No matter the arena, Kandi Burruss is sure to dominate. Hot off the heels of the “Verzuz” win, the Xscape singer is celebrating a birthday this month, and what better way to honor Taurus season than with a true multi-faceted Taurus! It is a huge time for Burruss as we await her re-appearance as ‘Roselyn’ in the 4th season of “The Chi,” which starts May 23rd.
In addition, Bravo has just closed the 13th season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which wrapped up off with a dungeon-themed reunion, to which Kandi sashayed onto the set in full latex attire! From her work ethic to her championing women in her foundation, Kandi Cares, to her latest venture, Beautiful Bosses, Kandi Burruss is a leader in every sense of the word. Without further ordo: Meet the Boss.
Now, what does one do when given the opportunity to speak with an industry powerhouse and cultural influencer when there are so many career highlights and sensational topics to consider?
Do not forget, this is a woman that has career longevity, artistic dynamicism, and beauty, so should a person just thrust themselves into the present state of her current energetic influence and creative existence? Absolutely! Kandi has a direct, no-holds-barred personality, and what better way to highlight her fierceness than to move the way bosses do and get down to business.
More than any of the clashes and rumors, Kandi’s attire at the taping of the season finale is what captured the most attention. She arrived at the aforementioned event with the theme in mind as she revealed her full latex outfit, which consisted of a black bodysuit, sleeves, collar, and corset made by VEX Latex. She took the party up another level with her wardrobe selection, as one would expect of a woman who has carved a successful career that has spanned nearly three decades. She didn’t disappoint when discussing the provocative vibe and her inspiration for a bold and beautiful fashion statement.
“I was told that it would be a mix of ’50 Shades of Grey’ meets Burlesque meets dungeon, so I immediately thought of latex. I wanted to give the look a combination of latex and glam. I reached out to VEX, a company known for its latex garments. They handmade that outfit for me and it only took them two days.”
But after watching the episode and seeing her cast mates, it appears that no one else was willing to step outside of their box.
“I thought more people were going to go all out and make it really sexy,” Kandi explains, “I was surprised to see that hardly any of my other housewives did the theme.”
An accomplished entrepreneur, she was not afraid to exert her confidence and authority off and on-screen, which includes her role on “The Chi” as Roselyn Perry. The character is a no-nonsensical businesswoman and first lady of the city of Chicago who has an estranged husband, Mayor Otis “Douda” Perry. Despite the two having a tumultuous, love/hate relationship, Roselyn is still able to advise and guide him (sometimes, without him knowing) as he attempts to transition from his secret life as the leader of a notorious street gang to a powerful politician who could provide the changes the community desperately needs.
“We deal with a lot of topics on this season of The Chi that are happening in the real world. I don’t want to give too much away, but you can see from the trailer, we are going to take a look at law enforcement in the Black community. It’s going to be interesting to see how we, including my husband, who is from the streets, will navigate these realities now that he has become the mayor. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Am I really trying to do the right thing or do I have my own interests in mind?”
Kandi, like Roselyn, has to adhere to “societal norms” and deal with the pressure of the industry’s demands; however, it is because of her determination that she is able to move within the male-dominated spaces of entertainment and succeed. When asked what parts of the Roselyn character are actually her in real life, she laughed a little and commented that there are similarities between them.
“I love Roselyn! She is a businesswoman as I am a businesswoman, she is bi-sexual and I am pretty open myself. She is also strategic and cunning…”
But Kandi made it clear that cunning is not a descriptive word that she would use for herself, for she believes in following her heart as opposed to being of a calculated nature. “I go with what feels good at the time. I can be strategic at times, but not cunning or calculated… it has to feel right.”
It is clear there is a definitive difference between her online boss character and her waking life role as boss, so the question is: Will Roselyn learn to follow her heart and be less rigid in her intentions within her business dealings? Only time will tell.
Having several projects going simultaneously is inspiring to watch from the outside looking in, but one wonders if Kandi ever needs a break. How does she remain motivated and maintain balance in both her personal and professional life? Unsurprisingly, she is not one for breaks, because she knows how fast the entertainment industry moves and it does not take long to get left behind. When asked what she does when she takes a break from her hectic schedule, she responded quickly.
“I don’t have many reset days. I’m always thinking about my next move because as soon as you get comfortable, you fall off. I never feel like I can relax. It’s never even a thought to me.”
The reality star turned actor did mention that she does enjoy a little downtime while getting her nails done, “it gives me a moment to breathe,” but in no time at all Kandi gets back on her grind.
Being a successful, multi-faceted businesswoman comes with its share of challenges, and with as much as Kandi has accomplished, she still has moments where she feels as though she could have done more. She wasn’t aware of how long “RHOA” would last when she signed on in the second season. She mentioned, “I didn’t think it was going to be a major part of my life,” and how she “would have done more music.” But had she known that she was “going to be around for a minute,” the essence of her success may not have the same impact.
Either way, Kandi has persevered and solidified her presence within the culture, and that is some boss-ish.
Dakari Eli
