Basketball Wives star Tami Roman dons a new look on the cover of Rolling Out Magazine. Inside, Tami get personal as she discusses having to get on food stamps as a result of trying to live up to the public’s perception by spending money on frivolous things. She also reveals she will be releasing a book, how she handles criticism and being grateful for the small things after falling on hard times.
Read a few excerpts below:
On if she ever feels weak or vulnerable
Yes, I do all the time. There was a point in my life where we fell on hardships. After years of spending money and living through people, I woke up one day and all of that money was gone. I was at an all-time low … I had to get on foodstamps , I had to go get on medical assistance, and I cried a lot. But I realized that I did it to myself by trying to live up to images, and trying to live up to public perception rather than being true to myself. I vowed from that moment on that I didn’t want my daughters to see me this way, and that I was going to do whatever it took to bring us back to the top.
On handling real time responses and criticisms on blogs and twitter
When I did the “RealWorld ,” we didn’t have Facebook, Twitter, or blogs, so I didn’t really know how people felt about the things that I did, [unless] they took the time to write a fan letter. So social media is very new to me, and it’s something I had to get used to because people will criticize you, judge you and lash out at you. People will feel like that can say anything to you and you’re just supposed to take it. I haven’t always done that because I’m a human being with feelings. So if you hurt me or my loved ones, I’m going to address it accordingly. I realize now that I can’t do that though, I can’t curse out every person who doesn’t like me on Twitter.
On becoming an author
I’m working on my book, and I will say that several ladies on the show have books coming out … well, all of us except Suzie [laughs]. I know with my situation in particular, everybody knows me from the “Real World” and from “Basketball Wives.” I think that there is so much more to my life that they don’t know about and that they don’t get a chance to see. So I want to really open up myself to people to give a lot of backstory to me, my family, how I was raised, and the things I’m going through or have gone through. Hopefully, someone can read my book, understand my situation, and learn how to get through something similar that they may be going through.
On if she appreciates her newfound success
Absolutely. God made me appreciate the small things. He made me appreciate my daughters; He made me appreciate just having a roof over my head … not a mansion, just a roof. He made me appreciate having clothes on my back no matter who makes it. He really brought me back to a place of love and just having clarity of thought. So I appreciate everything that has come my way and I’m trying to give back.
Read the full interview & see more photos over at Rolling Out.
