As we’ve told you in the past, Basketball Wives LA star Draya Michele is not just a reality star or hip-hop booty model. She’s actually a businesswoman trying to push makeup and clothing, doing the latter through her second fashion line, Fine A** Girls, which is known for fun tees, as well as sweaters, lingerie and skull cap hats. When speaking with VH1 not too long ago about what the line is all about, she said it’s about empowering women:

“I just wanted to start something that could motivate girls. It’s like a confidence booster. I’m lucky enough to hang around really good people, I have really amazing friends, and they’re also really beautiful and we take a lot of pride in looking how we look. We’re just trying to be all-around good people, so it’s just a movement for empowerment.”

But she’s been catching a bit of heat for an upcoming shirt she’s working on with the line that shows a young Whitney Houston holding a Boston Herald “Say ‘No’ To Drugs!” anti-drug bumper sticker back in 1986. Houston was about 23 at the time, smiling it up, not knowing the direction drugs would take her life in as she got older. For the shirt, the words “Early 20′s” are featured over her smiling face, and the shirt seems to be a warning for others. We guess…Here’s what she said when she posted the pic on Instagram:

“New from #finea**girls….#early20s #saynotodrugs…#yesiknowits420″

But when her followers called her out for being a bit insensitive, she posted the original picture and set the record straight:

FYI: we would never disrespect the DIVA … She held up the sign herself … Just raising awareness among girls #early20s

I guess the reality personality was trying to claim that she wants young ladies to be aware and to stay away from drugs, but did we really need to use Whitney Houston’s face to push the point? Especially since none of the other tops on her website use anybody else’s image, including her own, on the shirts to sell the shirts or send a message. Seems like a bit much too soon, and in all honesty, I don’t know if it would be appropriate in five years, 10 years, 15 or more–it just comes off very unnecessary.

What do you think?

Photo Credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

It’s funny how life works. It was just the first season of Basketball Wives LA in 2011 that Draya, the lone woman on the show who really didn’t have that much of an affiliation with a basketball player (just Chris Brown for the most part), was being bullied, literally beat up on and confronted by everybody in her business for allegedly being a bad mother. She was the show’s punching bag. But now in 2013, and with the show’s future murky at the moment after some pretty disastrous ratings a second time around, Michele seems to be the one who is going to have the last laugh. She’s become probably the most likable person on that pretty boring show, and since the second season finished, she’s had the most success, starting a “clothing” line (just sweaters and hats) called Fine A** Girls, rubbing elbows with pretty famous folks on the regular, and being followed across LA on the regular by paparazzi. But she might be milking the most from her time on the show than all of her cast mates, because according to reports, Draya could be getting her own reality show very soon.

Global Grind says they spoke to an exclusive source who says that Draya could be getting her own show called Fine A** Girls, which of course is the same name of the aforementioned clothing line. Here’s what they say the show will possibly focus on:

“The new reality show would focus on Draya and her friends. The viewers will be introduced to a bunch of fine women, as they work on their brands, party and deal with men and much more. If you follow Draya on twitter you’ve been noticing her promoting her friends a lot more.”

Source: WENN

With the exception of Brooke Bailey and Laura Govan, the cast of Basketball Wives: LA appeared to be pretty much through with Gloria Govan-Barnes by the time the highly anticipated reunion show rolled around. Malaysia Pargo even suggested that the outspoken aspiring actress exit stage left, claiming that Govan frequently behaved as if she was so above the show and so much better than her cast mates. Hip Hollywood recently caught up with Govan at the premiere of The Call. During the brief interview, Glo expressed that although there has been no word indicating whether or not the LA spinoff will be returning for another season, she has no interest in continuing as a part of the ”Basketball Wives” franchise.

“We haven’t been picked up for a third season yet, so I’m not really sure where we are with it. But, I’m really excited about the upcoming projects Matt and I have going on. When push comes to shove, when the time is right, I think it’ll be about time I leave that show anyway. I probably most likely will not be on Basketball Wives: LA again. So we [Matt and I] have some really cool and exciting stuff that will be wrapping up this week, so definitely look out for that.”

Govan’s husband Matt Barnes acted as her hype-man during the interview, obviously happy that his wife is making plans to bid the VH1 series adieu. It’s been no secret that Matt wasn’t exactly approving of Gloria’s participation on the show or her cast members. We can’t say for sure exactly what projects Gloria are Matt are working on, but we’re sure that we’ll be hearing about them in coming weeks. It would be somewhat interesting to see how Laura interacts with the cast without her sister.

Peep footage of Gloria’s interview on the next page. Should VH1 renew Basketball Wives: LA for another season? 

If you caught the two-part season finale of “Basketball Wives LA” you’d know Malaysia had to stand her ground more than a few times. After getting questioned about her relevancy on the show, she didn’t have a problem letting a viewer know that her marital status alone makes her relevant to the VH1 reality show, plus she had a few choice words for the Govan sisters about their behavior this season.

Well, now that the hype of the show has settled down, Malaysia chatted with Madame Noire to tell us what really happens between her and the girls once the cameras stop rolling and just how much she doesn’t care about the petty drama between her cast mates. Check out what she had to say.

We wouldn’t have known it at first but urban model and Basketball Wives L.A cast member Brooke Bailey has three children that she rarely brings around the cameras. Watch her explain why she she’s so protective of her brood and how she feels about her first season as a BBW.

Source: Blog.VH1

Last night, VH1 closed the chapter on the second season of “Basketball Wives LA,” and though most of the dirt was dished out on part 1 of the reunion special that aired last Monday, there were quite a few random details that got exposed last night. The drama mainly centered on Laura and Jackie, and their reactions to this past season confirmed they’re even more cooky than we originally thought. Check out the highlights.

Source: WENN

“Basketball Wives LA” star Gloria Govan has been catching a lot of heat since the airing of part one of the reunion show from fans , co-stars and even executive producer Shaunie O’neal. In an exclusive interview with Necole Bitchie Gloria opened up about Shaunie and Evelyn’s response to her “If if weren’t for me, Basketball Wives LA wouldn’t exist” comments as well as Bambi’s accusations that she had been loving on rapper The Game and his crew. Check out some of what she had to say.

On Shaunie and Evelyn’s response to her “I’m the reason there’s a spinoff comment”:

“To Shaunie, she didn’t have anything directly to say, she kind of jumped on the bandwagon because she knows what’s up. In terms of Evelyn she needs to stay in her lane, I understand she’s on Shaunie’s side no matter what because that’s her home girl. Evelyn out of all people should understand how spinoff’s work”

“I knew if I had to respond to really anybody I was going to have to go into full length conversations, so I just left it all alone (on twitter). That’s how I felt about Evelyn, like girl you of all people need to stop talking, I don’t know if that headbutt got you all delusional or what but she knows what’s up.”

On Bambi accusing her of “getting around”:

“It’s really frustrating because they didn’t allow my response to Bambi be aired.  Bambi is not a cast member, she is not even on the opening credits, she’s just Malaysia’s friend.”

“It’s just really sh-tty to have someone lie on you, and then not be able to defend yourself or correct yourself to the point where people believe you. Its like the first person to the finish line kind of thing, like no matter how you get there, I think that whoever says some bullsh-t first is what people are going to believe. And rappers of all people, they lie on their package. I don’t mean to be vulgar. And Matt and Game were friends you know, so that was even more like damn that was a low blow. And it was frustrating to hear it from Bambi too because first and foremost I have never seen you a day in my life, ever, like I didn’t even know you existed before you came on this show. And so for her to be like “I saw her” you didn’t see me nowhere. I don’t even kick it, I don’t even know how to tell you how to get to Compton. So for her to take these fake-A$$ Compton rumors and try to make them relevant, is what’s really more frustrating. Even beyond that, that’s why I’m a prime example of why you don’t get on the producers bad side because they took this one little thing and just gave her a platform, just because your mad at me don’t try to water down my name.”

On if she’ll be returning to the show next season:

“No, I don’t think so. I think at this point I want to kind of branch out in terms of what I want to be doing next season and I don’t agree with the direction the show is going. There is more and more women on there, and I have the upmost respect for Bambi, my sister and Jackie. I just feel like the direction of the show is becoming more of a Bad Girls Club, then it is a Basketball Wives show.”

What is interesting however, is that The Game at some point did allude to having slept with Gloria and Matt openly stated that she cheated on him as well. Either way I suppose none of that matters now since Matt and Gloria are now happily married and whatever went down they seem to have put it behind them.

What do you think of Gloria’s response to the drama? Will you be sad to see her go if she doesn’t return next season?

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for madamenoire.com. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: WENN

The relationship between Jackie Christie and Laura Govan took a peculiar turn during this season of “Basketball Wives LA”. Considering the way that Jackie stirred the pot and kicked up drama last season, many suspected that Laura would keep her distance. Instead, she welcomed Jackie back with open arms. Too bad those open ams were attached to the hands that held a dagger. The dagger that Laura would ultimately use to stab Jackie in the back. In a recent interview with VH1, the reality star discusses how she was impacted by Laura’s betrayal. Check out some of the highlights:

On coming to the realization that Laura was out to get her

“I found out that a friend that I thought was my friend, which is Laura, really isn’t. So that’s hurtful and there’s a lot of stuff I want to clear up with her.”

“With Laura, knowing the type of person she is, meaning that she can be very, very sneaky and manipulative, I expected something weird because she was being very nice when we were around each other, but then when the girls would come around they would say “She doesn’t like you, she’s saying these things.” It was like, well I haven’t seen it, so I really wanted to be determined to let things play out and if it was really true that’s what she was doing. I wasn’t not believing the girls, but I wanted to see for myself. I feel like I’m the most mature one and I feel like I’m kind of the leader, so I need to lead by example and that is not listen to hearsay and react. So I said “Let me give Laura a chance, what I wish they would have given me last year, and show them how to be a friend, so that’s what I’d done. And now watching it’s surprising, it’s disappointing, and just it’s shocking basically.”

On Laura the infamous conversation between Laura and her daughter

 ”One thing that I don’t like is for someone to come and try to make something that’s really bad, because of their own situation and we have a great relationship.”

“With my daughters, we’ve talked and there’s total forgiveness and I totally understand Channi and her point of view and where she was at that time and so I don’t have any anger towards her. I mean there’s still things to work out, because my daughters are very temperamental and I feel like they are spoiled, but that’s not a bad thing and I tried to make sure they had the kind of life that they would want as kids and all the things they wanted.”

On the current status of she and Laura’s relationship

“I have not seen her since New Orleans…I tweeted something and she kind of retweeted me, so I don’t know if that was her way of saying it’s all good, but for me it’s more or less that I want to clear this up.”

“I’m not sure how I’m going to feel when I do see her, because I saw a few things that she’s done that she lied about again, so it’s kind of like, why do you continuously lie, where are you really trying to get at? Let’s talk about why do you think you need to pay me back for something I didn’t do things that your sister done or anybody else for that matter, that’s your guys’ business. Why are you putting me in the middle? I’m not the one you normally put in the middle.”

It’s great that Jackie finally saw the light and realized that Laura was trying to do her in. But, why does it seem like she would still be willing to kiss and make up Laura even after all of the shade Laura has tossed her way this season?

What do you think of Laura and Jackie’s dysfunctional relationship? Should she just move on?

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for madamenoire.com. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: WENN

If you’ve been watching the last few episodes of “Basketball Wives LA” or even part one of the reunion show last night, you’ve noticed how Brooke basically went from a neutral party on the show to being all buddy-buddy with the Govan sisters and at odds with just about everyone else. Brooke recently called up Street Disciplez Radio to share how she really felt about her co-stars so there wouldn’t be any confusion and I think she made her stance crystal clear with these cutthroat things she had to say. Check out the highlights:

Bambi:

“She’s delusional. I never had a situation with her, she had one with me, and she never really confronted me about it.”

Jackie: 

“I really beat her a**. It got so real to where I blacked out; I remember her kicking me. After that, I don’t remember anything until security was trying to get me up off of her. But you know what, I have to give Jackie props because out of all the girls that I pressed and confronted about little sneaky isht or the shade they was trying to throw, she was the only b***h that stood up and said ‘this is what I’m saying.’ She never backed down from what she was saying, so I kind of respect her for that.”

Draya: 

“I always felt that Draya was a fun girl. She’s never been a model, she’s never my competition in the industry. Whatever she does, that’s her business, and I respect however she gets her money, that’s cool. But what I can’t respect is if you want to pop your collar, that’s cool, but B***h, don’t try to un-pop mine…

“She’s done modeling, but the basis of her career started from her f***ing Chris Brown. When you’re dating a rapper, of course you’re going to be in other people’s videos or their videos because that’s what you’re around. It doesn’t mean that you’re a model, it doesn’t mean that. She’s never had to audition, she’s never had to do the things that I’ve done to build my career. She didn’t have to learn protocol. That’s why when it came to business, she f****d up”

Malaysia: 

“She’s fake as f**k, and that’s how I feel to this day.”

Check out the full interview on the next page. What do you thin of Brooke’s unkind words for the co-stars that she seemed to be cool with all season?

Source: WENN

I mentioned in my roundup of knowledge shared during part one of the Basketball Wives LA reunion last night that Gloria Govan got a little full of herself and starting yapping away about how there would be no show if she and Laura didn’t come to LA and agree to be a part of the series. Knowing that Shaunie O’Neal is the, term used loosely, brains behind the entire Wives franchise, I’m sure a lot of people were looking at Gloria like, girl, stop playing yourself. And it appears two of those such people were Shanie and her sidekick Evelyn Lozada, or is the other way around?

While getting into last night’s drama, the two made sure to correct Gloria’s fallacy, with Evelyn stating:

Shaunie then jumped in with a retweet and:

We already know the Govan sisters are no friends of Evelyn and Shaunie’s so this isn’t a complete surprise, but the truth is no one is really winning taking credit for this show. If Shaunie’s the reason for the spinoff, why are you employing your man’s sidepiece (Laura)? And if Gloria is the one who should be taking credit, how is it you get the least camera time and have been reportedly fired? It just doesn’t look good either way. My main reaction to this response, though, has already been captured by one tweeter who told Evelyn:

I see @IyanlaVanzant needs to go in on @EvelynLozada again! She still hasn’t learned

Word. She might wanna mind her own Basketball Wives business.

Is Gloria talking out the side of her neck claiming to be the reason for the LA spinoff or is she kind of right?