THIS WEEK'S ISSUE — Updated Every Monday!

nia-long-in-progress

With Hollywood for years being a haven for the long-haired blond and brunette, it’s hard to be a sex symbol…

what-to-expect-when-dealing-with-the-racially-impaired

We’re only human and equally subject to the chronic brainwashing that inevitably instills varying degrees of bigotry. Racism, sexism, homophobia,…

times-are-hard-a-letter-to-my-girlfriend

Times are hard especially financially, however, my girlfriend does not seem to realize the whole world is undergoing something called…

change-we-still-believe-in

I remember exactly where I was that night that history was made. I was fast asleep in my bed and…

top-ten-trends-we-want-to-see-disappear

It was proven best in the fashionable documentary The September Issue, that Fall is the New Year’s of fashion. Fashion…

lights-camera-natural

I vividly remember the day I got my first relaxer. I was 7 years old, and there I sat in…

the-various-shades-of-sophie-okonedo

Brilliance is defined as: having or showing great intelligence, talent, and quality. Well, if you’ve ever had the privilege of watching…

tyler-perry-to-spike-lee-who-you-callin-a-coon

Once upon a time (i.e. this past spring), Spike Lee put Tyler Perry on blast:

“Each artist should be allowed to…

the-other-women-that-helped-raise-me

I remember way back when… Reminisce with me. Life was less complicated for a youngster. My Huffy Bike was valet’d in the driveway, Saturday morning cartoons were in heavy rotation, Puma wasn’t just an animal at the zoo…

naomi-still-the-baaaadest

Who can take out a housemaid with a single Smackberry? Who can rock community service hours in New York City’s…

time-sisters-kept-condoms-at-hand-too

Who sold this idea to women that it is the sole responsibility of a man to always have condoms at…

finding-the-perfect-skin-care-cream

It seems like every week a new skin care cream hits the shelf. Products for frown lines, laugh lines, crows…

rihanna-overload-enough-is-enough

Talent aside (ahem), there have been very few celebrities who warrant as much media coverage as Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Sure,…

black-panther-movement-reminds-of-flaws-in-media

You can kill the revolutionary, but you can’t kill the revolution. – Fred Hampton, Nov. 3, 1969

This week I came across…

and-then-the-rebels-came

The conflict in the Congo is a much overlooked atrocity that is claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of…

quick-change-artist

I remember when I was in high school. When it came to fitting in with all the different peer groups…

pimped-out-peddling-childhood-interrupted

Have you ever come across a group of juveniles whose fundraising practices consist of canvassing commercial hubs, or expressway entry…

get-your-finances-on-track-top-books-on-finance

So you spent a lot of the governments change (not the free kind) getting your education, you haven’t gotten into…

Alesha Renee: Out of the Darkness & Into the Spotlight

Monday Jun 15, 2009 – By Arlice Nichole

ar3 Many of us have imagined it before: being the one chosen to wear the crown in a beauty pageant, major applause and standing ovation for demonstrating your unique talents, or being discovered because you have that special something. Well, it happened to Alesha Renee, former co-host of HotWyred, now on her own as host of BET’s The 5ive. The show gives viewers the chance to submit and vote on their favorite finds of the day. At the urging of loved ones this former student, bound for entertainment law, competed in BET’s “New Faces” contest four years ago beating out some 30,000 hopefuls, and soon after came the ascent into the abyss of career success. Since her win, she has appeared at many star-studded red carpet events, made T.V. appearances on popular programming like 106 and Park, and she’s even graced the cover of King magazine.

Raised, in her words, as an army brat having lived all over, this young T.V. personality (the youngest at the BET network actually) has not always had such shiny moments. Her love life has been rather dim in the past and filled with mental abuse. And just like any black and blue mark, the affects of mental abuse hurt and leave scars as visible as any bump or bruise caused by a closed fist. But with the help of a good friend and a little bit of tough love, Alesha was able to find the strength and courage she needed to get herself away from not one but two mental abusers; a situation many women, including teenagers, find themselves in today. “Unfortunately, in the African American community, there’s a stigma on seeking mental help and seeing a therapist. For me, counseling has really helped me to start to resolve the issues from my youth. Because I was sexually abused as a child, I already had these warped ideas about relationships, love and sex. So when I got into a relationship as a young adult, it was easy for a guy to manipulate me mentally and emotionally.”

“Counseling has really helped me to start to resolve the affects of abuse.”

Though Alesha is happy to share her experience and bring awareness to a problem that’s gaining more and more national attention, she doesn’t dwell in the past. In fact, she’s trekking toward the future in red bottom Christian Louboutin shoes! “What I would like to do is conquer every aspect of the entertainment industry as I can. I would like to get into more acting, Broadway, television shows as well as movies.” And Alesha has what it takes to dominate in all these areas, but what she would like those graduating from college and going into a cold workforce to know is that it’s not just education and resumes that will help you make the cut and really wow potential employers. “When I got the chance to speak with BET executives a few years ago, I asked them what made them pick me, and they said it was my personality. I feel that a lot of times people put personality on the back burner. They just want to be as professional as possible and make sure that the resume is tight. Do all those things, but also be you and let your personality shine.” The network executives made a smart choice!

As beautiful and as stylish as Alesha Renee is, it’s her bubbly personality that’s most infectious I find, and something I would rather have more than that fabulous forest green off-the-shoulder sweater dress she wore to the King magazine 50th issue celebration. Speaking of style Alesha has her own. She has no problem mixing the high end with the low end. “My personal style actually changes and fluctuates. I love sexy garments and I love to dress-up in dresses. But I’ll also throw on some jeans, a wife beater and stilettos and rock out. I don’t believe in spending all my money on labels. Be clear, if you can rock out in Forever 21, Arden B. or bebe or whatever and make it hot, then do that because I know I do.”

For more information on Alesha Renee please visit www.bet.com and www.myspace.com/alesharenee.

Related Tags:

3 Comments – Add Yours

  1. Laquita Laquita says:

    Very inspirational. It’s great to see more and more women speaking out on this.

  2. Leslie M. Leslie M. says:

    Good to see her trying to get some press. I hate BET but I wish her the best.

  3. nicolemiles nicolemiles says:

    While I admit to never really watching BET, I’m glad that Alesha is making her mark on the network. Kudos to her for speaking out and seeking counseling. I’m going to be rooting for her!

Leave a Comment

  • We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.
  • Please keep comments related to topic.
  • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

You are commenting as a Guest. Optional: Login below.

Twitter + Facebook Users
Enter your personal information in the form or sign in with your Twitter/Facebook account.

NEWS.GOSSIP.INFO — Daily Blog

satan-worshipping-celebs-part-ii

Dig this sequel by way of Jay-Z’s former friend, Jaz O, as he puts DimeWars down with allegations that the Hova gets…

the-buzz-bumble-bee-contestant-faces-racist-firestorm-in-china

Lou Jing, a contestant on China’s version of “Idol,” is a recent victim of racial discrimination. The beautiful, gifted, Shanghai…

lonely-girls-club

Are you 21+ with no relationship experience? Never been on a date or approached by a guy you actually like?…

shes-so-ambitious-rhonesha-byng

She’s So Ambitious: Rhonesha Byng, Founder of HerAgenda.com

A girl with dreams that stack much higher than her petite 5-foot-2 inch frame,…

ayah-in-my-lifetime

Our girl Ayah just dropped her new video for “In My Lifetime” off her latest album “4:15″. This woman is not the one to sleep on!

rachel-roy-x-clutch-great-fall-fashion-tips

We like Rachel Roy a lot, so a couple of weeks ago we reached out to her to see if she…