My Black is Beautiful TV Show Clip Transcript

Episode 5: Diva on a Dime

ANNOUNCER: We all want the finer things in life.

WOMAN: I mean, what girl doesn't like to shop?

ANNOUNCER: Then there's a girl's everlasting love...

[TEARING NOISE]

ANNOUNCER: From dresses to designer bags, but who wants to go broke trying to look like a million?

VANESSA: And how much does this entire ensemble cost?

JOSHJARIE: It's about...

VANESSA: Oh!

ANNOUNCER: Attention, divas drowning in debt, My Black Is Beautiful has the remedy when splurging on designer duds leaves you feeling down and out.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Beautiful. Oh, yeah. Beautiful, beautiful. Oh, yeah. Oh, beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER: And now, please welcome your hosts, Vanessa Williams...

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER: Alesha Renee...

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER: And Kim Coles.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Hello to you, welcome to My Black Is Beautiful. Today's show is dedicated to every woman who has ever hidden shopping bags from her family, has the department store on speed dial...

VANESSA: Hello.

MAN: (laughs)

KIM: Or has a pet named Bogo.

[LAUGHTER]

KIM: For those chargeaholics, I just have one question for you: Are you up to your neck in designer wear but out of your mind in debt?

ALESHA: Hello.

KIM: Well, not to fret because My Black Is Beautiful is here to help you learn how to rock your wardrobe and stay out of the red. How 'bout that?

MAN: Yeah.

[APPLAUSE]

KIM: Sounds good to me.

VANESSA: I'm for it, I'm for it.

KIM: Sounds good to me. Today we're gonna help you become a diva on a dime. So now we all get this, right?

ALESHA: Yes.

KIM: It's all about spending and spending and spending too much.

VANESSA: And overspending.

ALESHA: And overspending.

KIM: And overspending. I have a little confession to make. I have spent so much that the bill collectors have called me. And there's nothing worse than the bill collector calling your house and knowing exactly who you are and the fact that you are on TV.

VANESSA: Uh-huh.

ALESHA: Yes.

KIM: 'Cause I—one time, this one called me, and they called and they left this threatening message and said, "Miss Coles, you must call us by tomorrow or we're gonna take legal action." So I got scared. So I called the next day and I tried to, you know, do this, like, (modulating voice) "Yes, hi, I'm Kimberly Coles. I'm Kimberly, I'm calling in." She said, "Listen, I know who you are and I'm looking at your debt, and it's not that bad." I felt really ashamed. She said, "Don't be embarrassed, don't be ashamed..."

ALESHA: You say bill collectors—I think I had the creme de la creme of bill collectors coming after me. I was 20, 21 when I first got my job. So I was spending my money back home in Texas on anything and everything. Everybody had shoes, clothes up the yin yang. You know, you want to splurge. I relocated to New York. I had more money going out than what was coming in. Long story short, Uncle Sam...

VANESSA: Uh-huh.

ALESHA: ...sent me a fabulous letter that was like, so Miss Renee, you have some money over there. We need to get that. We need to get that, and we need to get...

VANESSA: We need to get our share. Uh-huh.

ALESHA: We need to get our cut. Yeah. You've been breaking everybody off but us. So needless to say, Uncle Sam pretty much scared me straight after I cut them a serious taxes check. It was crazy.

VANESSA: Well, I've gotta tell you guys, I gotta confess, I am a recovering shopaholic. Yes, I love a designer dress, bag, you know, what to do.

KIM: Uh-hmm.

VANESSA: So, you know, I-I feel—I get the sense of it. You know, and because I'm an artist and an art collector, you know, I like to say, "Oh, no, what I love is the cut of it and the extra special care and quality of them." And I can justify it any kind of way.

KIM: Of course you can, we all do.

VANESSA: Right, right.

KIM: And the whole thing about budget is someone taught me that the word budget—'cause we all get afraid of that word—it's like, oh, I don't want a budget, I want to live and splurge. Budget really stands for "Baby, you deserve to get everything."

[APPLAUSE]

ALESHA: What's our Facebook question? We have a Facebook question.

KIM: Oh, yes, we do. Bridget asked us, "Is there anything wrong with me feeling better about myself when I'm wearing my most expensive designer brands?

VANESSA: Yes, I mean, totally, we understand what it's like to have—to be in that club. That, (in British accent) "Yes, I can afford this bag. And I'm in this..."

KIM: Or, yes, I look like I can afford this purse...

VANESSA: I look like I can. It's like, what it look like but what it is.

KIM: Right.

VANESSA: And the thing is, we want to be able to budget and so they can really be what it look like.

ALESHA: I think that when the sole existence is based off of these labels, that's when there's an issue. You agree, ladies?

KIM: I do, and I'll tell you something else too, there's a whole thing of keeping up with the Joneses to finding out the Joneses are in as much debt or in worse debt than you are.

VANESSA: Right.

KIM: So I think it's about wanting to look like something that you really aren't. And there's something to be said about just being authentic and rocking the designer look-alike.

ALESHA: Right.

VANESSA: And look, there's also all these great places you can get designer's clothing, yes.

KIM: Yes.

ALESHA: But we don't wanna give them all too much right now.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

ALESHA: When the show comes back, we'll meet a spendonista who is so addicted to designer labels that she dresses her one-year-old daughter in high-end babywear. But first, our search for the new faces of My Black Is Beautiful took us to three cities, so you guys take a look right now.

[MUSIC]

ANNOUNCER: Our first ever My Black Is Beautiful model search is nearing the end of the road. Thousands came out for a shot at fame, and now we've narrowed it down to 24 ladies. Who will join us in Hollywood and receive the opportunity of a lifetime as the newest faces of My Black Is Beautiful? Find out next week when we finally bring them on our stage. This is the episode where dreams are realized, only on My Black Is Beautiful.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

[OPTIMISTIC MUSIC]

WOMAN: I am fearless, I take action, I'm in touch with myself, and I love the skin I'm in.

SINGER: Whoa-oa-oa-oa, beautiful to me. Oh, yeah

ALESHA: All right, well, do we have a designer label addict for you? Meet the young hairstylist who admits that one reason she is renting instead of buying a home is that she keeps making purchases like designer outfits for her one-year-old daughter. Check this out.

ANNOUNCER: From designer shoes...

JOSHJARIE: This is a pair of $2,000 Christian Louboutins.

ANNOUNCER: To designer handbags.

JOSHJARIE: This is one of my favorite Louis Vuitton. I think it was $3,600. This bag here was $2,000.

ANNOUNCER: Joshjarie Gibbs is a self-proclaimed shopaholic.

JOSHJARIE: This was a $5,000 fur. And I'll throw it on with a pair of $400 Ralph Lauren jeans.

ANNOUNCER: And it doesn't stop with her. Even Joshjarie's one-year-old daughter, dream, wears top-of-the-line.

JOSHJARIE: Mama has Gucci shoes, she has Gucci shoes. If mommy has on her fur by Mannis, she definitely has on her fur as well. When I go shopping, it has to be a label because I feel like this is what keeps me on top.

ANNOUNCER: Joshjarie stands between $3,000 to $5,000 a week.

JOSHJARIE: I spend all my hard-earned money on labels. I have a pair of Rock & Republic, Frankie B's, Joe's. And my excuse is, I worked hard for it so I can spend it. This is the prized possession of all possessions that I've ever possessed. This is the most expensive thing that I've ever purchased in my life. A $10,000 Hermes bag.

[APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER: It's an addiction that's put her thousands of dollars in debt with nearly no savings account.

JOSHJARIE: My savings account currently has a whopping 50 bucks. I hope to learn from My Black Is Beautiful how to be able to shop on the dime, learn how to look stylish, but not break the bank.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

VANESSA: All the way from the aisles of every designer store she can find, please help me welcome our guest, Joshjarie.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WOMAN: Oh, wow.

WOMAN: Oh, yes.

WOMAN: That's right.

WOMAN: Whoo!

JOSHJARIE: Hi, ladies.

[LAUGHTER]

KIM: Wow.

VANESSA: You are fly, girlfriend.

KIM: You're very fly.

VANESSA: You are fly.

KIM: You are rockin' a mink stole, I love it.

VANESSA: Yeah, so we have got to know right away how much does this entire ensemble cost?

JOSHJARIE: I mean, everything total I could say is about $21,000.

VANESSA: Oh! What? Yeah, 'cause the bag alone is the ten.

JOSHJARIE: The bag alone is 10gs.

VANESSA: Girl, what's in it?

[LAUGHTER]

VANESSA: No, sweetie, listen. So I just wanted to know, like, when you were making this purchase, did you consider that there might be other uses for your money?

JOSHJARIE: Well, of course initially, for a year, I had to save up and put up and file taxes and do what I had to do and save up all my money, and kind of slow down on my initial purchases 'cause I usually purchase a lot weekly. So I kind of slowed down because I saw the bag and I waited till the end of the year and I got it. But after I got it and then I showed my fiance, he was like, that's it? So that's when I started to feel like, okay, maybe...this could have been a down payment on a house.

VANESSA: Exactly.

JOSHJARIE: Yeah, right, right.

ALESHA: Where does your—your addiction to designer labels, I mean, where did that come from?

JOSHJARIE: Honestly, it came from my child—I mean, my mom always had me in the newest freshest everything. And then I just began—all my peers, all my friends, they looked up to me like, oh, yeah, here she comes.

VANESSA: And you had to kind of maintain yourself, yeah.

JOSHJARIE: I had to keep it up. I had to maintain it, yeah. It just spilled over into my adulthood, and now it's filtering down to my daughter, and she's one. And I need to get a grip on it.

VANESSA: But you're working hard to keep up all of that.

JOSHJARIE: I am, I'm working hard. I mean, I'm standing on my feet for maybe 14 to 16 hours straight.

KIM: But I wanna ask you this. You know, you said something interesting that when you brought home the bag, your boyfriend was like, and that's it? What was—how did you feel when you finally got it? Did it make you feel great or did you also have that same reaction?

JOSHJARIE: When I got it, honestly, I couldn't get it out the store fast enough. I already had my stuff in it. So when I got out—when I got out, I had it on my arm and I caught a few chicks nudging it, "That's Hermes."

VANESSA: They're like, wow, 'cause they knew.

JOSHJARIE: And they knew.

KIM: All right, Joshjarie, so your fiance's in the audience. May I speak with him, please?

JOSHJARIE: Yes, you may.

KIM: Oh, Sammy. How does her spending affect the relationship?

SAMMY: Actually, we need to get in control of the situation.

KIM: Mm.

SAMMY: Because it's kind of affecting us. She's spending way too much money.

JOSHJARIE: I hope to get there to where I know better, but I gotta do better.

KIM: You seem to be ready to work on all of this.

JOSHJARIE: I'm ready.

KIM: To get your insides to match your outsides.

JOSHJARIE: I know that's right, I need you to bring it.

KIM: All right.

VANESSA: So now first, let's catch up with our lifestyle expert in the east coast, holla! Tracey Ferguson in New York with the Jones Report.

TRACEY: Hi, I'm Tracey Ferguson. I'm here in New York City with a couple of options on helping you dress up your outfit for a lot less money than you think. One of my favorite pieces is this great gold watch. It's, like, a men's watch. It's so fantastic. It's heavy. It feels like real gold, but it's not. Another piece that I absolutely love are cocktail rings. I love fun pieces like this that are big, chunky, bold. You can wear them with anything, jeans and a T-shirt, or even a fancy, like, nightgown. My third piece is this great chain. It's got gold and brass and silver, but none of it's real. It goes with absolutely everything—jeans, a formal outfit, you can wear it with anything. And that is how you do bling on a budget.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

[OPTIMISTIC MUSIC]

WOMAN: I am a woman all the time, no matter what life brings. I persevere and never let anything keep me down.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[APPLAUSE]

KIM: (laughing) Welcome back to My Black Is Beautiful. Now we're sitting here talking honestly about overspending with our new friend, Josh, who admits that she's addicted to her designer labels. What we're gonna do is we're gonna put her to blind test to prove that you really can be a diva on a dime. Would you take a walk with me, dear friend? Come on. Come on. (laughing)

JOSHJARIE: Will do. Will do.

[APPLAUSE]

VANESSA: Josh, I got your bag.

JOSHJARIE: Oh, oh, oh. Okay, she's gonna hold the bag.

KIM: Oh, she's gonna hold your bag.

JOSHJARIE: No, I'm cold, baby, I'm cold. You can't have this, baby.

KIM: Josh, let's see if all those expensive department store brands really make a difference. Please welcome our twin models, Brittany and Brandy.

[APPLAUSE]

[DANCE MUSIC]

KIM: Hello. All right now, Josh. Now they may look identical, but there are differences. How about if I let Dr. Boogie tell you all about it?

DR. BOOGIE: Joshjarie, now I know you can get this one. One of these girls is using a high-end store-bought product, but one of them is using my favorite, Pantene's Pro-V Medium to Thick Hairstyle cream. I use just a drop to achieve a smooth, straight, shiny look all day long. Can you tell me which one is the Pantene girl?

JOSHJARIE: Well, you know what, Dr. Boogie, that's nothing, 'cause you know I'm a hairstylist my own self and I can get it right.

DR. BOOGIE: Can you get it right?

JOSHJARIE: I'ma tell you right now who it is.

DR. BOOGIE: Who is it, baby?

JOSHJARIE: It's Brandy.

DR. BOOGIE: Mm, really?

KIM: Audience, who do you think is rockin' the Pantene Pro-V? Is it Brandy?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Okay. Or is it Brittany?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Ah. Okay, let's see, Josh, if you are right. The model that is rocking the Pantene is Brittany.

JOSHJARIE: What?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

DR. BOOGIE: Shake it, girl. Shake it for 'em, shake it for 'em.

KIM: Shake it for 'em. You got it wrong.

JOSHJARIE: You gotta be kidding me.

KIM: You got it wrong. That's okay, we have more.

JOSHJARIE: All right.

KIM: Toni Acey, tell us about the makeup.

TONY: Well, Miss Joshjarie, good-looking makeup does not have to be expensive. On one of these models is CoverGirl Queen Collection and CoverGirl Products. I started off by using the CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Compact Foundation to even out her skin tone. Then I took the drama to the eyes using various shades of blue. And then I added that pop lash blast fusion mascara.

KIM: Okay, Josh, can you spot the more affordable look here?

JOSHJARIE: You know what, Kim, they've done an excellent job. I can't get it, this one. This one's pretty hard. I need you to help me out here.

KIM: Mm...all right. Let's get the audience to help you out, how 'bout that?

JOSHJARIE: All right, let's do it.

KIM: Okay, audience, we need your help once again. Now which look is the more affordable look? Applaud if you think it's Brittany.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Ah, now who thinks it's Brandy's look that's the affordable one?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: All right, it's time to reveal. Ladies, which one of you is rockin' the more affordable cover girl look? There it is!

JOSHJARIE: I couldn't even guess it.

KIM: You couldn't even guess it.

JOSHJARIE: No.

KIM: But you're getting the whole thing here that you don't have to spend a lot to look really, really good.

JOSHJARIE: Right, right. They both still look really good.

KIM: look good. Here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna send the models away. They're gonna put on some fabulous fashion. 'Cause I know you know your designer label stuff.

JOSHJARIE: All right.

KIM: Now, we're gonna have them come back out in a cute little outfit. Let's sit on down with our girls for just a moment, let's chat. So now, you see what you're doing here. We're taking the department store brands, we're taking the CoverGirl Collection, we're taking the Pantene and we're showing that you can get the look for less.

JOSHJARIE: Right.

KIM: How do you feel about that? Do you think that you could make those kind of adjustments?

JOSHJARIE: Now that I see how to put it together, it's just not what you know, it's how you do it and...

ALESHA: You can always take baby steps too.

KIM: Yeah, yeah.

JOSHJARIE: Right.

ALESHA: Mix higher-end with, you know, less expensive so you find that happy medium.

JOSHJARIE: Absolutely. I think I can do it.

VANESSA: Yay.

ALESHA: And not turning into the lady who literally has to live in her shoes.

JOSHJARIE: I want my man so I'm gonna have to do it.

VANESSA: There you go.

WOMAN: See, yeah.

[LAUGHTER]

KIM: All right, Josh, are you ready to take the next test?

JOSHJARIE: All right.

KIM: Let's go look at the models in their evening wear.

JOSHJARIE: Okay.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

KIM: All right. Ladies, come on out. Lovely. Ooh!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Nice. Now you know the drill. One of these ladies is wearing a department store brand, and one of these ladies is wearing a diva on a dime kind of outfit. Don't they look lovely? Jennifer, tell us what you did here.

JENNIFER: Well, I'm here to prove a point, that you can get that high-end look for an affordable price. So what do you think?

JOSHJARIE: It's definitely gonna be Brandy.

KIM: Definitely Brandy's wearing the high-end dress?

JOSHJARIE: Definitely Brandy's wearing the high-end dress.

KIM: The fashion, the hot fashion designer look?

JOSHJARIE: The bottom line, slap yo' mama 'cause you just paid that ticket for it, that's the dress.

KIM: Oh, okay. Well, since we're slapping our mamas...

[LAUGHTER]

WOMAN: I think she's scary.

KIM: Since we're slapping mamas, let's talk to the audience first and see what they think. Audience, we need your help. Who do you think is wearing the affordable look? Is it my diva on the left? Applaud.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Or is it my diva on the right?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

KIM: Ladies, would you please reveal by stepping forward who is wearing the affordable look?

KIM: (gasps) Ah...

JOSHJARIE: What did I tell you?

KIM: Ah, yes.

JOSHJARIE: What did I tell you?

KIM: You're good, you had it.

JOSHJARIE: Right.

KIM: You know your stuff.

JOSHJARIE: Right, I know my stuff. She worked her thing.

KIM: She worked her thing.

JOSHJARIE: She worked her thing with the both of them, but I know my stuff.

KIM: (laughs) Yes, you do. All right, we cannot say this often enough. Quality does not have to be expensive. Now we're gonna take a little break, but the next time you see this diva right here, we're gonna show her how to get a great look for less. Stay right there. Are you ready, girl?

[MUSIC]

JOSHJARIE: I'm ready.

KIM: Okay, I got you.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Beautiful, oh, beautiful, beautiful. Oh, yeah. Oh, beautiful to me.

ANNOUNCER: For more great makeover tips, check out our fan page at facebook.com/mbib. Or follow us on Twitter. Or log on to our website, myblackisbeautiful.com.

SINGER: Oh, beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Oh, yeah.

[APPLAUSE]

KIM: Welcome back to My Black Is Beautiful. We're staging our spendervention for confessed label addict Josh. So far, we've shown her how she can save on her hair, her makeup, and her fashion without compromising her look.

ALESHA: That is correct, Kim. And now we've freed her from all the labels that she's addicted to and we're showing her how to dress like a diva on a dime. Josh, come on out.

[MUSIC]

KIM: Yay.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[LAUGHTER]

KIM: Yes!

WOMAN: Oh, yeah!

KIM: Yes! All right! Oh! Josh, look at you! How do you feel?

JOSHJARIE: Oh, my god. I can say I feel like ten Hermes bags. I swear, I feel like a million bucks right now. I love it. I feel like I look better than I came in.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

JOSHJARIE: Oh, my god, I love it. I love it.

KIM: I think so too. Jennifer, tell us what you did here.

JENNIFER: Well, I wanted her to really understand that she can still get that high fashion, couture look without spending all that money. So I gave her this funky jacket with the exaggerated shoulders, cinched in around her waistline with a good, studded belt. I gave her a long, lean jean. She's standing on that triple platform bootie that is so hot for the season right now. And all of this, believe it or not, for less than $200.

VANESSA: Wow!

JENNIFER: All of that, less than $200.

KIM: Great job.

JOSHJARIE: $200 is a shirt.

JENNIFER: Uh, yes, for you, yes, it is. And look at all that you can do.

[APPLAUSE]

VANESSA: I think she's doing it. I think you're doing it. Did I just inform you?

JOSHJARIE: I'm loving it. I'm loving it.

KIM: She's doing it! (laughs) Now, wait a minute, Josh. Toni Acey has a little surprise for you.

JOSHJARIE: What is it?

TONY: Well, Joshjarie, what you did not know is that all the makeup that you're wearing, that I used on you this morning when you came in, is CoverGirl and CoverGirl Queen Collection.

ALL: Wow!

JOSHJARIE: I love it! I love it!

ALESHA: And to help you keep your beauty regimen on a budget, if you find products at a high-end department store, you can go to covergirl.com/conversion, put in the brand and shade, and it will give you a CoverGirl product that is a perfect match to the department store brand, and there's no sacrificing on the quality. Thank you so much, Dr. Boogie, Jennifer Austin, Toni Acey, and Josh. You better work, work, work, work.

[APPLAUSE]

KIM: Well, today, we hope that we have convinced you that you don't have to deplete your savings to look and feel beautiful. There are makeup and hair care products out there, and even amazing fashions available that will help you create the best look for your own unique style. And please remember, you cannot buy self-esteem okay?

VANESSA: And we want to thank each of you for joining us today on My Black Is Beautiful. For more fashion, beauty, and lifestyle tips, go on to bet.com/mbib. We'll see you next time. And make sure that you tell yourself at least once a day that—say it with me, ladies.

ALL: My Black Is Beautiful.

SINGER: Beautiful to me. Beautiful, oh, beautiful, beautiful, oh, oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, oh beautiful to me. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.