Los Angeles native Saaphyri first appeared on our TV screens as a contestant on the second season of the Flavor Of Love show. Although her efforts were fruitless, that spot allowed her to appear on the popular spinoff reality show Charm School, which was hosted by comedian/actress MoNique.
In this exclusive interview, Saaphyri talks about her time with and attraction to Flavor Flav, the infamous fight that got her kicked off of that show, her win on Charm School and some inside dish on the upcoming Flavor Of Love 3 season.
AllHipHop.com: You were the winner of the reality TV show/contest Charm School. Tell us about that experience?
Saaphyri: Charm School was a blessing for me. I won $50,000 from the show. The experience was a lot different from what I thought it was going to be. We [the contestants] didnt really know what to expect from the show when we first arrived.
AllHipHop.com: What did the casting people explain to you when you first signed up for this show?
Saaphyri: All they said was, Weve got this new show and you have a chance to win money. I was like, Sign me up! [laughs]
AllHipHop.com: They could have had you eating worms or some other crazy sh*t like that! You had no idea?
Saaphyri: No. They just said that they had a new show and a chance to win money a lot of money. I asked them what they considered a lot was, and they said that they would tell me when I got there. None of us knew how much money was involved until we got off of the bus, and then they finally told us. Afterwards they told us that the premise of the show had to do with being charming.
AllHipHop.com: What was your reaction when you found out that MoNique was going to be the host?
Saaphyri: When I found out about MoNique, I figured that the show was going to be fun because she is a comedian – but she was serious the whole time! That really threw me off. As the show went on we never knew what to really expect – unlike Flavor Of Love – because Charm School was brand new. None of knew what the challenges were going to be or what we were going to have to do. You mentioned eating worms a moment ago. I was hoping that we werent going to have to do stuff like that. [laughs]
AllHipHop.com: Now that you bring up Flavor Of Love, you were in Season 2. Didnt you beat another contestant down on that show? Whats up with that?
Saaphyri: Yeah! That was crazy. I wasnt even in the house for 15 minutes! I ran up the stairs to go get a bed and this girl tries to gangster me out of it to take it for herself. She assaulted me with flowers and all kinds of junk. I was intent on staying in the house, because I wanted Flav. I figured that if I didnt get a bed, I wouldnt get to stay in the house, so I got in to an altercation.
Then afterwards, Flavor was like, I really dont want a violent woman. I tried to explain that I am not a violent woman. I thought that she was stealing something from me. Thats the way that I felt.
AllHipHop.com: Did you manage to land some good blows during the fight?
Saaphyri: [laughs] We were fighting, and in my mind I was saying, God. Please dont let these people call the police. I was trying to get a date, not go to jail! She was crazy, but I think I got in one or two good shots. It was real quick.
AllHipHop.com: Lets be honest here. Did you really want a date with Flavor Flav?
Saaphyri: Of course I did! Thats why I went on the show.
AllHipHop.com: Cmon now. I know that hes a celebrity and hes a Hip Hop legend because of Public Enemy, and I am a fan myself, so no disrespect to him. But did you realistically want to be his woman?
Saaphyri: I knew what I was signing up for when I got there. I wanted to see what he was about. Ive never been one for looks anyway. That has never been my thing. Ive dated some guys that have probably looked worse than Flav, but they had good hearts, or at least I thought so at the time. It was never about the appearances. I want to get to know a person. Plus Flavor smelled so good. He smelled really good.
AllHipHop.com: Wow. If Flavor has a shot then there is hope for a lot of fellas out there. I hope you guys are taking note of this!
Saaphyri: [laughs] Its not about appearances! To me thats the thing that might attract people initially, but if there is nothing on the inside to go along with that, then its a done deal. There are some pretty people out there with some messed up ways. As long as the inside part is cool, then we are good to go.
AllHipHop.com: I cant recall what his count is, but the multitude of children doesnt bother you?
Saaphyri: [pauses for long laughter] No. I like kids – especially when they are other peoples kids.
AllHipHop.com: Great. Youve now given more hope to the men out there! She doesnt mind your kids fellas!
Saaphyri: I get along really good with kids. They always seem to like me. I am not a good disciplinarian, so as long as someone else does that, its all good. But for Flav, if his babys mommas are happy, then hes happy I guess. Im all good with the kids. Ive met his kids actually. They are real sweet.
AllHipHop.com: Sounds like a match made in Heaven I guess, except for your violent ways. You stated that he didnt want a violent woman. [laughs]
Saaphyri: I went to anger management for that. Ive learned how to control my anger.
AllHipHop.com: I bet that you got an earful from family and friends for acting all ghetto on TV.
Saaphyri: My Grand momma was mad. I heard the whole, Girl. You know you aint supposed to be doing that. You are supposed to wait for the camera to go off! Dont hit her while its on! I did have some cousins stick up for me, saying that the other girl deserved it. I was just mad that someone caused me to lose my chance to date Flav. I really wanted to date him.
AllHipHop.com: [sighs] There you go with that again. Im telling you fellas, you have a chance! Hit up her Myspace page and throw your name in the hat!
Saaphyri: Oh my God! Now I am going to get all of these ..never mind! Flav is a nice guy though. I didnt get to date him, but because of that show I went on to Charm School and won $50,000. How can I be mad at that?
AllHipHop.com: What were your toughest challenges from the Charm School show?
Saaphyri: Id say the time that we had to camp out in the cold, because I am Black and we dont do that. [laughs] My weave was not taking it too good. The hardest challenge was having to give away my stuff. I didnt realize how attached I was to material things. I learned something about myself, and I learned to not be so attached to things.
AllHipHop.com: I can see how that traumatized you, considering that I had to wait two hours to do this fn interview while you were getting ready. People are going to read this, not see you!
Saaphyri: [laughs] Theres a lot that goes in to getting ready! Ive got to look good for this interview! You dont want to sit next to someone all funky lookin or smelling
AllHipHop.com: Well true, and thank you for thinking of me. Back to the show. Most reality TV shows seem staged. I wont say names but weve all seen them. It looks like everything has been put together. Was that the case with this?
Saaphyri: After a while you forget that the cameras are planted there. For the first couple of days I was really aware of them, but you do forget. Some of the girls loved being in front of the camera and they acted out excessively. If there were moments where something seemed staged, thats because the person was intentionally acting out.
AllHipHop.com: So did you blow your $50,000 yet?
Saaphyri: I am being wise with it. I have my own line of up Lip Chap that you can purchase at www.saaphyri.com. I am also in the hair and clothes business. I am branding myself.
AllHipHop.com: Damn! A lot of chicks would have hit Rodeo Drive
Saaphyri: My mentality is to use this money and flip it in to more money. Im trying to double it and triple it. Go buy my Lip Chap from my website. It comes in all flavors and its for all sexes.
AllHipHop.com: More TV in the future for you?
Saaphyri: You will see me on Flavor Of Love 3.
AllHipHop.com: Oh God, shes trying again!
Saaphyri: You never know. I just might get my man. I cant tell you but you will see me on there in February.
AllHipHop.com: Look at the track record of winners. This is the third season of a finding love show.
Saaphyri: I am not like any of the past girls. Plus he needs to give me a second chance. He kicked me out too quick. He didnt even get to know me in Season 2. I am a loving, and now charming lady.
AllHipHop.com: So everything has been filmed already? Congratulations on winning!
Saaphyri: [laughs] Nope. You are not going to get it out of me. You are going to have to watch and see.