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.
We’ll definitely be tuning in for that episode. Now, there is some speculation that there will be some beef with the Miami and LA girls. Have you met the Miami girls?
No, I don’t know anybody from Miami.
Who is your favorite wife or cast member?
I bounce back and forth between Tami and Evelyn. I like different things in each of them, so I bounce back and forth between them.
Would you say you have the same feisty nature as well, or do you like them because that’s them?
I like them because that’s them, but I have similarities that I see in Evelyn. I am little bit more reserved, and I don’t really like to snap on people and show that side. I don’t think it is really necessary for me to get all crazy, but I can. I definitely have that inside of me. All I need the right person to bring it out.
Dang, well hopefully we don’t see that side of you, but the show seems stressful enough to bring that out of you.
You’ll see! It’s a lot to look forward to, trust me. It’s nuts. Any situation that you put girls in, it’s going to be a mess.
Now that everyone is critiquing you and being on the show, are you regretful at all?
No, I’m having fun, and it’s a learning experience for me.
Do you have any close friends in the industry or on the show?
Close friends is a touchy [thing] for me. As far as models go, I like to keep most of them as associates. Girls are designed to disappoint you, so I am very careful and selective of who I call my friends. I don’t really want to shout anybody out as my friend, but I do have some. Everybody don’t hate me [laughs]. I got a personality that if you know me, you will like me. It just comes off as a little bit cold at first, but eventually I can warm up to anybody if I want to.
I’m pretty sure that type of personality is causing some problems with the other girls.
Everybody is not so excited about my humor. Not everybody thinks my humor is humorous, so it causes little issues.
There’s been talks about the child endangerment arrest and your son, will we be able to meet your son on the show?
You will definitely see me doing my family thing, my mom thing and my work thing. Anything that is me is going to be on there. Of course, my son is an important part of my life, so I wouldn’t do anything that didn’t involve him. I didn’t leave anything uncovered.
Are you in a relationship?
I’m seeing somebody.
So I’m guessing that comes into play on the show?
I’m working on it.
Now onto the fashion! I know you were recently spotted a Laura Govan’s soiree? You was wearing this very simple but chic jumpsuit. Is it fair to tag that as your personal style?
I basically I like to mix cheap and expensive together, and it works for me. I believe as long as I have on a good shoe, I can wear anything and it looks right. If you are confident in your own skin, you can wear a plastic bag and it is going to look cute.
Are there any particular labels that you love?
Anything from Urban Outfitters to Neiman Marcus and anything in between. You can catch me in every store from Saks to Forever 21.
What is some of your beauty must-haves?
I am pretty basic. I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup, but I do like to wear bronzer. If my bronzer is out, I have to run and go get another one. I am also an eyelash girl! I don’t get the strips; I like the individual lashes. That’s something that I can’t live without. Some eyelashes, bronzer and lipgloss goes a long way with me.
Any particular brand of lipgloss?
MAC Cremesheen. Any color, any shade, I love them all.
What projects do you have in the works?
I am working on a bikini line right now for all types of girls. Its going to be affordable for everybody and stylish enough for everybody.
Any idea when that’s going to drop?
Soon, very soon. It’s all happening very fast!