Demetria McKinney Embraces Being A Role Model To Woman Facing Substance Abuse Domestic Violence Issues

Starring on the #1 cable sitcom in cable TV history is quite a feat for the career of any actress. However, starring as a scandalous, conniving and sneaky wife whose hidden addiction to crack cocaine, isn't the most glamorous role to play. For actress/singer Demetria McKinney, who plays "Janine Payne" on TBS's #1 hit show "House of Payne", playing a character as sketchy as "Janine" can have a lot of negative back lash as well as assumptions about ones own lifestyle and character.

Because Demetria has always been one to find the silver lining in a gray cloud, she has embraced the harsh realities and complexity of her character that over 16 million viewers tune in to watch her play each week. "Yes, Janine is a woman who is dealing with the fact that her crack addiction caused her to put her family in a situation which left them homeless after a house fire, but she is still a devoted mother of her two children", says McKinney about her character. "The truth of the matter is, so many women are dealing with a variety of harsh setbacks and issues in their lives, some of which are self-inflicted. But the saving grace isn't the hardship they face, but how they deal with the hardship in their lives", says McKinney.

Ironically, in her spare time she has been busy in the community dealing with a lot of the same issues that are portrayed on the show. Demetria often mentors young women and talks to them about having self-esteem and respect for themselves. She's also speaking to women in halfway houses, prisons, churches, etc about finding the inner strength to overcome their addictions, or domestic violence abuse issues that have plagued their lives. Recently she spoke to women at the Mary Hall Freedom House about believing in themselves and maintaining faith that they can overcome their addictions and domestic abuse issues. "Demetria was so inspiring and positive for the women to hear at this pivotal time in their lives", says Lucy Hall, Founder of the organization. She reminds these women that they are bigger than the drugs they poison their bodies with, and that they are not the blame for being victims of domestic violence acts being forged against them. "It's weird speaking to the same women I portray on TV, but I know that God orders your steps to be in a certain light for a reason", says Demetria on speaking to women facing substance abuse issues. She plans on continuing her work and volunteering in the community for as long as she has a platform to do so.

McKinney says that her music is also a vessel she uses to inspire women as well. "Of course I have fun songs that are upbeat and are meant to get the party started, but I also address real life issues in my music that I know women are dealing with. Mainly on love, relationships and overcoming hardship and disappoint to find your inner light and allow it to shine in those times of despair", says McKinney. Her debut CD is set to come out in early 2009.

About "House of Payne""House of Payne" is TBS?s #1 hit TV show that features the daily shenanigans and real life issues of the Payne Family. The Payne family consists of CJ (Allen Payne), Curtis (Lavan Davis), Ella (Cassi Davis), Malik (Doc Shaw), Janine (Demetria McKinney), Calvin (Lance Gross) & Jazmine (China Anne McClain). The show is the brain child of Tyler Perry and has gone on to make history becoming the #1 cable sitcom in cable TV history. "House of Payne" airs Wednesdays at 9:00PM EST on TBS and starting Sept. 24th it will go into syndication and will be shown 6 days a week at 7:00PM & 7:30PM on Peachtree TV.