She’s a television host, a poet, a playwright and she was very open and candid when we spoke with her.  Amanda Seales or Amanda Diva as some of you may know her is a very busy woman.  She’s currently one of the hosts on MTV’s Hip Hop POV where, she’s “She’s bringing music back to music TV.”   She can also be seen her on VHI and HLN.   Some of you may not know that her foray into television was not intentional.

Ms. Seales says she started out as a spoken word poet and randomly ended up in radio.  This lead to a hosting gig on MTV 2 in 2004.  From there she evolved into the entertainment personality she is today.       The Diva cautioned that in this business you have to be professional, know your stuff, be on point and quite frankly “Don’t be an a–hole.”  Follow this format and people will remember you.  She’s not an a–hole and that’s why she continues to get work.  Being innovative and creating your own opportunities is a good idea as well.

Amanda Seales started in theater and she’s come full circle.  She told us she wrote a one woman play called “Death of a Diva.”  An act inspired by the discouraging images of females being portrayed in the media today.   She was frustrated by the notion that a woman in this industry can’t find work if she’s unwilling to get naked or act stupid.   Just recently, an agent left her dismayed when he expressed his reluctance to represent her because her life did not conform to a reality TV standard.  The play had a run in New York and now she’s taking it on the road to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and eventually New Jersey and Philadelphia in the summer.

Versatility and charisma allows Amanda contact with stars that others wish they had.  This was evident when she interviewed Little Wayne for MTV earlier this year.  He invited her to his house and showed off his art collection and skate park.  Weezy even let her hang at his photo shoot and ride in his Maybach.  All access granted is an unprecedented concept when it comes to Dwayne Carter.  That type of recognition from her peers was one of her highlights from 2012 so far.

In parting, we asked Ms. Seales to dispense some advice for young ladies aspiring to make it in the entertainment industry.  As a woman who was inspired by her mother, she was forthright in telling them to stick to their guns.  She exhorted them to look beyond the false blueprints to success.  We think she summed it up best when she said: “Young ladies out there do what you want to do.  Strive for your dreams and hopes but stay true to self.  Don’t let the fakeness fool you. Once you lose your integrity you can’t get it back.”

When this Diva speaks, ladies you better listen.  Those were some powerful words from an amazing lady.