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Diamond Strawberry
Taking Care of Business
No matter how the media depicts reality television star and model, Diamond Strawberry - she has resolved to keep it moving and take care of her business.
After speaking with Diamond and learning more about her as a mother and business woman off camera, I truly must say that she is not the immature and mean person that the media portrays her to be. Check out my conversation with her...
BE: What is the story behind the name Diamond?
DIAMOND: My father played baseball professionally, so my mom got creative and named me Diamond.
BE: You have a recurring role on Love & Hip Hop New York; has this been a positive or negative move in terms of your career?
DIAMOND: I don't want to say that it has all been negative, but I have received a lot of negative feedback and backlash. But I feel like the last two episodes have put me in a different light in that I don't chase after men, getting into it and acting crazy.
BE: In a recent episode of Love & Hip Hop New York, you sat down and had a heart to heart conversation with your father, whom the readers should know is former MLB Hall of Fame Baseball Player, Darryl Strawberry. Did his publc statements about you learning to be more responsible and learning from your bad decisions put you in a different frame of mind?
DIAMOND: Definitely. But I knew there were a lot of things about me that I needed to change and that I needed to get more focused. Hearing him actually say those words to me and the tone he used. Then to see it on television. It was crazy. At that moment when he was telling me about myself; I felt that I couldn't even get mad and I knew it was time to get focused. I lost myself trying to build a relationship with Cisco. It's terrible and I am embarrassed of my behavior.
BE: You have a daughter (MyLisa) - Will you shield her from reality television or leave it open for her to judge?
DIAMOND: I am very honest with MyLisa. If she asks me a question, I am going to answer it. I have not tried to hide anything that I have done on Love & Hip Hop from her because I know if she does not watch it with me, she can watch it in her room. I would rather her sit with me on Monday nights and ask me questions and I will answer them honestly.
BE: As a young mother you took your life lessons and co-founded "A Safe Place Youth Center" with your mother. Which is a group for pregnant teens, runaways and victims of abuse. Tell us more about this organization.
DIAMOND: It's been a long road trying get this thing going from the ground up. But we are almost ready to open our doors. (continued on Page 14)