Reality television needs a villain in most cases, and who other than model and actress Draya Michele to do the job on Basketball Wives: LA? The 26-year-old shows no shame about her spotless résumé owns her faults and her position as The Wives’ biggest threat. With a child endangerment arrest under her belt and a few risqué stunts, it’s easy for storms of misconceptions to come swirling this bossy Aquarius.
Yes, she’s the Vixen who rocks sexy spreads in men’s magazines and dated Chris Brown a few years back (she’s over it), but now she’s finding her own piece of spotlight by being not-so-chummy with the wives of a few NBA players. Does she catch some shade? Of course, but VIBE Vixen catches her speaking her mind on what’s really going on in her world. Take it or leave it.
–Niki McGloster
VIXEN: You’re obviously pegged as the girl who’s going to shake up the show, but how do you want to portrayed on the show?
DRAYA: Hopefully, after editing and everything, it changes some people’s opinions of me. I know what to expect, so I won’t be shocked if a lot more people hate me than they already do. People don’t always have the nicest things to say about me, so I’m used to it already.
I want people to see what I do and how I live me life, just so they have a better understand of what it is that I do. A lot of people are confused about how I live my life and why I live my life a certain way and I’m able to travel so much. I want to put a light on what [my life] really is. It is not always a party. I don’t look at a party as a party; I look at a party as a job, so [the show] will let people know what is really going on inside of my world.
Can you let people know what you do?
I do everything. Anything and everything I can get my hands on out here in LA, I’m into it. I’m doing my acting, my modeling and starting a business–a million things.
In a perfect world, how would you like to expand your brand? What would you want to be?
I would want to be a boss somewhere with my name on some stuff, sitting up and paying other people to run my business.
Now, make it clear — what’s you connect to the basketball world?
Basically, now I’m friends with a bunch of wives and I dated a basketball player before. I mean, it was nothing currently or anything like that. It was a couple years ago. No big deal.
No names?
You gotta tune in to figure it out.
November 3rd, 2011 | 6:57 pm
their trip 2 hawaii jackie acted so stupid over eatin’ pork no freaking way that this bitch through it was chicken nigga bitch please. this old ass stink looking bitch had a shower cap on her nappy ass ponytail weave, what a fuckin’ shame. gloria say 2 cameras how ashamed she was of jackie ass crying at the table bcuz she ate most of the pork come on bitch these r 2 diffent kinds of meats, & the 50cents ass shower bag cap. so fuckin’ sad jackie u shoulda have known that we all was going rag on ur old ugly ass 4 this episode. no damm way i would let any 1 spoil my vacation in hawaii could b ur last time. please hurry up 4 the reunion this show is stupid no more 2nd season all u whores r so sad. ur was tryin’ 2 hard copying off the miami bitches but FAILED MISERABLE at it so please stop it bbw’s of la was just a waste of film.
October 22nd, 2011 | 5:44 am
I Love Draya, all those otha bytches need to fall back, they hate’n on her cause they know she has sumthing they want….a beautiful face!! shes absolutely beautiful all around.
October 20th, 2011 | 7:17 pm
Draya is cool! Jackie is too damn old to be hating and claim to be so much, claims to be into so much, but she has a lot of insecurities, and regardless if she wants to believe it or not….everybody can see it and she talks big shit because she is big and loud. Draya google her ass. Her and Imani who just simply puts on this I got it all together front, but reading her shit, find out why she was engaged for 7 years! Laura…..you are in between hoe and groupie. Your sister tries to go ham…Bitch please….Gloria has no hands what-so-ever! Royce should come on the show to give your ass the beat down you deserved on the first show! Shaunie’s all about $ so she doesn’t see nothing unless she wants to.Still a fan tho…Grown women fighting and going home to tell your kids not to fight…Way to go ladies!
October 13th, 2011 | 10:49 pm
JACKIE CHRISTIE IS THE OLDEST BITCH ON THE SHOW! SHE SHOULD BE TRYING TO PLAY PEACE MAKER INSTEAD OF PICKING ON POOR DRAYA. LET’S FACE IT, DRAYA DOES WHAT SHE DO TO MAKE A LIVING. IF IT WASN’T FOR THESE WANNA B TOO MUCH IMPORTANT ASS HOES MARRYING OR DATING BASKETBALL PLAYERS THEY WANT BE SHIT! ALL OF THESE BITCHES ARE BUM ASS HOES. THEY NEVER REALLY GAVE DRAYA A CHANCE TO SHOW WHO SHE REALLY WAS. THESE WOMEN ARE HATERS! AND IMANI PLEASE GET U SOME DICK!! MAYBE YOU’LL STAY THE FUCK OUT OF PPL’S BUSINESS…
October 13th, 2011 | 10:42 pm
I LIKE DRAYA! I THINK THAT THOSE WHORES ARE JEALOUS OF DRAYA AND THE ARE AFRAID THAT DRAYA MAY TAKE THEIR MEN!
October 9th, 2011 | 8:35 pm
i like draya, she’s my girlfriend on the show, what i like most about her she she’s some funny things in a sense. malaysia was ok but she’s starting 2 dislike draya bcuz of them old uglyass whores. i saw a sneek peek at 7 malaysia is a 2 faced fake ass bitch, she’s talking against draya with the main hater not getting a dick at all bitch imani. that’s so fucking wrong how they’ll came attacking draya about her child it could be true of false that’s really not their fucking business at all. no of these old cum slurpering whores don’t care about her sitution they just want 2 spead bad news. they’ll hate draya like she bent over and shit n their fucking cornflakes? how so stupid of all these black women 2 hate on another young black female. that’s right the govan bitches r black/mexican so there u go folks these bitches r black women 2. gloria how could u hate draya set her n the ring with ur big ugly man-gorilla face ass sister laura aka lorilla. she no match bitch try 2 pick with malaysia again she’ll beat ur ugly ass 2. gloria ur so fucking stupid/fake i really hate u the most, said about draya behind her back u wish she get hit by a bus u have 2 kids how stupid of u 2 say that shit. draya is somebody child besides she’s a mom & a human begin. that’s why lil royce whip ur ass n the ring remember that gloria, u shoulda felt ashamed royce is 4’11 ur bigger than her. draya baby don’t feel ashamed jackie ur 2 fucking old 2 b calling all the bulshit that u do so fuck u u down on the low dike u can’t keep draya’s name out your doug dick smelling ass breath.yeah, jackie i said it u keep ur rat beeded eyes on draya’s vagina/ass when she was on the stripper pole. jackie wants draya 4 herself she plays n front with the others hateing on draya.jackie, gloria, imani, lorilla, now since u turn on draya u 2 malaysia 4 all of u and go straight 2 fucking hell. keep ur head up draya follow ur dreams,leave them damm devils.
October 4th, 2011 | 10:14 pm
THERE IS NO NECESSITY WHAT SO EVER FOR DRAYA TO EXPLAIN HERSELF TO THESE BITCHES, LIKE SHUT DA FUCK UP! ITS NONE OF YA BUSINESS WHAT SHE DID OR DOES. & LAURAS ASS GOT SOME DAMN NERVE AFTER SHE FUCKED SOMEBODY’S HUSBAND & HAD A BABY BY HIS ASS SMH! I LOVE DRAYA SHE IS A REAL BITCH THEY JUST HATIN ASS BITCHES!
October 3rd, 2011 | 10:08 pm
I feel like Imani, laura, gloria, all are full of sh%t. I think draya shldnt have explained herself to None of those hoes. They’re bitter, lookin 4 someone 2 prey over. I 2 think they 4 got where they came frm. If draya was my friend I wld ride w/ her till the end, nd I wlda been the death of them bitches, I wld check em’ nd put them bitches 2 bed. Nd I wish draya,wld come back 2 her home town so we cld party 2gether :}
September 29th, 2011 | 8:32 pm
I think Draya is the only one keeping her head on in a rough situation! Imani, Jackie, and Laura act like they obviously frogot where they come from! Anytime you comeout from the shit pile of society to make a better way for yourself, at one time or other, you were ruthless and determined for change. (no matter the cost or reason..) But now they act like this is how its always been, they prejudge others by jumping to conclusions. Draya says “lets do this, hope for the best & see what happens.” At least she is still working on her changes & learning….
September 22nd, 2011 | 2:15 pm
She was rt not to attend that BS with that kind of invite
September 21st, 2011 | 11:54 am
a whore is a hoe…is a hoe…is a hoe…blah, blah, blah!
September 19th, 2011 | 7:46 pm
I,personally like Draya ..she is cool chick and it’s obvious its tgat those broads are scared she will steal they men too.They dont know her struggles or her story.Especially Armani had some nerve calling her worthless…who is she…then they even talked about sweet ole Tanya..b/c she ain’t messy like them..smh…Then Gloria must forgot they chasrd that ass all the way to L.A.I think Evelyn should move yto la to shake that witvh.up some more…lol
September 16th, 2011 | 3:57 pm
Okay, I must say that I am not a Big fan of reality TV. However since there is not much more than reality wife/jump off TV nowadays, I tune in every now and then. This summer was my first season following the Basketball Wives and I must say that its sad that black women the “back-bone” of our culture feeds into the notion that drama sells.
At the end of the day we all have to eat, but displaying pure hate in your heart for another black woman on national TV is ridiculous. Personally I think the LA Basketball Wives are more so Clowns with No Class.
I must say that even though it’s reality TV everyone has a role to play and Draya is playing hers! She has too be because there is no way anyone in there right mind would sit there and allow another broad to call her “Worthless”. And I don’t hate on the way no one makes there money and live there life cause judgment will be passed by a higher power. Just like these women signed up to be puppets for a few measly grand per show that they are probably spending on their weaves and make up, just to commentate on the shows episodes.
Just Saying
September 16th, 2011 | 6:02 am
So far from what I seen I like the show a lot better then the other ones y of course the drama nobody in thier right mind gonna say they don’t as far as the ladies will see what to come I like the Draya chick she seems real
September 14th, 2011 | 5:45 pm
Tmart hit it on the head. Draya has no idea about the fashion industry but Louboutins and Bebe. This fashion career she wants to start is worse than that Kardashian Knockoff Krap.
September 14th, 2011 | 1:17 pm
I like Draya too. She seems very real. Shes young, pretty and just having fun. The other old ass wives are just threatened my her.
September 13th, 2011 | 3:49 pm
I like Draya. My own personal opinion I feel she’s young and cute, other women finds women like her to be a threat. So what she dealt with a couple men here and there. As long as its not your man and if it is I think your man may need to be dealt with. Let’s as women stop attacking other females. What I didn’t like about Draya was the night at the club. The show portrayed her as being very loose. And I understood how she may have offended some of the ladies. She needs to be easy!
September 10th, 2011 | 10:44 am
I think for all the women on reality shows, it is something that if you play your cards right, you can turn your brand into a money maker. If you know what you want your brand to be. I like Draya and she has the smarts to turn her brand into a profitable venture.
I think Tmart made a valid assessment that she will need to get more specific about how and what she wants her brand to be, but she is smart so she will be able to do that (w/out giving away her ideas to the world yet). In life we live and we learn, and she is learning like the rest of us.
As, far as the show though, as chicks we gotta look beyond “titles/occupations, hair, body type, and money. We can’t buy into that “she is the enemy” type of mess. No, one even knows her and b/c of her previous job “she is the enemy”. BS. The “enemy” is blaming other women,when your man cheats.
Oh, yeah and I don’t care what Imani knows about Draya (true or not) That worthless comment was MEAN AND TACKY! But hey, none of us are perfect and all the women get props for making their own money on these shows. They all have gifts and should use it to their advantage, even if its beauty and brains…Work it out ladies!
September 9th, 2011 | 9:57 pm
Nah, Tami still holds that crown for worst weave for that cousin it she had on her head at the reunion, but she’s still the homie. LMAO @TheBoss telling TMart she’s basic, and then recommending a book. Perhaps the Boss should read The Miseducation of the Negro, The Talented Tenth and Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Her response says a lot. Anyhow, the label comment was a bit nitpicky; I think Draya was saying she wasn’t so much of label whore as a get anything kind of girl hence the names of stores. I agree Draya doesn’t have any type of solidified plan it seems and any business requires a business plan whether unconventional or traditional, a plan mus exist, and some things like investors and capital will be a necessity in every business plan whether “a bad girl’s” or not. One doesn’t simply say voila and clothes appear. There has to be a plan that brings about the line to fruition, but I digress. Draya seems nice enough, and honestly she doesn’t bother me. She’s actually one of my faves right now though she does seem to go a bit hard on the next episode. Jury’s kinda out, but I feel like right now, none of the ladies on the show have aritculated valid reasons to dislike this woman.
September 9th, 2011 | 5:55 pm
Tmart, or kmart as u obviously are a low budget b!tch. Did u read the headline? It said Bad Girl and bad girls take risks and CREATE opportunities. They bypass the norm good girl proper process of biz plan and make A NEW PLAN = Create good quality clothes & the ppl will come. Of course basics dont understand what to a bad girl is already understood. Take risks, think outside the box, dont follow the rules and never EVER give up = success. Yourself. Go draya, do ur thing girl, u got this!
To tmart: go read the bad girls guide: bad girl 101 by missy milani and maybe u can understand this too!
September 9th, 2011 | 3:18 pm
You go girl!!! You come across as very brave and a person who will not let anything or anyone get in the way of your success. Good luck in everything you do!
September 9th, 2011 | 1:08 pm
another reality chick who thinks its gonna lead to millions….
hopefully before she sinks the 5 grand per episode she’s making into anything she’ll come up with a better business plan than “I want my name on stuff”….launching a profitable business isn’t as easy as saying “poof I am a businesswoman”—it takes a solid plan, investors, capital, distribution and a decent profit margin to succeed….doesn’t seem like this chick knows any of this.
Somebody also explain to her if she wants to go into fashion i.e bikkini line—she should at least be able to name a few designers…Urban Outfitters isn’t a label—Derek Lamb is.
September 6th, 2011 | 12:13 pm
I like Draya she seeems to be the only genuine/interesting one on the show. The Govans are a mess. The other ladies are Non Factors and trying too hard. Jackie Christie can’t afford a second pack of hair? Her weave is Tragic she took Tami’s crown for worst weave in TV history.