BCG had the great opportunity to speak with Monique Jackson and Kita Williams.; these ladies are a triple threats in the business. The first African-American women to create, executive produce, and star in a sports-based reality show, the hit VH1 reality series, “The T.O. Show,” which follows the life of American football star Terrell Owens, highlighting the trials and tribulations of his life. This dynamic duo didn’t stop there. They have also created the Define Your Pretty campaign. This campaign seeks to empower young women and young adult and help boost their self esteem.
I met up with these wonderful young ladies while they were in NYC headlining for the United Negro College Fund’s Empowerment Tour.
BCG: How did you get started with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF)?
Monique Jackson: The UNCF is very important towards education. We picked up a few slots over the cities last year and talking to young girls about the importance of self image, self respect, self love. Its great because the focus on education and financial literacy. They give celebrities opportunities to create other platforms. Life skill sets, and for us the Define Your Pretty panel. To be able to invite other women and send a motivating message.
Kita Williams: I mean, the mind is a terrible thing to waste! The great part is that me and Monique have been given an opportunity with the show. We didn’t get our success from our last name or who we are married. I got here from education and dedication and UNCF represents that. Me and Monique want people to know that our goals and journeys were different but we ended up in the same place. We want girls to know the tools they need and if they need the financial support, the UNCF is there to give it.
BCG: What made you start the Define Your pretty campaign?
Mo: This is the third year, that we have been on television with the TO show. The first year a lot of women contacted us saying they loved our hair, the outfit is pretty. Where’d you get this, where did you get that. And me and Kita realized that a lot of women in the age demo of 18 to 40 years old defined themselves with what they saw in the media. Because we have been working in this industry for so long, we took on the responsibility. It was cool to be the video chick for so long.
Kita: We want people to know that we didn’t fall into PR, we met at Def Jam. We worked with Ludacris, Jay Z, LL Cool J, Ashanti. The time we spent at Def Jam molded our minds, Russell Simmons has the platform for what success is. In order to be successful you had to have a vision. For us, thats the evolution that we wanted to take. We want to make a brand. We are a triple threat. We want to take this and create other shows. Women of color don’t look like what we see. Monique and I are very proud that we can showcase on the TO show real women in a positive light.
BCG: As a reality star do you feel any pressure having to portray that positive image?
Mo: It’s not about pressure, its about living your life authentically and true. The reason why Kita and I are comfortable on camera…
Kita: 12 years!
Mo: We have a true bond, friendship, business, it’s real. There’s no pressure because I’m not faking it. It should be pressure for the others who don’t portray their selves in the right way.
Kita: In an unladylike way. You don’t have to like me but respect me. I am going to put myself in a respectful situation as a classy woman. It may look different to everyone but we want young girls to see what it looks like. For us, its important to show that the journey is important. You don’t need Louboutins to be relevant.
BCG: How do people get involved with the Define Your Pretty campaign?
Mo: Define Your Pretty’s main hub is online at defineyourpretty.com.
Kita: You can also join us on the Empowerment Tour’s power dates. We are going fall and spring semesters. We have a celebrity panel so you can come and join us. Check defineyourpretty.com for the schedule. In the summer me and Mo will have a Define Your Pretty Camp where we will select a group of girls fro that. A lot of young girls are Pretty Unsure and we need them to know that they are Pretty Relevant. But make sure you come out and hear us on the UNCF tour, its free and Toya from Tiny and Toya will be joining us.
BCG: Do you ladies have any part in T.O’s Catch A Dream Foundation?
Mo: We actually created that for him.
Kita: We do everything for him! It’s important when we have a solid team that pushes in the right direction. What makes things for us easy is that we can push ourselves. Monique actually came up with the catch phrase. He wants to throw something to them blessing wise and allow them to grow.
BCG: Do any of the proceeds coincide between To Catch A Dream and Define Your Pretty?
Mo and Kita: No, no they are separate entities.
Kita: We have products and part of that goes to Define Your Pretty and to the camps.
Mo: We are on the road with the camps. We on an average do 73 cities and go into these communities. These are separate, but we work to build together.
BCG: For young women, who are unsure about their pretty and who they are, what advice would you give them in order to realize who they are on the inside?
Mo: What I tell people is to image yourself as far as possible as you can. Five, ten years from now and what does that women look like and what do you say once you see her. What makes you want to be her. Then you back track and see what has she done to get to where she is from now, to then. And then forgive yourself for your mistake, because there is a learning curve in every journey.
Kita: I know what struggle looks like, never become a product of your environment. I took advantage of the resources available to me and was able to make those things a positive. A dream is only as big as you make it. And a dream can come true. You just have to believe in that dream.
BCG: What is one go to product that you won’t leave the house without from your line?
Kita: The flat iron and the diva wrap! The wrap has conditioner in it and once you wash it, you’re washing it and it absorbs the conditioner. The flat iron also curls.
Mo: For me, its the flat iron and the 8 essential oils. I weave it to achieve a different look. The oils keep my hair healthy. I also love the Define Shine hairspray.
Kita: Define Your Pretty with Define Shine! Makes for a great pitch right!
For more information on the Define Your Pretty Empowerment Campaign visit defineyourpretty.com!
