Interview with Schatar "Hottie" Taylor from Charm School

Hottie: Clockwise from left: Hottie, Buckwild, Pumpkin, Goldie

We all know her. She is in the reality television hall of fame. Flav asked the women of season one’s Flavor of Love to cook a chicken for his mother. Hottie’s microwaved vegetable uncooked chicken landed her in the top ten moments of reality television hall of fame. It was right up there with Pumkin spitting in New York’s face and that dude that slapped that chick in that car on the Real World. Known as the gold digger of Flavor of Love, season one, Hottie is a contestant on the upcoming Charm School premiering April 15, at 10:00 PM on VH1. She agreed to an interview with me so strap on your seatbelts and get ready for Money Banks AKA “Hottie.” The phone rings and I answer, not really knowing exactly what to expect.
Hello.

Hi, is this Kelly?

Yes, is this Schatar? Or Hottie, or Money, or Money Banks, or Diddy? What do I call you?

(Laughing) Well, my nickname since I was twelve years old is “MoneyBanks.” I was a Girl Scout and when we would sell our cookies every year the customers sign up for how many boxes they want, but they don’t pay at that time; they pay when the cookies are delivered. People knew exactly when the cookies arrived because I was at their doors collecting THAT day. Flav, of course, named me “Hottie,” and my given name is Schatar Sapphira Taylor. It translates to “Beautiful Ambassador of the Stars” in the Egyptian language and it translates to “Beautiful Sunshine” in Hebrew.

Okay, that clears up the nickname issue, what about your real name? Is it Schatar White or Schatar Taylor?

My name is Schatar Taylor. IMDB has me listed as Schatar White, but they also have me listed as being 35 years old.

I was going to ask you about that. I know they do have some inconsistencies with other contestants I have spoken to. How old are you?

My stage age is 23.

Let me ask you some questions about Charm School. First off, I have to admit I was a little surprised that they asked you to be a part of this show. I mean regardless of what you said about Flav’s money and his mansion you did maintain a degree of professionalism about you. Even when you were being torn a new one, especially on the reunion show, you never bad-mouthed anyone else or acted like a fool. You kind of took the high road and maintained your composure at all times.

Thank you for noticing that. The way I look at my behavior on the show is there are children that watch this show. While I don’t necessarily think that was a show that kids should be watching, they were. I just kept thinking that I wouldn’t want a child seeing Hottie throwing a girl down and think its okay. I just don’t want kids thinking its okay to resort to violence. You should never have to resort to violence, even if I did want to rip the bad wigs off of a couple of people, I would never actually do it.

Were you offended that they asked you to be on the show?

Not at all. Schatar "Hottie" Taylor: Money Banks and a friendThe producers even told me that I didn’t really need it, but it was wonderful experience and I’m glad to be a part of it. I was excited because entertainment is business and business is money. And you know what I’m about. My name says it all. To be honest though, filming Flavor of Love and living in that house, that whole experience was a complete shock.

What do you mean?

Well, my mother is a doctor and most of my friends’ parents are doctors, lawyers, and professionals. I went to private elementary and high schools and I went to an Ivy League College so let’s just say I was completely shocked when I walked into that house. I expected the other women to be professional and they were talking about “40’s” and things like that. I felt like I needed a translator just to understand what they were talking about half of the time. The "class picture" we took that you see the commercial where everyone just kind of goes crazy all of the sudden, well that was a crazy day too! If you pay attention, while all of the girls around me are going wild all I could do was stand there and hold the apple. I didn't know what to do. It was quite an experience.

How did you feel the editors portrayed you on Flavor of Love?

I have to give the editors a hand. They were very creative when they made the money sound when I blinked. The only thing that I felt wasn’t really accurate was they made me out to be a gold digger. The fact of the matter is you knew when you signed onto the show you weren’t going to automatically get Flav’s money. I was looking more for that celebrity lifestyle that would come by being with him. You know the premieres, parties, gift bags. All the good stuff that comes with that lifestyle.

I understand what you are saying, but you did say some things that made it seem like you were after his money and that’s it.

The biggest one people talk about is when I said that gold teeth appreciate in value. Yes, I said it. But those are just things that all women need to think about as well.

Was there a separation or cliques between the season one and season two girls?

I don’t really know about that. You have to understand a few things. First, this is a VERY different show from Flavor of Love. In Flavor of Love you had all of these women competing over one man and in Charm School it’s all of us against each other. Personally, I like that better. In any job I go into, I’m going in there for me. Just like with Flavor of Love, I wasn’t there to make friends, I was there to win Flav. I wasn’t on Charm School to make friends. I participated to win. When I step on set I am 100% business. There’s also a big difference between the girls of season one and the girls of season 2.

In what way?

The first season of Flavor of Love was like the little show that could. Who knew that it would become what it did? By the second season they had more of an idea of what kind of audience was tuning in for and they cast it accordingly. I was actually really looking forward to meeting the girls from season 2.

Well, you obviously made an impression with the public. You were only in three shows and BET even had you blogging Flavor of Love 2.

What was that about?

I have no idea. They called me with the idea and I jumped on it.

What was working with Mo’Nique like?

I enjoyed working with her and would love to work with her again.

So did she crack jokes and be pretty funny on the set?

I enjoyed working with her and would love to work with her again.

I asked a different question. That’s the same answer you just gave me.

Right. Look, Mo’Nique is very professional, which I appreciated to no end, but as you’ve seen from the promos she’s the head Mistress and that is a serious position and she treated it that way.

What can we expect from this show? Why should we watch it?

You can expect drama. Lots of it. If you look at the class photo, that’s very much what it was like. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot from it.

Beyond Charm School, you have quite the resume. Tell me a little bit about that.
I have over 100 film and movie credits to my name. I’ve been in CSI, Boston Legal, Law & Order, ER, Las Vegas, Half and Half, just to name a few. I was recently in movie called High Rollers, that’s on DVD, with Michael Imperoli from the Sopranos. It was a small part, but it was a very intense scene in which I play a poker dealer who has a confrontation with his character. That was a blast to film. I was also in Waist Deep, Ladder 49, and Amistad, amongst other films.

So you’ve made mention of your Ivy League Education from the University of Pennsylvania, what was your major?

Women in Entertainment with a minor in English.

With your mother being a doctor, how did she feel about you choosing to go into Arts?

My Mom was very supportive, she is in anything I do, but she’s always stressed education and following your passion. My passion is entertainment. I love to entertain. The world is such a sad place as it is and I just want people to have fun and appreciate life and I want to do that by entertaining them. I want to be the best entertainer I can be. I am inspired by people like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Jessica Simpson. I want to reach for the stars like they did. Right now I just released a new single called "My Man, My Mansion, My Money." Music is my passion. I’m in the studio now. I just feel like music is the universal language. I have a five-octave range, so there really isn't much that I can't sing. I eat, breathe, and live entertainment.

Flipping the subject completely, can you clear something up once and for all? 44DD – Natural? Really?

(Squealing in laughter) Yes! It’s true! They’re ALL mine, they’re real, and they’re fabulous! And they’re not going anywhere! It comes from my father’s side. I hadn’t seen some of them since I was about 12 and as soon as they saw me they were like, yes, she’s definitely kin to us! There are all of these rumors about me having plastic surgery, I’m all natural. I’ve never had any type of work done whatsoever. I’ve always been honest about wearing extensions, but other than that, I’m all me. One thing I am is real. I’m upfront about the fact that I’m all about money.

Speaking of extensions, what’s with the blonde?

I get that a lot. My mother’s hair used to turn this color when she’d spend her summers in the Cape, so it’s kind of like an homage to her. I just feel like you should be able to express yourself however you want. I’m a firm believer in self-expression.

What did you think when you heard New York was getting her own show?

I thought it would get great ratings.

You know there was a rumor that it was between you and her to get the show.

I know! I didn’t hear about it until after the show was announced and a friend of mine called me and said “I though that was your show.” I had no idea! I wouldn’t have done it anyways. There’s no way I would have 13 men slobbering all over me on television. I think that’s part of the reason why I was let go from Flavor of Love so soon. If you notice, the episode after I left there was a threesome or something in a shower. I think the producers knew I would not take off my clothes or sleep with anyone and there were girls that would. I will say this about I Love New York…do you notice anything familiar? I ALWAYS wore gems on my eyes, beautuiful eyelashes and eye shadow and now New York’s stylist has her wearing them. In every episode of Flavor of Love I wore a pink feather robe and I’ve seen Tiffany wearing the same thing several times on her show. She also talks freely about her hair extensions now, where she didn’t before. Come to think of it, what’s up with those new surgical enhancement she had done recently? Isn't it something like a 38DD. Hmmm.

Well, you know they say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

I would just like to thank New York’s stylist for keeping Hottie’s style alive even when I’m not there. I’d also like to mention that mine are real, so obviously I had THOSE first too! I am an original.

What would you like people to know about you, Schatar Taylor?

That people should never give up on their dreams. If I can do it, so can you! Don't settle in life. Get out there and take what you want. You have to work for it, but it's worth it.

What do you have to say to all the Hottie Haters out there?

You can say whatever you like about me, as long as you spell my name correctly on the check!

Thank you so much for your time and good luck with your career and the show.

You’re welcome and be sure to watch Charm School beginning April 15th at 10:00 PM on VH1.

Links: Schatar's Website, Money's Myspace, Schatar's Resume