10 Questions For “Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta” Star K. Michelle

How the star is coping with reality TV fame

It’s been a life-changing summer for Memphis, Tenn.’s own K. Michelle. The soul singer-turned-reality star burst onto the mainstream scene this June when the hit show “Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta” premiered on VH1, and she hasn’t looked back since. Although the road to fame had been a bumpy one, with cruel rumors, lawsuits (former Jive Records executive Mickey “Memphitz” Wright Jr. is suing her for defamation of character for remarks she made on the show), and arguments with cast members, K. Michelle is ready to move forward. The R&B star sat down with Loop 21 and revealed her thoughts about her cast mates, regrets and why she’s ready to love again.

Loop 21: Your life has changed so much in the last few months. What has changed most for you since the show premiered?

K. Michelle: The biggest change has really been not being able to do what I want. I took simple things for granted, like going out on my own, and I can’t do that anymore. I also can’t say what I want because if I do the world will know in two seconds. It has been such a transition.

Loop 21: This show seems to have more heat than the original “Love & Hip-Hop” series, what do you think it is about you and your cast members that have people glued to the television every week?

K. Michelle: There are definitely some characters on this show! I think people tune in because they know that we’re a cast that’s always going to be ourselves and we’re not worried about what other people think. In the original “Love & Hip-Hop” cast, they were more reserved, Chrissy was really the only outspoken one. In our show we’re just being who we are and people are entertained.

Loop 21: A lot of reality stars sometimes complain that they don’t like the way they’re perceived or edited on the show. Was there ever a moment in the season that you felt like that?

K. Michelle: No not at all. Viewers saw a part of me, but that’s only a part of my life. Still, there’s nothing fake about it, what they saw was really me.

Loop 21: When the cameras shut off and there are no producers, agents or anyone around, who are you really friends with on the show?