Exclusive Interview with Schatar "Hottie" Taylor of VH1's Flavor of Love and Charm School

Television viewers were introduced to Schatar Taylor as the raw chicken in the microwave cooking gold digger, Hottie in the first season of VH1's Flavor of Love. In a very in-depth interview, I asked the self-described "female Tiger Woods of the screen" about her elimination from Charm School, her gold digger image, and how she feels about former housemate, Tiffany "New York" Pollard's overnight success.

Where are you originally from?

I was born in New England, but I've lived all over the world. I went to school in Washington and Boston. I've lived in different places and all around the world.

Who were some of your role models?

I went to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, which is an Ivy League school. There, I did my thesis on Women in Entertainment. I got the great opportunity to study the greats like Lena Horne, Madonna and Dorothy Dandridge.

Do you have any hobbies?

As far as hobbies, right now, I eat, breathe and sleep entertainment. So, anything entertainment-related, I'm into it.

What is your prized possession?

My sense of humor. I appreciate the spirit of other individuals because I think that is what makes us all unique. When I get the chance to laugh at something, it really brightens my day. And I hear it does the same for fans as well.

What were you doing prior to Flavor of Love?

I was a struggling actress living in LA. I lived in a one-room place with no furniture at all and I was going to Catholic charities for food. Basically getting my food from food banks.

How did you get involved in Flavor of Love?

I'm involved in different casting sites. And I was cast through an acting website.

So, if the show was just a display of actresses performing, what was real about the show?

The competitions were real, like the cooking competition. That was a real competition to see who could make the best fried chicken according to his mom's recipe. And I knew that was one competition that I was not going to win. I do not know how to cook at all. So, I figured let's have some fun with this competition. So instead of putting the chicken in grease, I decided to put it in the microwave and just put vegetables on it, chow mein noodles, mushrooms, marshmallows and just have fun with it.

Do you know how to cook fried chicken now?

Truth is, I do not know how to cook fried chicken but I do know putting chicken in the microwave for two seconds will not cook it. I figured it would be something the audience could laugh at. It could provide humor and people tell me now that they've never laughed so hard in their lives so that part worked.

On the show, they had you depicted as a gold digger.

I am not a gold digger. Let's clarify the record. I am not a gold digger. I'm a lifetime Girl Scout, an American Legion distinguished scholar, a former Congressional Aide, a Hugh O'Brien leadership Ambassador and I have no desire to be a gold digger. I am definitely not a gold digger. But, I think they just needed something to talk about for the show.

New York, a former competitor with you in season one, has completely taken over VH1! How do you feel about how she's become so popular and there are others who have fallen to the waste side?

For me, it's not personal. It's business. Seeing one of the girls getting their own show let me know there's an open door for other girls to have their own show, so that's what I would say about it.

Since the Flavor of Love elimination, I remember seeing you photographed in a red carpet event wearing a red dress. Have you made any other appearances?

That one is from the Fox Reality Awards, which was in 2006. That was a couture gown designed by Angela Dean, who designs for many celebrities. But of course, I live, breathe and sleep entertainment, so for me, going to red carpets and entertainment-based events is part of my job.

Viewers recently saw you play a part in Flavor of Love Girls Present: Charm School. What made you decide to participate in this show?

When the executive producer called me about the show and that it was called Charm School, I said I didn't need to go to Charm School because I was already charming! I thought I would have the chance to give back. It was under the impression that I would agree to do the show. To have the opportunity to give back to do some volunteer work like to go to a children's hospital, something like that and make a difference in that way.

So, you had no idea what you were getting into?

I had no idea what the competitions would be. I just knew it was called Charm School and that it would involve the girls of Flavor of Love.

So, I'm pretty sure you weren't aware of the competitions especially the hiking incident.

I was completely shocked. It was freezing. Absolutely freezing. No running water, no electricity. Absolutely freezing! You know how they showed the distance and the time lapsed on the television screen, that was real. It took hours to get up that hill.

One thing people notice about you right away is your hair. What's up with the hair?

I have to say thank you for noticing. My goal was to provide entertainment and to stand out from the crowd. From watching Flavor of Love one and Flavor of Love two, I assessed the styles from the girls on the show and my own personal style and said "Okay, how can I really stand out?" In the entertainment field, I'll just share something that I've learned, is that the audience wants extreme versions of the individual. The audience wants entertainment so I'm sure to give it to them at every opportunity. I knew that none of the girls wore their hair this way. If everyone on the show had three-feet long, blond hair, I would probably wear a blue mohawk just to stand out. So, the goal was to stand out and be remembered, so it worked.

Was there anything you wished they had aired on television that they didn't, especially with the hidden picture ordeal?

Everywhere I go, audience members, viewers run up to me, and say, "Hottie, Hottie. Oh, my Gosh, you're my favorite. My friends and I love you." They even wear eyelashes that make the ka-ching, ka-ching sounds. And, what the audience is telling me is that their main request is that the judges had viewed the tapes before sending me home. Just as they watched the etiquette competition and all of the other competitors, there are cameras in the house. I did not know what happened to the pictures until I watched it on Sunday with everyone else.

So, you just found out? I know that must have upset you even more. On past shows, especially the Flavor of Love series, if they wanted to find out something, they would go back to the tapes. For instance, they wanted to know who started the fight between Saaphyri and the other girl. That was why they eliminated Saaphyri. I know that makes you upset to the fact that they didn't do the same in your case.

You made a really great point because I hadn't even thought about the fact that they went back to the tapes, when it came back to eliminating Saaphyri. I can say that the day Leilene's picture went missing, as you know, they won a shopping spree to Forever 21. They decided to bring me and Darra with them. So, when we left to go on the shopping spree, the picture was on the nightstand. When we came back from the shopping spree, the picture was gone. So, that should be pretty much clear that I had nothing to do with the picture disappearing. But, I did feel what the two girls did was really, really low. According to all the facts I know, Leilene's mom is deceased and to take someone's deceased relative picture is very, very low. That is truly personal. That would be something I would not do.

You worked with Monique on Charm School, who served as Headmistress. What are your feelings towards her?

I consider Monique to be a fellow screen diva and a great comedian.

What about the other judges?

Oh, it was a pleasure to work with someone as gracious as Mikki Taylor. I would be happy to work with her again. In fact, I felt the show was very fortunate to have someone with her wisdom and her grace as part of the show.

Do you keep in contact with any of the girls from Flavor of Love or Charm School?

I see the girls at promotional events from time to time but they don't really care about me. (laughs)

Why would you say that?

Because I know some of them are friends outside of the show before the taping of Charm School. I know they would not include me in some of the things they are doing. Fortunately, I have a very strong friend base, professional base and family base. For me, it's not personal; it's business.

I hear you have a single out. Can you tell me more about it?

Yes, I do. Exciting news, it made CDBaby's Top 40 in its first week of release. It made #7 and it's called "It's Money Banks."

What type of feedback have you been receiving?

The exact link is www.cdbaby.com/itsmoneybanks. It's a new single that is produced by Eric "Man Man' Lyons. It is getting great feedback. Fans are supportive and they love good music and I love giving them entertainment whether they're laughing or they're dancing.

How long have you been singing?

Since I was a baby but professionally since I was five.

Have you been in any competitions?

I have. I performed at every school play I could. I also went to the Apollo in New York and I won there. That was a televised competition that I won. I also went to Peabody Conservatory and studied music theory there.

For someone who has not heard your single, how would you describe your style of music?

Definitely alternative. A fusion of pop, rock, and great soulful music. Some people call it crossover. A music that crosses the genres because it's loved by children, people with different demographic backgrounds and that is my goal. To make sure that everyone around the world has music that they can dance to.

Will there be more? Are you coming out with an album?

Right now, I'm releasing singles. I'm again working with Eric "Man Man" Lyons. I'm also in the studio with one of the former members of Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Beale and Sididi.

Do you have any other projects coming up?

I worked on the production team for an independent film, which is in pre-production now.

What inspires your clothing style? Where does Schatar shop?

I love couture so if there are individual designers that have an eye for fashion that I can appreciate, I will go to the individual designers, like Angela Dean. Shopping overseas, you can get shoes in Holland or imports in New York that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. One of a kind pieces, wearable pieces of art are what I am drawn to and what I like to wear. Because just like hair, clothing are accessories. A woman is not defined by her clothes or by her personal styles. I think that it is very important for people to know. A woman is not defined by her clothes or her hair. She lets her insides shine outwards and what she uses to dress up herself are just accessories. Just opportunities for personal expression. So, I just try to make sure that it's fun. Something fun. And if you notice, I never, ever took off my clothes on either Flavor of Love or Charm School. I will not compromise my morals to win either show. I didn't use any profanity.

Even when you got into arguments, I also noticed that the "B" word never came out your mouth.

Exactly and although, I wanted to, many, many times, I knew that we already had 12 other girls that were willing to use the "B" word all the time and I had to just set a different example.

Do you believe Flavor of Love had a negative depiction of African American women?
I can say from, in my experience just from watching and working with individuals from the show that I know for myself, that the individuals are speaking for themselves. None of the women on the show can speak for me. I made a point to really speak for myself and set a different example from the crowd. To just not be a follower but a leader.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Definitely producing a television series, starring in a television series. There are many different projects I would like to do. I would love to do a show on couture. That would be awesome. As well as producing music and touring like a Madonna or a Janet Jackson or a Shakira doing international touring of my original music. Starring in feature films, so those three: television, music and film.

Which entertainers would you like to work with?
I would love to work with Will Smith, Justin Timberlake and Quentin Tarantino on the directing side. I have had an opportunity to be on the set with Debbie Allen already. I have worked on two of her productions so far. And to work with Steven Spielberg again would be great. They are really good people.

Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?
I would tell them to be themselves. To not concentrate on chronological age or trying to do things in a time frame but to live in the moment and make sure they are maximizing every single day, every single moment of every day and to just enjoy it.

If anyone wants to get in contact with you, how would they do that?

Email me at moneybbanks@aol.com or on my music page at myspace.com/moneybbanks.

So, are you dropping the whole "Hottie" nickname?
Money Banks has been my nickname since I was 12, selling girl scout cookies. I would sell them in the hospital, where my mom worked. Some of the doctors would say, "Thanks for the cookies. Do you mind if I don't pay now and I pay you later?" And I would tell them no, I need you to pay now because if you don't pay, it would have to come out my mom's purse and I didn't want that. They would call me Money Banks at age 12 around the hospital. It's the name I am use to hearing, so it actually works.

Anything else you would like to share with your fans?

The single will soon be released on I-Tunes and Burn Lounge and that fans should contact me for bookings and celebrity appearances at school.