RHOA's Demetria McKinney Keeps it #100 about Roger Bobb, Her Life and How She Handles the Shade *FARRAHGRAY.COM EXCLUSIVE*

Demetria McKinney is one of the newest Georgia Peaches taking the Real Housewives of Atlanta by storm with her beauty, wit and Girl Next Door personality. Best known for her role on the Tyler Perry television series House of Payne, Demetria is ready to show the world she is a triple threat possessing the voice, the beauty and the brains. FarrahGray.com’s Staff Writer, Ariel Rainey, got Demetria on the hotline to get the tea on her music, love life and all things Demetria!

Ariel Rainey: First off congratulations on being a Cast Member on this season’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. I am a fan of yours on there because I think you’re very good at keeping it all together.

Demetria: Oh, thank you so much girl. It’s been a journey! (giggles)

Ariel Rainey: Yeah because your strength on there…. Like I don’t know HOW you survived some of that stuff because I’m from Chicago and I would’ve lost my mind! But you hold your composure and I love that! Speaking of Housewives, how does it feel to be the New Peach on the show and how did you become a part of the cast?

Demetria: Well, being the new cast member on the show has been um…it has been a game changer for me, you know, I’ve had some success in what I call “regular television,” and stage work and theatre but coming into the reality world is a whole different beast and I’m just glad I have figured out my niche in navigating it and that people have come to like that part. So it is a work in process every single day! (giggles)

Ariel Rainey: Yes! Yes! ABSOLUTELY! Now your character on the show which is basically being yourself….you are very strong even when dealing with a lot of shade and EVERYONE seems to throw shade your way. You Know? And you’re very nice and very inviting even while dealing with shade. So how do you keep it all together even while transitioning in your career? Because I know that is alot!

Demetria: Shade isn’t anything new. It just got a different name. You know what I mean? They was calling it joaning a long time ago and coming up as a military brat, ten different cities and states the whole time I was growing up, I got a whole lot of that. You know? I was always the tallest one, I was always the awkward one, at one point I had headgear! (laughs) I am not unaware of how that game is played, but I DO KNOW you have to look at the place from where the shade is coming. If someone is real unhappy with themselves they will find a way to put it on you. I’m happy! I didn’t follow these chicks before I came into the whole like that, but I am definitely happy for their successes. A couple of them I was cool with before hand, but it wasn’t like I was just there on some “OMG I can’t wait to be like these chicks” stuff. SO I came in with my own brand and confidence. I know who I am and I like peace so long as I am at peace with myself, I’ll keep that. Now if you get to doing too much….then it’s on. You know I am a Tomboy…I did play basketball, I wrestled with boys so I know how to handle myself at the same time. But I feel like the person with the most power doesn’t have to use it.

Ariel Rainey: That is great a great way of putitng it. And on the show you made friends with Cynthia Bailey and Claudia Jordan and I love how they hold you down. They’re always holding you down and you seem to have a great friendship with them. Were you ladies friends before the show and are you friends now that the show is done being filmed?

Demetria: I was friends with Cynthia a couple of years prior to this…we were in the same circles, our Boyfriends knew each other…even though me and my boyfriend were kinda lowkey. We always got along very well together and I love her spirit, I love her demeanor and I love how she handles herself. Claudia, I didn’t know prior to this and ironically we were both vying for the Peach situation. As everyone knows, she came and got the peach which I am so happy for her! But they were trying to use that as a catalyst for us to be at each other and kinda go against each other with that catfight crap at the very beginning. I’m grown! What’s for me is for me. Peach or no peach, Imma do what I do and Imma make my mark and when it is time for me to go Ill be gone! But I lovvvee Claudia’s personality! It is a different taste than what everyone else has got on the show. She is her own person. She is her own force. But once people get to know her really all the way around other than just the reads she can do I think they will grow to love her more and more.

Ariel Rainey: Yes because she READS! She gives me life with her reads (Laughs) She needs to have a read school so I can sign up!

Demetria: Yes she does read with a megaphone and reading glasses (giggles)

Ariel Rainey: (laughs) This past Sunday I did watch and you performed your new single #100 which is the jam, I haven’t heard music like this in years so I was very happy that you were making music that has good content AND this track features a fellow Chicagoan Da Brat!

Demetria: Yeahhhh!!! Yeahhhhh! (laughs)

Ariel Rainey: (laughs) Plus, the song is on iTunes now because your fans are demanding it! How did you and Da Brat come together for this track and can you tell me a little history about #100?

Demetria: Well the song 100 was written and produced by The Good Guys who are some new Producers outta of Atlanta that is super talented and I just love the concept that we came up with as we were sitting there writing it. It is about being who you are, loving who you are and finding the person who is going to love you for that instead of trying to front and shade and figuring it out later. The way Da Brat came on board is that we had a mutual friend that owned the recording studio we both recorded at and we kinda always passed each other. She’s always been really cool! Our friend suggested that she jumped on the track and I was with it. I have been a fan of hers since forever! I love her swag, I love her confidence and I love her sincerity in every lyric that she writes. And she is so humble!!! People don’t know that she is so freaking cool! Bandanna, shades, gangsta rap…(laughs) and she brought great, great energy to that song.

Ariel Rainey: Yeah, you guys have such great chemistry together on stage when you were in Puerto Rico and on the track itself. It was just a great fit!

Demetria: Yeah and when people watch the video on Vevo and YouTube you get to see that we really….I love being in situations where I really like the people I’m in the situation with….there’s nothing like being on a vacation with some Beeps that you don’t like. You know what I mean? It makes it less fun, it makes it tumultuous, it makes it so rocky and you can’t enjoy the ride. So just being in the situation with her with 100 and the video, being in the situation with Housewives with the Cynthias, the Claudias and Kenya…..Me and Kenya are getting along great and I didn’t think that was going to happen in the beginning myself! (laughs) So those things really really make it all worthwhile to put in all the hardwork.

Ariel Rainey: Now before your music career you were known for being a phenomenal actress and was on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne which is a show we all still watch and love. Although your focus is on your music career, we will be seeing you on the big screen this year?

Demetria: Oh, I have not stop acting by any stretch of the imagination. House of Payne is still in syndication and I really appreciate everybody still rocking with that show! Mr. Perry is still doing his thing and I am super proud and honored to have been a part of is projects and will be happy if he has me again. The acting bone has not left my body and I have two movies coming out this year. One is called “Let the Church Say Amen” and it features Naturi Naughton, Hosea Chancez and is Regina King’s directorial debut. I also have another movie coming out called “Sons to the Grave” directed by Mykelti Williamson…you know better as Bubba, Bubba Gump from Forest Gump.

Ariel Rainey: Oh Yesss!

Demetria Mckinney: Yeah, I wish I could give you the visuals because it is awesome! You know I came in with my crayon box and I had some colors to play with, but he took that purple and showed me lavender, periwinkle and all these different things so that was an honor. This also features Darrin Henson and Recording Artist Trevor Jackson. It is a great story based on a true story that is really what is happening in our inner city that can possibly bring some change. Also, The Rickey Smiley Show is coming back and I still play his ole crazy Baby Mama (laughs). So I am excited because these are the things that keepmy music thriving.

Ariel Rainey: Wow! You sound like a busy woman!!! You are on your business so go on with it! I love it.

Demetria McKinney: Ain’t nobody playing with ya’ll! Bump that!

Ariel Rainey: (laughs) Keep it going! We need to see more women especially women of color on TV handling business and doing positive things.

Demetria Mckinney: Awww Thank you!

Ariel Rainey: Now….it is time for the juicy stuff….you have been criticized by the world for your relationship for Roger Bobb because you hold him down. I am giving you the floor for you to say your final peace so you can shut down the Haters.

Demetria Mckinney: ………Here we go……Roger Bobb and I are what we are and the point is that everyone forgets that relationships has trials, the point that every relationship isn’t perfect that it becomes kinda hypocritical. We are best friends, we do love each other, we are in the best place I think we’ve ever been. When the drama that people seen on the show erupted we were not together. When it comes to this caricature of myself on the show, the thing is people don’t get to see the full Monty. For the past four years he has been my Business Partner for my music career. They don’t see that he is there when I am sick. They don’t see that he has taken on so much of my life and combined it with his that no matter what happens, whether it is marriage or friendship, we will be in each other’s lives. So, I hold him down. If you really love somebody you have to stay true to that or it is a sham. Another thing I want people to realize is that they say I say his name too much (laughs)…..There are so many people on the show that says his name more than I do…Kenya wants to do business with him, Phaedra “says” she did business with him, it is just funny cause everybody from Michelle Obama to Instagram and Twitter to Andy on “Watch What Happens Live”….but I wouldn’t change my relationship for anything in this world because there are people in marriages that aren’t happy, been married then divorced then back married or has a man we can’t see, find, name or identify SO…I’m happy in my relationship, I love my man and I am gonna continue to stick with that….

Ariel Rainey: HALLELUJAH! That just blessed me (laughs). I agree with you about relationships because you are free to create your own relationships.

Demetria Mckinney: Yes Ma’am.

Ariel Rainey: Now back to the Music (laughs) Wednesday you dropped your single “Trade It All” on iTunes that will be a track on your “Officially Yours” EP that drops this Spring. Tell us about your single and what we can expect from the upcoming album.

Demetria Mckinney: Officially Yours is my EP and it is named that because everyone has gotten to know these characters on television. I stepped into the reality television world for a chance for people to know me, but still that is only a part of it. This project embodies who I am! From the first word I say in #100 that is bleeped out to discussing the relationships I’m in currently being displayed in “Trade It All.” “Trade It All” talks about my relationship with “He Who Shall Not Be Named” (laughs) and how there is no problem in the relationship. He is good to me, I’m happy. But how are going to the next level when people are talking, if dudes are checking for me or if chicks are checking for him and yet WE ARE US despite those things? It is not about a tumultuous relationship and he is just dogging me. It’s about how we’re good and we are going to keep it there.

Ariel Rainey: Nice! Well I am super excited to hear your project because everything that you have dropped was actually really good and that is not often the case with Reality Stars. Honestly, I always watched you as an Actress and had no clue that you knew how to sing.

Demetria McKinney: Oh thank you. That was always a dream of mine. I’ve done Dreamgirls and was Jennifer Holliday by her request. I also did an Opera called “I Dream” where I play Coretta Scott King so I it is something that I have been trying to get out there. I am hoping that with “Trade It All” the world will be able to really see the level of my vocal skills. We are also dropping the video in about two weeks so you will get a visual to go with the song

Ariel Rainey: I can’t wait to see the video! I must thank you for chatting with me on the HOT LINE for FARRAHGRAY.COM where you gave me great insight on who DEMETRIA the person is all about! Before I let you go I have one request. You have your single #100 that is like a new jam of mine soooo tell your fans how you keep it #100!

Demetria McKinney: I have so many KEEP IT 100 moments, but I know they had to come about because every morning I look in the mirror and face who I am. Flaws, history….you know I am a product of molestation, I’ve been homeless, I’m a Single Mom…Life happens, beep happens and the last thing you need is to have some baggage come in that you’re unaware of….so every morning, I wake up aware of who I am, confident in who I am, thankful for who I am and what I have been through and keep it pressing. That’s how I keep it #100. Not worrying about others, not being ashamed of you are but be being true to who you are is the way to live. Become comfortable being yourself and not being afraid of being yourself in front of people and watch how your life changes.

Ariel Rainey: Love it! Again, thanks so much for chatting with FarrahGray.com and allowing our site to get to know you! We cannot wait to hear new music and get you back on our site.

Demetria Mckinney: Thank you. Let me give a shameless plug (laughs) I want to these #Demetrians that hold me down. Iesha, Alana Nicole, Sidney Simone, all of you guys thanks so much for supporting me. Follow me on Instagram @Demetria4Real and on Twitter at @demimckinney. You can also visit my website at DemetriaMcKinney.com. Thank you so much FarrahGray.com!

Demetria’s music can be purchased on iTunes and Real Housewives of Atlanta airs every Sunday evening on Bravo.

Interview by: Ariel Rainey

Ariel Rainey is a Brand Consultant and Journalist that focuses on building brands, writing good content and knowing the latest in entertainment. Nicknamed the Mogul by her clients and following, she is known for being the bridge that connects pop culture with emerging brands. She can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @ArieltheMogul and on her website www.ArieltheMogul.com.