Girlfriend Confidential: LA–starring Eva Marcille and her gal pals Denyce Lawton, Kelly Marie Dunn and Nikki Chu–is a docu-series that follows the four ladies in their pursuit to balance their careers and relationships, a task familiar to most Vixens.

While the introductory episode showed each lady’s passion in action, it also showed a delicate side full of love, hurt and perseverance. Eva and Nikki are booking gigs/setting up appointments and trying to make sense of their relationships, while actress Denyce is in the process of rebuilding her acting career. Busy brand manager Kelly, on the other hand, remains low-key about her love life or lack thereof.

Don’t you wish you really could have your cake and eat it, too? Be at the height of your game with a winning playbook and an awesome guy who won’t back down? Lucky for us, there is a way to maintain a successful career and peace of mind without sacrificing relationships.

Check out some of the career do’s and don’ts we learned from watching Girlfriend Confidential: LA. (And do not forget to catch new episodes every Monday on Oxygen at 11 p.m.)

Don’t…

…mix business with pleasure
Although it’s nice to have your partner around for support, don’t depend on their appearance at work-related events. You don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment. Eva was in a little rut because her boyfriend promised to go to NYC to see her walk the runway, but he didn’t show up. She didn’t let it effect her performance, but sometimes disappointing news can.

…compare yourself to others
It’s difficult knowing you have the capability to do the same work as others when you’re having trouble finding an outlet that allows you to do it. That, however, doesn’t mean to start discrediting yourself because you see others getting farther ahead. Denyce made a remark about acting roles coming easy to Eva because she won America’s Next Top Model, but when you start comparing your accomplishments to that of someone else’s, you begin to lose site of the goal. Worry about what works for you versus what worked for someone else. With patience and persistence, you might find yourself excelling above their expectations and your own.

Do…

…remember that family comes first
Walt Disney once said, “A man should never neglect his family for business.” We second that. Most of the time, family will ride with you, with or without a career. They should be the ones you go to when you’re feeling down, and they should be the ones to lift you up. Eva even said herself that when she goes home, all her worries go away.

…step out of your comfort zone
Once Kelly stepped out of her comfort zone to design web pages for choreographer Richard Jackson, she liked what she created. Every day is a learning day. Better to say you tried something new than not open yourself up and wonder what things would’ve been like if you had.

Sheree Fletcher

All will become evident in VH1′s new reality show Hollywood Exes, which premieres this summer with 10 one-hour episodes. Vixen caught up with Sheree–pronunciation of the name not to be confused with that of Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Sheree Whitfield–to get the scoop on the highly anticipated show.

Amidst taping, the new reality star shared with us her reasons for joining the show, details about her second marriage and a look into her booming business ventures.  –Aliya Faust

VIBE VIXEN: Can you tell me a bit about how you teamed with VH1 to do the show? Did they reach out to you, or did you and the other wives get together yourselves?

SHEREE FLETCHER: No, the actual creators of the show, before we had the deal with VH1, reached out to me. Then, we got together with the other ladies and we just kind of pitched, and they made the deal with VH1.

What were your reasons for joining?
It looked like it would be a lot of fun. It was reality but it was a “different color of the rainbow.” They wanted to show women in a more positive light and women coming together and being supportive and encouraging one another, a kind of a sorority type of thing. So that kind of piqued my interest. As a business women, I thought it’d be great in terms of exposure of my brand.

Are you bothered at all by being labeled an ex?
I am an ex. So no, that doesn’t bother me.

Do you sympathize with other exes in the public like Kim Kardashian, as far as having the stigma of an ex?
Sure. I can relate to that and I do have compassion. Anytime you go through a divorce, it’s painful. It doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been married. It’s painful. Any time you break up in the public eye, there’s so much scrutiny involved. People come into their own set of conclusions without knowing the full story and they have an opinion. But that’s kind of the nature of the beat. When you’re in the public eye you have an up side and you have a down side. That’s part of the down side and sort of comes with the territory.

How do you feel about Will and Jada’s relationship? Will that appear on the show?
I think they have an amazing relationship. Will and Jada won’t be making any appearances on the show. And

Will we see your son?
He will make an appearance, [but] he’s not going to be a regular. You’ll probably just see him once in the whole season.

I understand you were remarried. It’s been a while, but congrats! How does your husband feel about you joining the show?
He was skeptical at first because of the nature of reality, as was I, but he’s great. You’ll see him in the show. He makes quite a few appearances with me. He’s super supportive and totally on board.

Did you have to get Will’s approval?
Absolutely, because he is an ex. I didn’t need Will’s permission to do the show; there was nothing that I needed to sign in order to do the show. You know, our son is 19 [years old], so out of respect, of course I told him that this was what I was considering doing. I actually told him when I signed. When I said, ‘Look, this is what I’m going to do,’ he gave me his blessing to have a good time.

That’s really good. So you guys have a good relationship?
We really do.

VV: I want to switch gears a little bit. I hear you have a beauty line: Whoop Ash.
SF: I do.

Very clever line. Can you tell me a little bit about what it is and how it started?
It is a body butter. That’s kind of where I started. I read a book, and the book got me interested in honey and the properties of honey. I love to cook, so I thought I’d get in my kitchen and make some different foods with honey. As I was doing my research online, what was coming up was spa recipes for the body. I’m thinking, Okay, that’s interesting, then I ordered different ingredients. I did the Shea butters and coconut oils, and I started with the lotion base. I literally got out my big gumbo pot and cooked up this amazing body butter. I never in a million years thought that was a viable business.

One day “Whoop Ash” just dropped into my spirit, and I was like, ‘This is the name of the product!’ I’m telling you, God has a sense of humor. I launched in 2009 and it’s been great. One of the reasons why I strongly considered doing [Hollywood Exes] was for the exposure. Not for the fame, not for the money–though the money obviously comes when you’re company is a success and people are in business to make money–but I wanted the exposure. I think once I get that type of exposure, the distribution will come and then I can really start mass producing the product because we get nothing but amazing testimonials. I mean, I’ve had everybody from Samuel Jackson to L.A. Reid. These people love the product and don’t leave home without it. It’s a great product and I’m really excited about the potential of it growing and expanding.

Not just you, but it sounds like Hollywood Exes are career-orientated.
We are. Jessica Canseco, she’s got a business. Nicole [Murphy] has her business, her jewelry, then the other two ladies are dancers and have dance companies. We all are business women.

Wrapping up, what do you want people to take from the show?
First and foremost, women can come together and do something great. We can disagree respectfully. I want people to know that women need women. We really do, and I want women to be encouraged. Like I said, you’ve got five women who are business owners and I’m hoping that that would inspire somebody to step out and start their own thing. I think that we’re very relatable. I think that women will connect to us. We’re women just like anybody else. It doesn’t matter who our exes were. I mean, obviously, we went through our divorce in a public, major way, but at the end of the day, we’re women and we can connect and relate on so many other levels. I’m hoping that women will relate and be encouraged.

Reflecting on how celebrities continue to build their legacies (word to mother-to-be Tamera Mowry), we decided to create a gallery full of super women and their bundles of joy.

Click here to check out celebrity mothers and their children!

Some of the coolest girlfriends, wives and potentials are those who understand the relationship between guys and sports–those who can sit back, keep the questions at a minimum, understand and appreciate the game. That can be you!

The end of basketball season is quickly approaching and playoffs are right around the corner (April 28). No Vixen should be left in the dark. This is why we created a list of three things women should know about what to expect and how NBA playoffs work.

Check out out how to earn your cool points after the jump!

Know that…

1. Playoffs Are Starting Late

Each team only plays 66 games this season, compared to the regular 82, because of the NBA lockout. The playoffs will extend longer into June due to the setback.

2. Only 16 Teams Make Playoffs

Playoff games are separate from regular season games. The top eight teams from the west coast and the top eight teams from the east coast are chosen for playoff games. They compete against each other by rank in a seven game series–highest versus lowest, best four out of seven. This means the no. 1 team on the West plays the no. 8 ranked team on the West, the no. 2 team plays the no. 7 team, and so on. Same goes for the East. When both coasts are down to its last team, they face each other in the NBA Finals.

3. Home Court Advantage

Teams with the better records have home court advantage, but home court advantage is only applied if the series reaches its seventh game. The lowest ranked team, at max, has a chance to play at their home court three times. The highest ranked team, four.

Think Like A Man

Aside from the perfectly-timed scenes and accelerated storylines, most relationship flicks are pretty realistic and dreamy. But, everything doesn’t work for everybody. Whether or not you choose to follow the rules (to a T) like the characters of TLAM, lesson can be learned from our favorite films!

Check out our list of heart-stealing movie couples…

Who: Joy Bryant & Derek Luke
What: Antwon Fisher (2002)
Why:  Sometimes it seems like the hardest thing to do in relationships is put your heart on the line, especially when you’ve been hurt before. However, that’s just a part of the game. You take the chance of your heart being either torn, broken or filled, and sometimes you face all three! It’s actually quite a gamble, but you learn a lesson and grow with each move.
Lesson: “I’m still strong.”

Who: Nia Long & Larenz Tate
What: Love Jones (1997)
Why: We’re all a little stubborn at some point, aren’t we? Cut it out! When you want something, or in this case someone, go for it. We saw in Love Jones that time waits for no man. Happy ending here, but not everybody gets so lucky.
Lesson: Go out on a limb, stay smart, see where lust takes you.

Who: Simon Baker & Sanna Lathan
What: Something New (2006)
Why: There’s nothing wrong with having a “type,” but you can’t always go by the book. No man is perfect. Now, that doesn’t mean settle, but it just means that our imagination often causes us to lose sight of what’s standing right in front of us. Sanaa Lathan’s character in Something New embraced this idea when she took a leap of faith and started dating a guy outside of her race.
Lesson: It’s okay to step away from your comfort zone–that’s usually where greatness lies.

Who: Tyrese Gibson & Taraji P. Henson
What: Baby Boy (2001)
Why:  Douglas Horton is often quoted saying: ”If you love something, let it go free. If it doesn’t come back, you never had it. If it comes back, love it forever.” This statement remained true for Jody” and “Yvette. Despite numerous setbacks and disappointments, the two were able to reconcile at the end.
Lesson: Sometimes you need distance in a relationship to see if it’s real–memories will either cause your hearts to grow fonder, or farther apart.

Who: Omar Epps & Sanaa Lathan
What: Love and Basketball (2002)
Why:  Love has a funny way of revealing itself, but it’s not surprising that people often get with their closest friends; they know you best! Although it is possible for men and women to remain friends, a few besties of that nature often find themselves defending their platonic relationships. Nonetheless, the friend route is a great path to take in the journey to love. Your spouse ultimately (we would hope) becomes your best friend, anyway. The only problem is putting your real friendship on the line.
Lesson: Always ask yourself: can your platonic friendship sustain the ups and downs, and progression or ending of an intimate relationship?

Millions hail to Queen Bey, but the southern belle remains humbled, taking a minute out to honor First Lady Michelle Obama.

Beyoncé, in the midst of her hectic lifestyle, publicly shared her admiration in a hand-written letter. The new mama thanks the FLOTUS for her sincere contributions to the nation, and says she’s proud Blue Ivy was born in a world where there are people like Mrs. Obama to look up to.

Read the full letter below:

Don’t forget check out Beyoncé’s “Move Your Body” (a remake of “Get Me Bodied”) video made for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! childhood obesity campaign.

Eva Marcille

In an interview with Humor Mill magazine, Eva says:

“It’s not like the wives clubs of basketball or of sports, but it’s the friendship club of life and I think all women can relate to that no matter what it is that you do … We’re not showing you a script on a screen. I’m showing you what I do when I wake up in the morning and try to go out and try to seek work and sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it’s an epic failure and my friends help pick me up.”

You’re probably thinking, “If there’s no wild and crazy, non-MF-factor, who-gon’-check-me-boo drama, then what’s the catch?’ Well, keep in mind how Eva got her start. Her come-up might actually make her navigation through Tinseltown quite interesting.

The reality show is set to premiere this summer on Oxygen. Click the next page to find out three reasons you should tune in!

1. Eva Pigford vs. Eva Marcille
We were introduced to Eva Pigford in 2004, but because of the nature of the show, didn’t really get to see her out of her competition mode. We saw her determination, saw her temper and saw her strike a mean pose, but wouldn’t it be cool to see her, well, post-ANTM? The new Eva has become a successful model and budding actress, appearing as a celebrity judge on shows and in movies. The new reality show will surely reveal how Eva has maintained her career thus far.

2. Industry Success
All of these ladies are established. The other cast members are music manager Kelly Dunn, interior designer Nikki Chu and actress Denyce Lawton. Eva says none of these women were handed their success, and Taking Hollywood will document that. It won’t just show them hanging out and drinking, but also handling business and continuing to establish a name for themselves based off a substantial amount of hard work. The show will be a glimpse into what that model, designer, manager and acting life is really like, minus 100 percent glitz and glamour.

3. Chemistry
Unlike Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives, Bad Girls Club and Jersey Shore, the cast of Taking Hollywood are actual friends. There may be disagreements here and there, but we don’t expect any over-the-top hatred.  The girls aren’t just meeting for the first time, they aren’t being recruited or friends of friends, they’re really homies. The show has the potential to take on a real-life edition of Girlfriends.

Remember the friend and family-oriented sitcoms? You know, those shows that shed a comical light on the everyday ups and downs of average people? Well, it seems as if those are becoming just a thing of the past.

A guilty pleasure, reality shows are taking over television. However, they give us a glimpse into lavish and confrontational lifestyles, while sitcoms are more uplifting and relatable–something we miss! So in our road down memory lane, we came up with a list of five young ladies who shined before the new millennium hit and before reality TV bloomed.

WHO: Mowry Twins
WHAT: Sister, Sister (1994)
WHERE: Tia and Tamera Mowry have gone on to star in Disney movies and other cable dramas since Sister, Sister. Most recently, they landed their own reality show, Tia and Tamera, on My Style Network last year documenting the pregnancy of Tia and the wedding of her twin. Tia is currently starring in BET’s The Game, and Tamera is set to star in a new Fox pilot, Rebounding. These lovable twins have already begun taping season two of their reality show, which is set to air sometime this year!

WHO: Brandy
WHAT: Moesha (1996)
WHERE: After countless music albums, appearances in movies, TV shows and her own reality show, Brandy resurfaced this year with a new role in BET’s The Game as Jason’s love interest, Chardonnay. She also reunited with Atlanta songstress Monica, 14 years after the release of their “The Boy Is Mine” single, to make “It All Belongs To Me.” Not only is Brandy releasing an album this June, but she and Monica are also in talks of touring.

WHO: Tatyana Ali
WHAT: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1990)
WHERE: We always knew “Ashley” could sing from her brief spotlights in The Fresh Prince, but to our surprise, she released an album titled Kiss the Sky (1998) shortly after the show ended. She then went on to attend Harvard University, all the while making appearances in movies including Glory Road and Nora’s Hair Salon. She even had a reoccurring role in the daytime drama, The Young and the Restless. In 2010, Tatyana Ali teamed up with Martin Lawrence and TV One to create Love That Girl, an original sitcom in which she starred. Tatyana is actually the co-founder of HazraH Entertainment, a production company that partnered on Love That Girl and produced the BET web series, Buppies. You can look for more projects from the company soon.

WHO: Reagan Gomez-Preston
WHAT: The Parent ‘Hood (1995)
WHERE: Reagan Gomez-Preston has made appearances in shows including Felicity, One on One and ER. Plus, the former child star showed up in movies like Love Don’t Cost a Thing and Beauty Shop. Reagan is a mother now and plays the voice of Roberta Tubbs on the Fox channel’s animated comedy, The Cleveland Show.

WHO: Maia Campbell
WHAT: In the House (1995)
WHERE: Before Maia Campbell was outed for her drug use and diagnosed with manic depression, she played in movies including Trippin’, Seventeen Again and even appeared in music videos, including Tyrese’s “Sweet Lady” and Fat Joe’s “What’s Love.” She’s been sober for two years now and is working on a memoir titled Sagittarius.

Slink

This magazine, made for a variety of “real” women, was created by Rivkie Baum, a former fashion design student who left the industry due to her frustrations with limited sizing, cutting-pattern levels and current fashion mags. She told the UK’s Daily Mail that she liked those publications, “but there was nothing for young women who are bigger. The only answer was for me to get smaller.”

In contrast to magazines like Vogue and others alike that boost size 0 models, Slink magazine gives tips on how to be fashionable and comfortable at any weight, providing tips on how to accentuate curves and pick clothing that best match your body type.

Slink will be published bi-monthly. The first print issue features former America’s Next Top Model winner, Whitney Thompson.