia was not that I was. So I didn't know what to wear or what to do because I think I was in a uniform all the time.
- [08:31]
B
Yes.
- [08:32]
A
I would just watch, like, BET and be like, how do I dress? Like swv, you know, and like, failing miserably.
- [08:39]
B
Yes.
- [08:39]
A
Yeah, I think I got some, like, fake cross colors. Do you remember cross colors?
- [08:44]
B
Are you.
- [08:44]
A
I was gonna say, are you old enough to know what that is?
- [08:46]
B
I do know what it is, but I don't think I knew of it, like, when it was happening in real time. But I'm very aware of what it is. Yes.
- [08:52]
A
Yeah. So I got some, like, fake cross colors and tried to do, like, the baggy. Like, I just. It was not. It was not my faul. But, you know, it's okay. We try. We experiment.
- [09:02]
B
Well, speaking of eras, you lived in Harlem in, like, the early 2000s.
- [09:06]
A
Yeah.
- [09:07]
B
Which was, like. It was like, the peak of, like, neo soul. It was also. It was like, kind of almost like pre Y2. Okay. What years were you in Harlem?
- [09:14]
A
2000 to 2004 or 5. I'm trying to think when I moved in with you.
- [09:19]
B
So you were there also during 9 11, which is, like, heavy.
- [09:21]
A
I was there during 9 11. I remember that day extremely vividly. But, yeah, no, Harlem. At that time, I knew that I wanted to move to Harlem because. Because I had read all about the Harlem Renaissance.
- [09:34]
B
All of the Harlem Renaissance, Yes.
- [09:35]
A
I obsessed with that era and learning all about it. And my father was working at it's Showtime at the Apollo, so I spent a lot of time in Harlem. A lot of us kids whose parents worked at that show during the summers. We were all interns, so we were all running around, actually. That's reminding me. I totally had a diddy run in. Yeah, I had to have him sign a release or something, but he didn't want to sign it, so we had somebody else sign it. And I remember, like, Mace like, lightly massaged my shoulders.
- [10:05]
B
Oh, my God.
- [10:05]
A
Was like, you like my massage? And I was like, oh, my God.
- [10:09]
B
Yeah.
- [10:09]
A
So bad boy for life, I guess. I don't know.
- [10:12]
B
Oh, my God.
- [10:13]
A
It was pretty wild.
- [10:14]
B
What was it? What was the beauty vibe in that time? Were you getting your hair braided? Were you, you know, braided? 25th street is like, every corner hair. Do you want your hair braided? Do you want your hair braided? You want your hair braided?
- [10:24]
A
Yes. I. I lived at 112 in St. Nick, and there was a braid shop right there I could walk to. It took, like, two minutes, maybe less. And so I sat there with the African ladies, you know, snatching your scalp to the high heavens. That shit was tighter than, you know, I don't even know what. But it stayed. It lasted.
- [10:42]
B
The Nollywood dramas, like, on a television screen, always, like, the most dramatic storylines.
- [10:47]
A
The most dramatic Storylines, they like craziest, like, posters and all kinds of things. And they used to have a gunpowder tea that they would drink, and it was, like, incredibly caffeinated. And so they would give that to me with sugar and I would just down it. And I was just like. But, yeah, that was sort of my. That was really my beauty experience was getting my hair braided. That was the one thing that I did on the regular, I think, every now and again when I would get my nails done and things like that. But it was mainly about braids.
- [11:14]
B
Yeah, for sure. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. It's such a unique experience going to a hair braiding shop in Harlem.
- [11:20]
A
Absolutely.
- [11:21]
B
I know.
- [11:21]
A
Yeah.
- [11:22]
B
Now, okay, when I say the term, like, second wind career, what comes up for you when you hear that term?
- [11:28]
A
I mean, it definitely feels familiar. Yeah, it definitely feels like where I am. I think what it means is you kind of have this growth period in your life where you have maybe what you thought you wanted to do or what you thought you were going to do, and then life happens, and then you sort of rediscover this other part of yourself. I think that's kind of the wonderful part about aging is that you do get to know yourself more and you discover these new passions that you never thought you would have. I never thought that I would be in a space having to do with food or fine dining or anything like that. When I was first moving into New York, well, initially I went to college for acting, so that was really going to be what I was.
- [12:07]
B
At Emerson.
- [12:08]
A
This is at Emerson in Boston. Yeah. And then I got discouraged from that, from my father. It's okay. We talk about this all the time. He knows how I feel and how it traumatized me and damaged me for life. But I went into. Instead of acting, I went into casting and, you know, and working in production and Comedy Central and MTV and all those things. I really wanted to be, like, an exec. I wanted to be a development executive. I wanted to be, like, green lighting films. And I was trying to get all these different jobs at, like, Focus Features or working with Lee Daniels. That was when you could go sort of door to door with your resume and be like, are you hiring? And I never got hired for any positions like that. But I did work. Yes. At Comedy Central for quite a few years. I worked on Chappelle's Show. I worked on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. And then I worked at mtv and I was there, casting associate. And I had my own little office. It was very cool. And I was just so unhappy. And it was weird because it's like I had this cool job. I was with Bill at the time. So I had a boyfriend, I had friends, I had all these things. So I'm like, why am I so unhappy? And I was like, well, maybe I need a hobby. What do I like to do? You know what? I'll take acting classes. Cause I went to college for acting. And that's what kind of sparked this, like, creativity in me. So it wasn't really about, like, helping others, you know, be a star. Which I'd say feel like, in a way, I'm kind of still doing that. I felt like this was the time for me to take a chance on myself creatively. And so did that moved with Bill to LA and was really on that sort of path or trying to get there. And then that didn't really work out either. And it's not like I don't like acting, because I do. But somewhere along the line, it became very clear to me, maybe most recently, that I am probably going to have the most success as myself.
- [13:55]
B
As yourself. I was just going to say that, yeah, I feel like you. Your best role is yourself.
- [13:59]
A
Absolutely. But there's the role I was born to play.
- [14:01]
B
It's the role you were born to play. But there is this, like, motherhood and having babies chapters. So before what you're doing now, take me through, like, what. What your life looked like pre you figuring out you kind of wanted to be more visible and kind of reemerge as a creator.
- [14:17]
A
Yeah. So I had my daughter in 2017, and that really was my life for, you know, all of it, all those years. And then I had my son in 2020 during the pandemic. And so there was that. And so that really was my life for so long. It was just sort of taking care of my kids and going to the gym when I could and running errands. It was really like stay at home, mom vibes. You know, I have the support system to help me out, but that's really what it was. So that my life, honestly, during that time was not very remarkable. Well, it was pretty. It was pretty boring because I love my children, of course, But I knew that I had, like, desires outside of the home.
- [14:59]
B
Okay. I was just gonna say, were you, like, at the playground daydreaming about what you could be doing with your time?
- [15:04]
A
Absolutely, I really was. And again, love being with my kids and I love the community that came with being a mom and school and, you know, play dates and all that stuff. But I did Always think, like, what am I going to do? Like, I didn't have any interest in going back to working in production necessarily. Acting wasn't anything that was really like, calling my name. I was actually pregnant with my daughter during that time. But they are an office that likes me. But it wasn't something that I was really out there pursuing anymore. But everything changed in 2022 when I started working with the Michelin Guide. So that's when everything switched for me.
- [15:44]
B
I will also say I can't remember which birthday it was of yours, but you did a really sweet birthday party at a fancy caviar spot.
- [15:51]
A
Of course, because you're Nia Petrosian.
- [15:54]
B
Yes. But I. But I remember you were at the very beginning of your creator journey. You were like, I'm really, like, going to spend more time, like, building up my profile on Instagram. Like, it was a very, like, kind of intentional thing where you were like, I'm going to invest in creating an audience for myself.
- [16:08]
A
Yeah.
- [16:09]
B
What was that kind of like, spark moment that made you think, okay, I'm allowed to reinvent myself?
- [16:14]
A
Well, honestly, it came from working with my lash tech, who is now my content producer and assistant, because she was telling me about all the work that she was doing with her friend and neighbor who was on the Bachelor, and helping her with her social media. And so when she would do my lashes, I would talk about, like, I really want my social media to pop. I didn't even really know what I was looking for or what I was asking. I just know that, yes, I wanted to have more of a presence. I wanted to, like, wipe everything clean, kind of start fresh again. You know, that first blurry chandelier post that whatever year that was, that needed to go and it needed to be a little bit more curated, a little bit more of a vibe, more of my personality. So through my conversations with her, that was when it all started. Because she was the one that was really giving me tips on how to adjust my social media, my Instagram in particular. And then she was like, well, I can help you edit some things. And so she would tell me, whatever you would take a picture of, take like a three second video of, and then I'll put it all together and we'll put some music and then we'll make a little video. So that's how it all started and it just kind of like grew from there.
- [17:25]
B
Yes, shout out to her.
- [17:26]
A
Shout out to Cecily.
- [17:28]
B
Yes, shout out to Cecily. And not to take anything away from Cecily even a little bit But a lot of people get advice on what they could be doing on social media. But you decided to act on that advice and put your time and energy into it. Did you have any reservations about being more visible? Because I think a lot of people listening, it's like they know they want to have more of a presence. They know they want to take up more space. They also probably in their head, like, know what they need to do. But, like, did you have any reservations about doing it, stepping out in this way?
- [17:56]
A
No, no, I really didn't. But I also, to be honest with you, I wasn't necessarily thinking about the visibility. I mean, maybe I thought about wanting to grow my followers, but I just think I wanted my Instagram to look better, to look cooler, to look, you know, flyer. Like. I think that's really what it was about. I think if I'm being honest, it was really more from like a vanity standpoint. It wasn't really about, like. And then I'm gonna get people to follow me. Because at that point, I didn't even really understand what a creator was. I didn't know any. I mean, I know a lot of you guys and I say you guys. I meaning, like, you know, younger people than myself had been doing things on YouTube during the pandemic in particular, like, you know, when TikTok and everything took off, that was not really anything that I quite understood or grasped. I was just like, no, I just need my shit to look better. I just need it like, cool. I just need better pictures. I need more of a vibe that it was really more for me than anybody else, you know.
- [18:52]
B
Do you feel like this coincided with also just the all, like, exterior glow up of like, I'm going to invest in a stylist. I'm going to like, pay more attention to glam, like, talk me through that whole decision making process?
- [19:04]
A
Yeah, I think that was really born out of in 2022. I really dedicated that entire year, most of it, I would say, to losing baby weight. Like, that was clearly. That was my clear second after my second child.
- [19:21]
B
How long after your second?
- [19:22]
A
I don't know.
- [19:23]
B
We. 2020.
- [19:24]
A
Yeah, he was born 2020. He was born. So I suspend, you know, I spent the pandemic, like, eating ice cream sandwiches with my husband every single night. So it really was not a thing then.
- [19:34]
B
Right? I like that you're saying 2022, because I think in the first year after you have a baby, don't try to do anything. Don't try. This is not the time to reinvent yourself. This Is not the time to focus on what you look like or what fits or what doesn't fit. Like, my pre pregnancy clothes are in my garage.
- [19:51]
A
Yeah.
- [19:51]
B
And maybe in two years. Oh, now it's been a year. Maybe next year I'll bring them out and think about starting to fit into. You know what I mean?
- [19:57]
A
Right, right, right.
- [19:58]
B
It's just not the time to drive yourself crazy with unrealistic expectations. Okay, so you gave yourself two years.
- [20:03]
A
Yeah, exactly. I gave you 20, 22 rolls around. I was like, okay, this is the year I am dedicating to myself. And that's really what I did. That's kind of all I did that was like, you know, drop off at school workout immediately. Like, I was working out on the weekends, and, like, I just was really fully in to pushing myself to getting back to somewhere that I remembered, you know? So I gave myself that time. And when I started working with the Michelin Guide, when I got, you know, this offer to host a reveal in Florida, I knew I needed an outfit. I knew I needed something, and I wasn't quite sure where to go. And my neighbor at the time, Desiree Manuel, who's married to Jerry Lorenzo from Fear of God, she was friends with Lauren Preston, who is now my stylist. And I had been following Lauren on Instagram for quite some time, and I was like, oh, my gosh, you're friends. We met at, like, a Stella McCartney event because Lauren used to work at Stella McCartney, then she was working at Ron Herman. So I went into Ron Herman, and she gave me a bunch of options and things to try on. She gave me this really cool orange dress with these, like, Paris Texas shoes, heels to go with it.
- [21:12]
B
And Lauren just had for people listening. Lauren is just like, the friendliest person, but also just, like, so cool, incredible personal style.
- [21:20]
A
Yes.
- [21:20]
B
She's always in something. It's like, never trying too hard, but it's always just, like, fly. Like, if you were to trust someone with styling like Lauren, it would not be difficult to trust her. She just always looks so good.
- [21:31]
A
I just knew just based on her and all the things that you're saying, I was like, this is somebody that I would want to work with. So when Desiree made the introduction, I was like, oh, this is perfect. So she got me in something for that event, and I really loved it, and I felt really comfortable in it. And that was sort of the beginning of like, hmm, I wonder if I should, like, start working with someone.
- [21:52]
B
Yes.
- [21:52]
A
Because I always had this fantasy of being, like, the woman that had A stylist.
- [21:57]
B
Don't we all?
- [21:57]
A
Right. But I also was like, but what do I need a stylist for? Like, where am I going? What am I doing? Like, mind you, I had done many red carpets with Bill for his projects and everything, but I never thought about having this. I just went out and I went shopping for things, you know, and I just would find a makeup artist, or in the earlier days, I would do it myself. Yikes. But yeah, at that point, I, you know, changing my body and changing, like, my career, like, having something that I was passionate about, I was like, okay, it's really time to elevate. And that's when I was like, let's just do it. Let's just have makeup artists, let's have a stylist. Let's really, like, go for it. Like, I do feel like this is my time to do so.
- [22:39]
B
Yeah.
- [22:39]
A
So I just leaned in.
- [22:40]
B
Amazing.
- [22:41]
A
And I'm never going back once you.
- [22:44]
B
Get used to the professional glam and like, now a stylist has not been something I've been able to invest in yet. I am. I'm at the phase of taking my money and going to the shop and just.
- [22:55]
A
And you love to shop too.
- [22:56]
B
I love to shop. I love to shop. I love to put together an outfit. But what is the actual, like, day to day? What does it look like to work with a stylist? I'm, like, so curious about it. So.
- [23:05]
A
So we just sit down and we talk and she says, like, what are your needs? What are you looking to do? So for me, it was like, well, I want my sort of regular day to day life. Right. You know, when I'm just running around with kids and errands and stuff like that. But like, what about when I go out with my girlfriends or go out to dinner with Bill or, you know, it was really became my whole life.
- [23:26]
B
Yeah. Sweet.
- [23:27]
A
Dress me for my whole life. And so that's where she started. We have. We have our mommy looks. That's what. That's what we call them. We have our mommy looks. Like, this is like, you know, there's a kid's birthday party of which, you know, there's always. There's always a.
- [23:38]
B
Every weekend. Wait, you have like, wait, please tell me a look. I'm like, I've got a kid's birthday party tomorrow. What should I be wearing? Let me.
- [23:44]
A
I know, right? Listen, I'm not. I'm not like an expert yet, but it's definitely, like, good denim. Like, I have lots and lots of denim. I have Lots of, like, little T shirts and stuff, sweaters. So depending on the season, it's either over the shoulder or on completely. I have, like, nice sweatpants. You know what I mean? Which I feel, like, comfy and cozy, but aren't like.
- [24:04]
B
So she shops for you as well?
- [24:06]
A
Well, I mean that she.
- [24:07]
B
She, like, sends you. Like, is it. Is it practically. How does this work?
- [24:11]
A
Yeah, I mean, I. It's definitely shopping. It's a lot of, like, ordering things online, you know, and it's. It's a lot of conversation about, what are we looking for? And the question that she asked me a lot is, who do you want to be? Who do you want to be at this event? So you're going to this. Who do you want to be here? You're going to this party. Who do you want to be? And that's kind of. That helps me because especially as a Gemini, like, I love talking about who I'm going to be, because it's going to be different every single time.
- [24:35]
B
Yes.
- [24:36]
A
But what she's really helped me with is having sort of a through line of wardrobe choices, because I think I was so random before. I would just grab things and be like, that's cute. Or I'd see it on somebody and be like, that's cute. But it didn't necessarily work for me. So helping to sort of identify, like, my personal style. And again, this is something that is always evolving for me. So I don't know if this is just my personality, but I am always sort of looking. What is the next thing? Who do I like? Who do I want to be for 2026? Because I do feel like it's going to be different than 2025. We've already had these conversations about, because I'm like, I want to do more slick. I want to do more. Lots more jewelry. I definitely want to, like, it's somewhere between, like, comfy, sophisticated, and sexy. I like to have those elements of everything. Yeah, the comfy, sophisticated, and sexy. I like a little bit of sex. Definitely comfortable. But, like, you want that polish. So that's kind of. Those are my, like, tent poles of where I like to be.
- [25:33]
B
This question of who do you want to be? Is so interesting. So if she was asking that for a kid's birthday party, how do you answer that? Who do you want to be?
- [25:40]
A
I would say I want to be comfortable, but I want to be chic. So I need to have a bag that's going to fit a water bottle and whatever, you know, gift bags that the kids might receive. Even though I went to your daughter's birthday and I had a Birkin.
- [25:54]
B
Yes. With your Birkin. This is who Nia is, and we love her for it.
- [25:59]
A
So maybe it's not always the most practical choice, but it made the most sense with the look, you know, and for that in particular, I really wanted to wear capri leggings and I had a little T shirt underneath and then I had a sweater. Cause it was kind of cool.
- [26:11]
B
Some like Ro slip and shoes.
- [26:13]
A
Yes. Some. Some row slides.
- [26:15]
B
Yeah. So it's very chic.
- [26:17]
A
Thank you. So that's kind of where I like to live.
- [26:20]
B
Yes.
- [26:21]
A
Because I think, you know, the easy thing to do is just throw on some, like, leggings and a shirt and whatever and call it a day. But I did really want to be elevated in my day to day life. That was very important to me.
- [26:33]
B
Yeah. And listen, people listening. Most of us can't afford to work with the stylist, but I think asking yourself this question of like, who do I want to be?
- [26:40]
A
Yeah.
- [26:40]
B
Auditing. Being like, what's the connective tissue between all of these different looks?
- [26:44]
A
Yeah.
- [26:44]
B
Does she also help with, like, tailoring? Because I feel like that's another thing. Because when I. We were together last night and I was like, I love these pants. You're like, yeah, I had them taken in. I had them. You know, you get everything tailored for you.
- [26:53]
A
A lot of stuff.
- [26:54]
B
Yeah. Because that makes a big difference.
- [26:56]
A
Absolutely. Because I'm on the shorter side. A lot of these pants and jeans are so long. I'm like, who are you? They're making them for you. They're making them for tall. The tall girlies.
- [27:04]
B
Yeah.
- [27:04]
A
So I always have to have the waist taken in. I have to have things like, shortened. We make adjustments like that that make sense for me.
- [27:12]
B
Yes. So, okay, so you. You invest in a stylist, you've had this full body transformation. You're getting professional level glam.
- [27:20]
A
Yeah.
- [27:20]
B
And you're being, you know, very visible online. You're creating content. This is like a very, like, big shift.
- [27:27]
A
Huge.
- [27:28]
B
Did you notice any difference in terms of people around you reacting to this kind of new version of yourself for. For positive or negative?
- [27:35]
A
Yeah, I mean, it. For the most part, it was positive. I mean, I think I've been friends with a lot of the same people for a long time, so they've kind of seen the evolution. And I think for a lot of people, they were like, yeah, well, you were always going to end up here. You were always, like, a little too fancy. Like A little too. You know, always wanting just a little bit more. A little bit more glamor in my life. A little bit more everything. I mean, it's just. It's kind of like the life that you dream of as a kid, of being, like, you know, a fancy, like, famous person or, you know, an It Girl. That was like, my thing. I was like, how do I become an it girl? That was very much what I was thinking about when I was living in New York.
- [28:12]
B
Yes.
- [28:13]
A
Never quite got there, but I wanted to be.
- [28:16]
B
You were an it girl to me. 100%. Aw. Who were the it girls that you looked up to growing up or just in New York at the time?
- [28:23]
A
I mean, it was definitely like, I was obsessed with Khalees. I mean, who wasn't? Like, speaking of Harlem, you know, like the Harlem battle. Like, she. She was so. She just blew me away. Like, she was just like nothing I had ever seen before. So I really. I really loved her. Still do. And I love how she has had her own transformation.
- [28:44]
B
Yes.
- [28:45]
A
Now she's got her farm, and she's got her whole, like, farm living and natural products and things like that. It's really, really. She's like my dream person to have on at the table, actually.
- [28:54]
B
Yeah. You guys would love to do something together.
- [28:56]
A
I want to go to her farm and walk around and, like, have her make me, like, a smoothie or something like that and just, like, ch. Chop it up with her. But, yeah, so she was a really big inspiration for me. I became really interested, actually. Not necessarily, like, I wanted to be like them because they were younger than me, but I was very curious about the young black, well to do kids in New York, Hannah being one of them, you know, like Alisa Johnson, like, that whole crew. I was very curious about that whole thing. That was something that was inspiring me. Not. Not to be that necessarily, but to really sort of live in that glamorous world I thought was really cool.
- [29:34]
B
Yes.
- [29:34]
A
And when I was a kid, it was all about, like, the R and B girlies. It was like Jade. It was swv. It was, like, brown. So it was all those women. That's who I really wanted to be, especially Jade. Like, do you know the group Jade?
- [29:46]
B
No. I need to, like, look this up.
- [29:47]
A
They have a song called Don't Walk Away. Like, that was their huge hit. Like, I wanted to be those girls. Big, like, thick braids and, like, combat boots, short shorts, half tops. Like, they were just.
- [30:00]
B
I need to get into it.
- [30:01]
A
They're amazing. They're amazing.
- [30:02]
B
Okay. What do you think you had to unlearn about beauty and self presentation and even like motherhood to step into this version of yourself.
- [30:11]
A
Maybe that things aren't one size fits all, you know, Just because everyone is using that product doesn't mean that it's necessarily gonna work for you. I think the same way with motherhood. There's really not one way to do things. Like, you have your own things that you wanna do and you can read all the parenting books, you can join all the mommy. Because I did all of that. I didn't read any parenting groups books, but I was definitely in like mommy groups online and Facebook and stuff like that. But you really have to do what makes sense for you. I've been having a lot of conversations with moms recently about the whole school system in LA and, you know, preschools and private schools and that whole process and everything. And I, I gotta be honest, like, I just. I never fed into it. I just couldn't do it. So that's the thing. I resisted this sort of urge to apply to a bunch of schools and try to get. It's like, no, what is the amazing school that's near me that I don't have to drive? You know what I mean? Like an hour away. That's kind of. I just kept my life, like, practical in that way and didn't worry about what all the other like, fancy moms were doing.
- [31:20]
B
I identify with that as well, but I feel like it's been a through line even since. Since college. Like, I applied to like six schools. Like, I was like, I have my reach schools, I have my safety schools, and I've got like my. Okay, this is like a very achievable school.
- [31:32]
A
Yeah.
- [31:33]
B
And then I just went. I got into all the schools I applied to. Congrats to me. And then I just. And then I just went. And then I just went to college, you know, and then. Same thing with preschool. It's like we applied to one school and now we're going there.
- [31:43]
A
Yeah.
- [31:43]
B
So I feel like it's also just kind of like you're like, some people are just gonna be super stressed out.
- [31:47]
A
Yes.
- [31:47]
B
Some people are just wound really tight.
- [31:49]
A
Right, Right. And they just. They also kind of crave that, like.
- [31:52]
B
Yes.
- [31:53]
A
Back and forth and decision making pouring over all the details. That's not something that I've ever been interested in.
- [31:59]
B
Exactly. I feel like it's just. It's like, it's in you. It's like a DNA thing.
- [32:02]
C
Yeah.
- [32:02]
A
There's. There's so many other things that I was more concerned about than that I knew the school thing would.
- [32:07]
B
Would work itself out. Exactly. So, okay, I'm so curious. What investment do you think made the biggest difference? Having a full time content creator to help you kind of craft all of your amazing work. Stylist or glam, like, what do you think has been, oh, my gosh, the investment that's like paid off the most for you.
- [32:27]
A
That's really hard because all of them, three of those women have made my life incredible and where I am now, really and truly. So it's hard to say, but I would probably say, you know, my investment in my content producer with Cecilia, I think that because that was really the beginning of everything, because if I hadn't met her, if we hadn't had these conversations about social media and what I wanted to do and her helping me figure out what it is I wanted to do, I don't think I would have all these other elements. You know, I mean, it was around the same time as working with Lauren that, you know, Cecily and I started having these conversations, but that was really like the first moment. So I would say, like, having the content producer listen, we've worked together for a couple years now. Like, when we started, I had like 66,000 followers. And which is significant, right? A lot of it, I think, due to the fact of who I'm married to and people hearing me on the podcast. And now we have like 224, like, and it's all organically grown. It's not a single follower brought. And so it was because I elevated my content that that's where it is. And I think it's led to lots of different opportunities for me. That really makes it so. I do need a stylist, I do need a makeup artist. I mean, obviously you, you wanted me in 2017, but I think I would have show very differently in 2017 than I would have now. Yes, that to me is important. So that's what I think was my best investment.
- [33:59]
B
I love that so many women listening, I feel like, are reluctant to invest in themselves. I think that as women, we're very practical. We often put other people's needs ahead of our own. You know, money is a precious resource. Some of, you know, there are degrees to what our budgets are, but no matter what your budget is, if you are investing in just yourself, that I think is really hard for a lot of women to do. And it doesn't necessarily come easily to some people.
- [34:23]
A
Yeah.
- [34:24]
B
What would you say to people that are maybe reluctant to invest in themselves?
- [34:28]
A
You Know, I would say to start small, honestly, because I do feel like you have to get comfortable with that. I think it's something that I. Listen, I always wanted this life, so it was always, like, in the back of my mind. Right. But even for me, I had to still sort of grow into it, and I still have moments of insecurity and uncertainty and is this the right look? Is this the right vibe, is this the right post, blah, blah, blah. So I do feel like starting off small is a great way to just like, get started. So if it is something like, you know what? I am gonna get my nails done every two weeks. None of this, like, once every couple months, stuff like, I think things like that will help, like, beget the change that you want, you know? So that's what I would say.
- [35:11]
B
Yes, yes. Just show up for yourself and small.
- [35:14]
A
In small ways that you can handle that aren't going to overwhelm you. Because if you all of a sudden, I'm like, I have a stylist. I have a this. That's going to be too much. So start off small.
- [35:23]
B
Yes. Okay, let's talk about you getting into the food world. So you get this call from Michelin, but I would imagine you were really into food before this.
- [35:31]
A
Yeah, I've always been a foodie, but I think it was more in the sense of like, go to restaurant, read menu, order food, eat food.
- [35:40]
B
And then you develop your show at the table, which is focused much more on black chefs, which I'm sure has been really amazing.
- [35:47]
A
Yeah, no, it's been great. And I went to a Michelin event where Charlie Mitchell, who is in New York, he used to be at a restaurant called Clover Hill. He's now at Saga, so he's got Michelin stars. So I was there when he got his first star. And so when he walked up on stage, I was like, who. Who is this black? This black? And I'm looking around to see if anyone else is freaking out the way I'm freaking out, because I'm just super excited. I was like, oh, my gosh. So that, to me, was obviously very intriguing. I think maybe there's been six Michelin starred, recognized chefs that are black or of the diaspora, which is very low. And I actually remember when I was first working with the Michelin guide, and we were in a meeting and just talking about the ceremony coming up, and I was like, I hope you guys are having, like, you know, black people nominated for. And I honestly cannot even believe that I said that. I can't believe that it Came out of my mouth. I don't know, because it was a new environment and I was a new person, but I just felt compelled.
- [36:47]
B
Yes. That's how we feel as black people in these cases. It's like, if we are the only ones in the room, it's actually like our duty and obligation to say something because, you know, they're not thinking about it. It's not top of mind for them.
- [36:59]
A
Right.
- [36:59]
B
So if we don't say it, it's not. I say that all the time.
- [37:02]
A
Yeah, if you don't say it, it doesn't happen. And I. Yeah, it came out of my mouth, and I was like, oh, but I'm really glad that I did. So I was working with them, and, you know, Bill's production company had been meeting with some entities about making content with them, and. And his partner, Mike Bertolina, had said to one of the production companies, like, what about food and lifestyle? So he calls me and he's like, can you come up with a show idea? And I was like, oh, okay. And I had developed a show with them before with a comedian named Marcel Aguello, and I had directed it and produced it and all this stuff. So I had worked with them before. And so I was like, oh, sure, I'll come up with something. And I went through a few different versions of what it could be. Cause initially it was like, chefs of color, just so, you know, Asian, Latino, like, all different kinds. Right. And then I was like, let me just distill it down more and more. Like, let me find something that's really niche and specific and different and that I have not seen. I have. You see all sorts of, like, food shows and chef shows and stuff, and occasionally you'll see a black face here or there, but I don't. I hadn't seen us celebrated in that space as much. So for me, I was like, you know what? This is what it is. This is gonna be a very specific thing. And I just kind of. I developed at the table, and we pitched it around, and we really adapted.
- [38:14]
B
It for social media because you are so well versed in the world of restaurants. I have a lightning round. Okay.
- [38:21]
A
I'm gonna see if I remember. I may have to look at my notes, but I will try.
- [38:25]
B
Okay.
- [38:25]
A
Okay. Lightning round. Let's go.
- [38:27]
B
There are so many restaurants in la. Some of them are great. Some of them are just okay.
- [38:31]
A
Most of them are just okay.
- [38:32]
B
Most of them are just okay. And there are specific places you go to for specific things. Best cookie in Los Angeles. Where are you going hands down.
- [38:41]
A
Florasil and Wes Adams. Hands down. No question. That's it.
- [38:45]
B
Those cookies are on a. On another level, on a whole. Young black woman.
- [38:48]
A
Yes. Young black woman. I love her. I met her at an event at like, Neiman Marcus or something years ago, and I was like, I want to do something with her. So this year we. We did some content together. I love her. She's a wonderful person. She's a great businesswoman. She's super creative. And, you know, her product speaks for itself.
- [39:05]
B
It's amazing. Okay, best restaurant for, like, a girls night out. You're all dressed up, you're with the girls. You want, like, a vibey scene. Where are we going in la?
- [39:14]
A
I like the Hideaway in Beverly Hills, and I also like Lucia for that too. Like.
- [39:19]
B
Oh, is that where we went? Okay, that's where we went.
- [39:21]
A
Yeah. I really love that vibe of that place too. So I really like this place. It's Hideaway. I went to most recently and I loved it. And I was there for a lady's birthday celebration, and it was. Was so much fun.
- [39:30]
B
Yeah. The drinks. The drinks come in fun cups.
- [39:33]
A
Yes. It's great.
- [39:34]
B
It's a vibe.
- [39:35]
A
I love it.
- [39:35]
B
A romantic date night spot.
- [39:37]
A
A romantic date night spot that I always go to is Saffy's in East Hollywood. I love Saffy's. It's so good. That whole group has. Has incredible restaurants, like, across la.
- [39:49]
B
So if I. If I could lodge a complaint against Saffy's. I love the food.
- [39:52]
A
Yes.
- [39:53]
B
I don't like the acoustics inside. I feel like it's like, a little, like, loud and, like, clangy, so I only like sitting outside.
- [39:59]
A
Yeah, no, I get that. So, so point about it being, like, sort of intimate.
- [40:03]
B
Yeah. Romantic, perhaps.
- [40:05]
A
It's not that, but I. You know what I really like? Have you been to Camp 4 downtown?
- [40:09]
B
No.
- [40:09]
A
Camp 4 downtown is a great romantic spot. Michelin, you know, recognized and rated. Beautiful food. An incredible burger.
- [40:18]
B
Like, ooh, okay. We love that.
- [40:19]
A
And great wines too.
- [40:21]
B
Okay, best spot. When you don't care about ambiance at all. You just want a great meal.
- [40:24]
A
I really love Carousel in Glendale. It's an Armenian, you know, Middle Eastern restaurant. I was just there recently with my dad and my kids. I love it there. It's just I. I have the things that I get every single time it hits every time. I love Carousel.
- [40:38]
B
It is really good. Okay, what's the best soul food in Los Angeles?
- [40:41]
A
Alta Adams.
- [40:42]
B
Okay, wait, I don't know this place. What's it called?
- [40:44]
A
You don't know. Alta Adams. Oh, my God. Alta Adams. Chef Keith Corbin. It's in West Adams. It is, in my opinion. And there's some great soul food restaurants. So this is no disrespect to Dolan's and any of the other places that people love, but for me, Alta Adams is operating on a different level. You get all your soul food classics, but everything is. Is incredibly evolved, I would say. And they are always consistent.
- [41:07]
B
But not too evolved. Right? Because I don't. I don't want to.
- [41:09]
A
No, no, no, no. Still familiar.
- [41:10]
B
I don't want any soul food fusion.
- [41:12]
A
No, no, no, no. I understand.
- [41:14]
B
Any tartar.
- [41:15]
A
No, no, no, no, no. It's. It's still. You're. You're still comfortable and it's still familiar, but I just feel like the presentation and the flavor and just. Even the plating and cooking method is just like. I just love that place.
- [41:27]
B
Okay.
- [41:27]
A
For brunch or dinner.
- [41:28]
B
Okay. Two last ones for you.
- [41:31]
A
Yes.
- [41:31]
B
A restaurant you think is overrated.
- [41:34]
A
Craig's.
- [41:35]
B
Absolutely right. I mean.
- [41:37]
A
Yeah, I just. I don't get it. I know people love it, but I just. I'm like, this food is incredibly mediocre. And I just, you know, I hope I'm not committing some sort of. No dieting suicide in Hollywood. Cause I know it's a storied favorite, but I just don't. I don't get that.
- [41:54]
B
I would agree with that.
- [41:55]
A
Yeah.
- [41:55]
B
And then a chef or creator that you're really excited about.
- [41:58]
A
Well, I'm definitely excited about Chef John Harris at Linden. They. I recently did some content with them. They have a new late night menu that is bomb and everybody needs to check it out. So I really love what he does. I feel like he's like a fourth or fifth generation chef or something. So it's really in his blood. He's also went to culinary school. He's just very creative. I think he's very forward thinking. He draws on a lot of inspiration from the east coast, and I love that. I love to bring that into sort of like the California food scene. I think it's always very interesting when you have east coast staples that are brought to the West Coast. I always think that's fun. So, yeah, I love. I love him. And in terms of creators, there's two that I really love. I love NYA more. We did some content together. Have you ever watched her content? Her food content and travel series? She calls it table for one. But she's. She's so much fun. She. She has great energy. She loves to eat. And I love a girl that loves to eat. So I love Nya Moore and I love Alex Hill. She's just at Hot Sauce on Instagram, like, across socials. She had a show called Spice Spice Baby on Tastemade, and she's a creator, a chef. I think she's got a cookbook that she's working on. She hosts events and stuff. She's wonderful.
- [43:10]
B
Amazing.
- [43:11]
A
Yeah.
- [43:11]
B
It's so interesting to hear that you ever felt even a smidge of, like, imposter syndrome in this world, because as we can hear from listening to you, you love food like you love this world. Like, you. You know it so well. But I guess when. When things are new and, like, you just kind of feel like, oh, do I have the license to do this?
- [43:31]
A
That's definitely how I feel because I certainly listen. I was hanging out with really expert level food folks at the Michelin Guide, and, you know, the people that they surrounded themselves with, not just the chefs, but other people that were in fine dining or hospitality. And so I still don't feel like I know everything. I don't. I can't know everything. I don't want to know everything, because then what will I have to learn? What will I have to discover? So I definitely, I come at this with love and reverence and curiosity, but I certainly don't come at it as an expert. I, you know, maybe I should adjust that thinking in order to sort of help with my confidence in the space. But I am comfortable being someone who's learning and is being taught, not necessarily being like, I know the right thing to do at all times. I have many opinions, but that's where I want to be. I always want to be like a student.
- [44:24]
B
Yes. Well, from where I sit, it's been very inspiring to see you just basically declare that you want to do something. And so it is. It's like, I want to be this glamorous woman that has a glam team and a, you know, thriving social presence and a stylist and is doing all the things. And so that. That's. That's what it is. And. And that is really life. Right? Like, people ask me how to become a podcaster. It's like, I just.
- [44:43]
A
You just did it.
- [44:44]
B
I just did it. So now I'm a podcaster because I want to be a. I want to have a podcast, and now I have a podcast. You know, it's like, that's so much of life. What would you say to people that feel stuck where they are?
- [44:54]
A
Hmm. I think if you're Feeling stuck. It's important to look for inspirations in ways that are familiar and unfamiliar. So I think it can be as simple as watching a completely different TV show or listening to music you never listened to. I think it comes from reading. I think it comes from going to a restaurant. Like, let's just try it. Don't look at the menu ahead of time. Just, like, take a chance. You know, you won't always love everything, but you will have an opinion about it. And I think that sort of starts to get your brain going and sort of allows you to open up to be like, well, you know what? I like this, but maybe I would do it differently. Like, I like this podcast, but if I had a podcast, maybe I would do it this way. I think. I think just getting your brain going is so important, and I think you do that by opening yourself up to everything the world has to offer, you know?
- [45:43]
B
Yes. I think so many people struggle with losing themselves. Losing yourself in motherhood specifically is like, a very common experience that many of us have. You know, beyond, of course, the all of the exterior fabulousness. What do you feel like has been, like, the biggest mindset shift as you've kind of moved into this new version of yourself?
- [46:02]
A
I think the mind shift I had was really that I have to fulfill myself in order to really be there for my kids, but also to model what that's like. You know, to see your mom go for it and live her dreams, I think is very important to children. But, yes, of course, they need you. And there is that push and pull, and it's so hard to figure it out. You know, I definitely get when I leave town or go out to an event, but I also know that I will be a better parent if I pursue it, you know, and it's just making that time for yourself is really, really important. So I look at moms who give their all, you know, and life to their kids in their home, and I think it's so noble, and I think it's so wonderful. But for me, I. You know, for lack of a better phrase, I like to be out in these streets, you know, and so I like to be out in the world talking to people, meeting people. That fulfills me. And so when I come back from a work trip or an event, I'm excited and I feel light, and I feel like, wow, that was really cool. That energizes me. That puts me in a good mood, and then I could be a great mom.
- [47:12]
B
Yes, yes. And my mom was very busy at work and always at Work trips. But, like, I was like, oh, I have a fabulous mom. Sorry, she's not at the bake sale. Like, your mom's, like, she's doing something important, right? No shade.
- [47:23]
A
No shade.
- [47:25]
B
I had pride in the fact that I had, like, a fabulous mom that was doing things and out in the world and. And working hard. I didn't feel a sense of, like, sadness necessarily. I just, like. I don't know. I think from a young age, I just, like, got it. Like, she's doing her.
- [47:40]
A
Do you understand that? That is, like, my dream. Like, this is what I want my children to say about me.
- [47:45]
B
They will.
- [47:46]
A
That's what I really hope. I mean, I hope so, because I get the looks and I get the puppy dog eyes, and I get the, like, we're going out again.
- [47:53]
B
We all get that.
- [47:54]
A
You know, I definitely get that. But I also listen, and I don't know how I ended up being, like, a class parent, but I'm a class.
- [48:01]
B
You're a class parent.
- [48:02]
A
Exactly. Exactly. No, that reaction. Listen, I have other moms that are helping me, and we. It's time to give, like, a gift for the teachers, you know? Cause the holiday season's coming up, and so the school sent something. I was like, you guys need to explain this to me like, I'm a child. But I did it because I know that it's important. I want to be involved in my child's life in that way. Will I do it again? Probably not. But I have to do it in the at least once.
- [48:26]
B
You're inspiring me.
- [48:27]
A
Yeah.
- [48:27]
B
I can't let you leave naked beauty without getting into your beauty favorite.
- [48:31]
A
Here we go.
- [48:31]
B
Your Holy Grail makeup product.
- [48:34]
A
My Holy Grail makeup product. Honestly, it's all of my Ami Cole lip oils. I love them so much. RIP the way I try to like. And I have a lot of them because I, like. A lot of people went out to.
- [48:46]
B
All the stores to, like, get them all.
- [48:48]
A
I saw one at one Sephora that I went to the other day. Just one lone lip oil. And I have two of the same ones, but I was like, that's mine. So I love those. Those are like, my holy grail.
- [48:58]
B
Okay. A foundation or skin tint that makes you just feel instantly put together and your skin is, like, perfected.
- [49:03]
A
I use Makeup Forever Hydro Glow.
- [49:06]
B
I use that, too. I love it, love it.
- [49:08]
A
I love it.
- [49:08]
B
Have you tried the Haus Labs foundation?
- [49:10]
A
No, but it was used on me when I was in Virginia for the family reunion by a makeup artist that I use out there. And he swears by it, so I would be interested in getting it.
- [49:21]
B
You got your makeup done for a family reunion? Well, not that I'm judging. No, no, no.
- [49:26]
A
It's a food.
- [49:27]
B
It's a food event. Oh, it's an event?
- [49:29]
A
Yeah, it's the food event. Like Chef Kwame of Tatiana in New York. It's him and Sheila Johnson. It's their event. They call it family reunion. But, like, would I get my makeup done for an actual family reunion?
- [49:39]
B
Fuck yeah. Love that. Okay, what is your go to lip combo right now?
- [49:45]
A
Right now it's Mac Chestnut, duh. Lip liner. And is it edem? Is that how you pronounce it?
- [49:51]
B
Yeah, the choo Choo.
- [49:53]
A
Yes, that and I think it's called Boba Bounce.
- [49:56]
B
Okay.
- [49:56]
A
I love that. It's like, the perfect brown. I love a brownie lip moment. That's my fave.
- [50:01]
B
Okay. A skincare product that has changed your skin the most.
- [50:05]
A
Hyology. What's it called? It's a lotion, but it's, like, liquid, but they call it a lotion. This. I absolutely love this product. It is.
- [50:14]
B
Wait, I don't even. I don't even know what hyology is.
- [50:17]
A
It's, like, a Japanese brand. It was recommended to me by my esthetician, Camille Field, who I've been going to for, like, two years now, almost three. We've been working together. I. Whatever she tells me to put on my face. She's a black woman. I put on my face.
- [50:29]
B
Okay, wait.
- [50:30]
A
It's.
- [50:30]
B
It's a lotion. Like, you have to explain it to me.
- [50:32]
A
Yeah, it's like a lotion. Essence. It looks like toner. Like, it comes in a tall bottle, so it looks like it's like water toner. That's how it looks. But it's like it's a lotion. It's an essence or something.
- [50:42]
B
I don't know.
- [50:43]
A
It's. Whatever it is, it's fantastic.
- [50:45]
B
It's doing what it needs to do.
- [50:46]
A
It's doing what it needs to do.
- [50:47]
B
What's your favorite, like, inexpensive beauty product that you swear by? Like, I love. Like, an aquaphor.
- [50:52]
A
Love Aquaph. I love Vaseline. They have this, like, the glow, the golden hour glow. I'm wearing it today. Shout out to Alandria for putting us all on. I'm obsessed with this shit. I am obsessed. I was saying to Morgan, who's my makeup artist today, I was like, I like to be seen from space. Like, I want you to be like, you know, my husband's like, why do you look like, you know, Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter? I'm like, I don't care if I look sweaty. Like, the idea is that I'm glowing. It will dry down.
- [51:17]
B
Yes.
- [51:18]
A
Trust and believe.
- [51:18]
B
No, it looks.
- [51:20]
A
Yes, it's great. Okay, so I love that.
- [51:22]
B
Yes. Oh, my gosh, I need this. Oh, wait. And you watch Love island after me. But I love that we share our love of Elandria.
- [51:27]
A
Absolutely.
- [51:28]
B
Okay. Splurge beauty product that's worth every penny.
- [51:31]
A
Biologique. They have a mask called the Mask Vivant.
- [51:35]
B
Yes.
- [51:36]
A
Smells like absolute shit, but it smells really bad. The best mask I've ever used in my life. It's so good. I love it.
- [51:43]
B
It is so good. Have you been to their Melrose location for a facial?
- [51:47]
A
I have not. Because I can't cheat on Camille, but yes, I am. Aw. That they have one.
- [51:52]
B
Yes. Their facials are amazing. Their products are. I'm just biologic research. You gave me a lip balm from biology research.
- [51:58]
A
That's my favorite lip balm.
- [51:59]
B
It's. I've had to repurchase it several. I was like, damn you, Nia, for putting me onto this, because I don't really want to spend this much on lip balm.
- [52:06]
A
I know, but it's so good. It's an investment, but I love it. It's the best.
- [52:09]
B
A fragrance people always compliment you on.
- [52:11]
A
Bahrain by Prada.
- [52:13]
B
Okay.
- [52:13]
A
That's my. That's my favorite. I'm wearing it today. Of course. I thought about wearing naked beauty, but I was like, you know what? I'm going to wear something. I'm going to see if she notices. I don't know if you. You can smell it on me, but I always get like a little. Yeah, you.
- [52:24]
B
I mean, you smell great. You smell great.
- [52:26]
A
Okay, thank you.
- [52:27]
B
What are the notes in it?
- [52:29]
A
I feel like there's iris. There might be a little musk. I like soft, powdery, creamy skin.
- [52:37]
B
Yes.
- [52:37]
A
Fresh fragrances. That's really where.
- [52:39]
B
That's why you like naked beauty.
- [52:40]
A
Yes, exactly. I love. I love notes like that.
- [52:43]
B
Okay, what version of Nia are we stepping into now? We heard the style vision for 2026. Sexier, more jewelry. But like, what. What era of are we stepping into?
- [52:56]
A
Well, my hope is that I'm stepping in an era of real prosperity from the things that I'm doing. I'm really trying not to look at it from such a results oriented place, but that's hard for me. Like, if I decide to do something, I want to be the best at it. I Do have a tendency to have a bit of perfectionist tendencies. I would like to let go of that actually going into 2026 and just be out there and do the thing and take chances and try it. I want to make at the table a live dining experience. So that's really something that I want to move into. Want to do more speaking engagements? I do. I've gone to an event called Black Women in Food that I've gone to it for the last couple years and this past year I was there as a panel moderator and I'll be going back again in a different capacity next year. So I want to do more stuff like that. I want to do like more speaking engagement and panels and hosting things, but in like a live space and in continuing to develop the series and meet with more people, travel to more places like.
- [53:59]
B
Yeah, I love that. That's what I want to.
- [54:01]
A
Yeah.
- [54:02]
B
And how do you relax? I'm so interested in hearing from women like yourself that are so busy, they're doing so many things like how do you actually relax?
- [54:08]
A
I love a bath.
- [54:09]
B
Okay, you're a bath person.
- [54:10]
A
I take a bath like three to four times a week.
- [54:13]
B
Oh, my God.
- [54:14]
A
It's very much my self care. Even if it's like late at night. It just helps me unwind. So I love to take a bath. I love getting massages. I have this lymphatic drainage masseuse that I see once a month, sometimes more, depending. I'm gonna see her on Sunday actually, because I'm shooting content all next week. So I need to get drained of all my fluids and just relax and sleep really well. So I love a massage, I love a spa experience and I love a bath bath. That's like my most consistent self care relaxation.
- [54:42]
B
You're on it.
- [54:43]
A
Yeah, I'm on it. And I also smoke weed. Yeah, so that helps.
- [54:46]
B
That helps too. That helps too. When do you feel most beautiful?
- [54:52]
A
I feel the most beautiful when I am out of the shower and I've done all my skin care and I'm all glowy before everything dries down. I like that glowy look. And when I get my lashes done, I love getting my lashes. I love my. My face so much more with lashes than.
- [55:07]
B
Wait, now does Cecily still do your lashes?
- [55:09]
A
She still loves my lashes.
- [55:10]
B
Wow. The content and the lashes.
- [55:12]
A
Listen, she is a.
- [55:13]
B
She can never move.
- [55:14]
A
No. She never leaves me.
- [55:15]
B
She can never start a family. No, I'm joking.
- [55:17]
A
You can never leave me. She already has a family. But I'm like the third child. But no she really does it all. She's an enterprising millennial. So she does it all?
- [55:25]
B
Yes. Well, yeah, the lashes look great. I've had to stop because I find it to be too addicting, and I don't like the way I look without lashes, so I just can't get into the lash addiction cycle.
- [55:34]
A
But do you have lashes now or.
- [55:35]
B
They're not. I have a strip lash.
- [55:37]
A
And you know how to put those on by yourself? Yeah.
- [55:39]
B
That's easy. And I've also really gotten into magnetic lashes.
- [55:42]
A
Oh, I tried those. And I don't know, my hands get all sweaty. I get nervous. I'm like, I don't know what I'm doing, but I should probably learn how to do it.
- [55:49]
B
If I had, like, a person right next to me all the time, that was incredible. Like, doing lashes best believe my lashes would be done all the time. So I don't blame you.
- [55:56]
A
I'm very lucky.
- [55:57]
B
It looks fabulous. And how does it feel? Just kind of stepping into the woman that you felt like you were always destined to be?
- [56:03]
A
I mean, it feels great. It feels really great. It feels exciting, and it feels like it's just the beginning. It feels like I. I'm going to have another era and another one and another one and another one. And that, to me, is very exciting. To sort of continue to grow and evolve and change feels really good. But I am feeling really great about where I am now. I really have. I'm really honing in on the vision for what 2026 is going to be, and that makes me feel really good. So I'm excited, scared a little, I will admit, you know, because I do want to try some new things. And, you know, you want people to like what you do. You want people to be interested in you. So there's always a part of that that will sort of chip at, like, the young girl that didn't necessarily feel beautiful, didn't necessarily feel like she could do all the things that she wanted to do. So that still lives inside of me, but I think I'm getting better at getting to where I want to be.
- [56:57]
B
I love it. I love it. An inspiration to all of us. Thank you so much, Nia, for nine years later joining me. Beauty. It's been an honor.
- [57:05]
A
Thank you, Brooke. Thank you so much. This is great. Super fun.
- [57:07]
B
Yes. And thank you all so much for listening.
- [57:29]
C
Yeah.
- [57:29]
A
You've been caught.
- [57:42]
C
Why choose a sleep number? Smart bed.
- [57:43]
B
Can I make my sight softer?
- [57:45]
A
Can I make my site firmer? Can we sleep cooler?
- [57:48]
C
Sleep number? Does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal color comfort on either side. Your sleep number setting J.D. power ranks sleep number number one in customer satisfaction with mattresses purchased in store and online. And now the more you buy, the more you save on beds, bases and more. Plus, get free premium delivery on any bed with base limited time. For J.D. power 2025 award information, visit J.D. power.com awards. Check it out at a Sleep Number store today.
- [58:12]
B
Boost Mobile is now sending experts nationwide to deliver and set up customers new phones. Wait, we're going on tour? We're delivering and setting up customers phones. It's not a tour, not with that attitude. Introducing store to door Switch and get a new device with expert setup and delivery. Delivery available for select devices purchased@boost mobile.com here's how to stay alive longer so you can enjoy Boost Mobile's unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. Do not mistake a wasp nest for a pinata. Stay alive and switch now at boost mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay 25amonth as long as they remain active on the Boost Mobile Unlimited plan.