Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Angela and Vanessa Simmons Get Fearless (My exclusive Interview)







NoW that you are in California, do you MiSS 
neW york and have you found a balanCe? 
absolutely. i love new york City. i love living here and i love coming 
home, because new york is my balance. i do find that after a few 
weeks or a month i do need to come back home to new york. i’m 
such a new york girl. 
Have you been able to find love in California? 
i just look for someone who is relatable to me. a sense of humor, 
caring, nice, smart, that can have a good conversation with me. 
Someone who can encourage me when i am down. Just a good 
person. it’s hard; it really is hard to find a great guy. itʼs hard to be 
a virgin and look for a guy and think you can find him. it is a hard 
situation for me. Sometimes i wonder what makes it not work. i 
know i am young and i know that i am exploring, you know getting 
to know different people. every relationship i have i learn something 
new. i know eventually at the right time it will happen. 
WaS it a ConSCiouS deCiSion to PubliCly 
announCe that you  Want to be a virgin 
until Marriage. did you do it to be on 
role Model StatuS? 
no, i didnʼt do it for that reason. it kinda came up with me and 
vanessa on the show. i donʼt regret it, it’s who i am. Publicly, i am 
a public figure, being on a show for 6 seasons. i didn’t mind sharing 
a piece of me. Waiting is for me, it doesn’t have to work for everyone 
else. itʼs for yourself. i don’t do it for my dad, i do it for me. thats 
my power and self will. itʼs what speaks to me. i am very good at 
self control. it’s about having self discipline and not doing what 
everyone around you is doing. it’s a little more of a struggle, but it 
will probably make that person and what it will be, that much better. 
Do you feel that being on a reality ShoW haS 
given PeoPle a falSe PerCePtion of you?   
With opinions i kind of learned that people will always have an opin- 
ion, that’s just life. i think you have to learn to accept it. a lot of the 
times i do get pre judged by people who think they know what we 
are, how we are. i’m a down to earth, pretty humble person. but the 
first thing they know before they actually meet me is, “oh her 
father’s a reverend so that means this or her unclesʼ...itʼs always 
something. Whether it’s that we are spoiled, rich, they don’t have 
to work for nothing. i’ve heard it all. but i’ve learned through my 
father, through my uncle and always asking questions, that it’s just 
a part of life. it is what it is. it comes with being a Simmons. it 
comes from being behind this legacy. 
Do you reMeMber the MoMent When you got 
thiCk Skin to the negativity? 
honestly, thick skin develops over time. i was still in high school 
when we were filming runʼs house. i kinda knew what i was sign- 
ing up for but i didnʼt know that there would be so much criticism. 
it was a lot, you know i got hurt a lot. a lot of nights i would cry and 
feel like i wasn’t good enough. People tearing you down. but over 
time you learn. i talked to my father, talked to my mother, talked to 
all four parents, which is a blessing to have so many caring voices. 
Within the last two years i’ve been growing thick skin. 
There SeeMS to have been a Stronger SenSe of 
ConfidenCe froM you thiS PaSt year, alMoSt a 
tranSforMation froM young girl to young 
WoMan. hoW haS that ProCeSS been in the 
PubliCS eye? 
absolutely, the world was viewing me at the age of 17. So you have 
to imagine from 17 to 23 you are going to grow up. it’s a matter of 
me becoming more of a woman, which is still a process that’s 
happening. iʼve grown in relationships and work, everyday is a 
learning experience. iʼve changed since coming to la. heath wise 
i am more aware and am really trying to get in touch with myself. i 
am learning to love myself first. 
What are you loving about yourSelf 
right noW? 
iʼm loving my growth. iʼm starting to push the envelope with my 
fashion. it will be an extension on me moving into my career. there 
are things that iʼm going to get into that people probably wouldnʼt 
even know i could do. iʼm moving at the right pace. 
What WaS your fearleSS MoMent of 2010?   
My most fearless moment, i became a vegetarian. one day i decided 
i am not going to touch meat and that was that. i remember the day. 
i went to eat breakfast and i got a little sick after eating some 
turkey meat. iʼve wanted to do it for so long, being around my uncle 
and i got some pointers from him. at that very moment i stopped. 
definitely a fearless moment for me. i feel blessed, i wake up every 
morning knowing that if i want to do something i can. honestly, 
everyone has that freedom. outside of the job you may have, you 
have the freedom to be as creative as you want 



Angela


Check out the SIMMONS SISTERS at: 
www.lovepastry.com 
and follow Angela Simmons 
on Twitter@angelasimmons  
Credit: 
leather Circle drop earrings by 
found objects; angela’s ring by 
Justine Simmons 
“There are things 
that Iʼm going to get 
into that people 
probably wouldnʼt 
even know I could 
do. Iʼm moving 
at the right pace.” 
-Angela  



.........................................................
 Vanessa's Interview Exclusive

are there eXPeCtationS to being a 
PreaCherS daughter in the PubliC eye? 
i don’t really give into those expectations. i think i do what 
makes me happy and what works for me the best. i learned a 
long time ago that, the pressure to be great and good has made 
me better, but it didn’t force me to be something i am not. 
WaS there PreSSure to be in entertain- 
Ment being that it iS SuCh a big Part of 
your faMily life? 
oh no, my parents didn’t really want me to be in entertain- 
ment. they wanted to make sure that it was something i 
really wanted to do. that’s why my dad was like, “you want 
to be an actress, why?” that was kind of their reaction. but 
growing up in the circumstance of having entertainment 
around i think it was natural that i did do that. 
What Would your dreaM role be? 
i used to have all of these ideas of dream roles, but as i got 
deeper into acting i realized that whatever the universe 
throws my way i am willing to do. i don’t think there should 
be any barriers from what i do or what people think i would 
act like. i am willing and open to expand my horizons and 
take myself out of my comfort zone. i am waiting to read 
that script that really blows me away. Something that makes 
people say ʻoh wow, that isn’t the same vanessa we saw on 
daddy’s girls. 
Would you be CoMfortable taking a role 
that Would Move againSt your PerSonal 
MoralS but iS needed to Move the 
CharaCter forWard in the Story? 
it is acting and i feel i just want to do my job. i know that there 
are going to be some scripts that come across my desk that 
are not going to be in line with my personal morals. but all i 
want to do is my job and that is part of my job. i want to be able 
to go outside of myself for a minute and step into someone else. 
as long as i don’t get suck there for too long and go crazy. 
do you feel that you have found your 
indePendenCe aWay froM PeoPleS 
i think that finding my independence has been a life long 
journey. Since high school, i wanted to seek independence. 
everyone will have an opinion, but i think over the years even 
without runʼs house people will have opinions. even 
growing up in school, going to college people had their 
opinions about me, whether bad or good. over the years i’ve 
learned to not really give a crap. i’ve actually had people say 
bad things about me and then meet me and say, “oh my 
gosh, you are nothing like i thought.” and in my mind, i am 
like, well thanks for judging me. 
do you feel that MakeS you Put your 
guard uP, knoWing that you are being 
Pre-Judged on your faMily ConneCtionS? 
in the past it made me put my guard up and i fell it has made 
me more of a guarded person. Which is also another reason 
why i probably didn’t show people so much of myself on tv. 
but growing up and getting old i have learned to not care. 
trying to be a successful actress will not allow me to keep 
that guard up. i used to feel that way for a long time. it is 
just this past year that i am like, ʻscrew itʼ. in order for me 
to be successful at my dreams need to let that guard down 
and i need to let go.  
What iS the SuCCeSS that you hoPe to reaCh? 
oh my god there are so many different steps i feel like i want 
to take in my life. it started with Pastry and angela and i 
building a brand. taking that from zero to where the brand 
is now. and of course, there is acting which i don’t feel like 
i have hit the top of that iceberg of where it will go. it is 
happening now. i am very excited about where it is headed. 
i also want to be a hotelier. Me and my sister want to open 
a hotel. angela and i also just started a production company 
called Simmons 2 for quality tv programming. there are so 
many levels to where i want to go to reach my successes, 
one day at a time. 
What have you been Working on lately?  
i am writing a screenplay with my friend. it is pretty much 
done, we are going to go back to it at the beginning of the 
year and make the necessary changes to complete it. i will 
probably start shopping that around and hope it gets some 
interest. So we start form there and here comes another step 
in our lives. 
With PaStry aS the firSt buSineSS you 
and angela got into did you See it aS 
a Way to alSo Send a MeSSage? 
We wanted to make an impact, to show people that their 
dreams are very possible. i am sure that some thought they 
come from a successful family, so it was a lot easier. Part of 
that is true, yes we did have a head start. the other part of 
that is we worked extremely hard to do this. We worked at 
it every single day and made sure that it could be a tool to 
inspire others that anything is possible and to believe in 
yourself. i think if you push and do the work, and put your 
passion behind it then it will come to pass. i love using 
Pastry for that. 
hoW haS it been, Starting a life in a neW 
PlaCe? 
yeah i definitely started over here. it was hard. i came to la 
with no agent. technically no reel, only little work pieces 
here and there from the guiding light. it was extremely hard 
and i am now pretty proud of how far i have come on the 
career side. it may not be where i thought i’d be by this time 
in my life, but it is shaping up pretty nicely. i don’t think in 
life we are in charge of all that stuff. i think there is perfect 
timing and everything is coming along pretty well. i actually 
feel now for the first time in life that i can call myself an 
Vanessa 

37 comments:

  1. Wow ... This Is Truly A Breath Of Fresh Air!

    I Wrote "The Real Hitch" Relationship Column For Your Family's Site, In One Of My Pieces About The "Perfect Gal" I Spoke About Vanessa ... Its Crazy How Being In LA & Young, Black & Ambitious Makes The World So Small ... I Decided I Needed A Vacay From Hollywood So I Flew To Miami ... Guess Who Had A Table Next To Me For Her Birthday o:-) (The Dairy Queen Gift Card Was My Way Of Saying Never Forget The Kid In You) - When Vanessa Closed Her Twitter Account It Left Me Wondering How She Was Surviving This Beast Called Hollywood ... She'll Always Be "Daddy's Gal" But In LA I Know She's Been On A Journey To Find & Prove Herself ... I'm Glad She's Doing Exactly That ... Good Luck To You Both

    Live. Laugh. Love. Life.

    @DarrylDunningII

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  2. Great pictures and interview! :)

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  3. looking good ladies LMNOP Group wha? group LMNOP aka Elemental P Cincinnati come thru 2 fountain square Mynt Martini Thursday nights Aries babie Tuesday our day big shout April 12th

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  4. I am all for women making a brand for theirselves. Other than Pastry, what moral brand would u both say u would like to broadcast to women like me who is a single mother in business school trying to make it successful?

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  5. Love it! just had to put this up on my blog!

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  6. I love your interview it really shows the reasons i gravitated towards what you and you sister do. I remember watching the episode where it came out that you were a virgin and me being in the same position i felt there was someone out there like me, who wanted to wait. And the dating world is so hard when you've made that decision. Thanks for continuing to inspire me

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  7. You girls are such inspirations and role models...Love it!*

    xXx

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  8. you're fabulous! I LOVE reading your blog -- it seems so honest and gives even more insight that Run's House - and you ladies look absolutely stunning in these photos!
    Much continued success!
    Mandy Bennett
    @mandyjbennett1
    http://mandyjbennett.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow. This really inspire more. And made me realize there is other Ladies out there just like me, A virgin. Your blog really inspire me. Thank you so much! Thank you! It actually made me feel mor comfortable with myself.

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  10. LA baby no aries like the truth no book face express like a model Columbia next year vanessa may make the cutt no production plus screen writer will be the best Hewitt Cooper Director 29 in a week going for 5 decades of success any fakers no take !!Cutt!!

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  11. I really like this blog and I think it's great how you make it so personal and allow people to see inside of your thoughts which is something that doesn't come out on reality TV. I agree with those above also... Great Pictures!!

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  12. Great interview!

    http://simplycandycane.blogspot.com/

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  13. loved the interview & pics. Vanessa's interview hurts my eyes, i would luv to read it tho.

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  14. Super cute! Love u guys :) Check out my blog...I am a few cool interviews with some celeb stylist you might like and I would love to add you!

    http://theprevailingeffect.blogspot.com/

    thanks xoxo

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  15. http://natashacarrero.blogspot.com/2011/04/empire-slave-state-nyc.html

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  16. Awesome pictures and interview;the girls are lovely, thanks for sharing:)

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  17. You guys are the BEST!!! I <3 you!!

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  18. I really love these girls!!!

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  19. you guys are sooo gorgeous and the best role models (:

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  20. http://lavitaebellavita.blogspot.com sexy blog,pink loveee:)

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  21. love your style.please follow me back on my blogspot

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  22. love your style.please follow me back on my blogspot

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  23. you are such a role model to me... im 22 with the same morals and mindset and its amazing to know someone else is out there just like me. stay beautiful and never change. -lovenykeema <3

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  24. If anyones looking to follow a TV and Film blog then look no further :)

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  25. cool pics!
    follow each other? i'll wait your answer on my blog :)
    xx
    www.feedyourfashionmind.com

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  27. Hello,i have just discovered your blog" and i have been delighted all those photos with both glamour that ha post" ,because you say" ,that from now, I will follow" ,i hope that you also go to my blog and follow me" ,from Spain command thee
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  28. Wow...gorgeous pictures!

    run-style-run.blogspot.com

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  29. Love the interview and pics!!!
    visit my blog on http://laviecestchic.blogspot.com
    xoxo Marika

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  30. great that you got to interview them!
    love the pictures
    x

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  31. They have never looked better! So amazing to see them so grown up and independent! Loved this post. xo
    alisaverde.blogspot.com

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  32. Nice interview and amazing pictures! really enjoyed going through your blogs!:) I know it is been quite a while without writing but I was wondering if you would be interested in sharing some of your posts on Glipho? It's a new social blogging network which aims to promote the writing of its users and to build their audiences. I bet that our users would love to read your stuff!

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    Let me know if you have any questions and if you want an invite to set up an account! I hope you will join our Glipho community soon

    All the best,

    Maite

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  33. The last pic is hot. The girl in the silver dress looks best!

    the-renaissance-of-inner-fashion.blogspot.co.uk

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  34. What's up? I'm Steven. I think your blog is awesome. I am following. I hope you can check out my website: http://www.the-proverbs.blogspot.com and FOLLOW. Thanks talk to you soon :)

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