Christina Milian gets candid

Lizzy, Christina and Danielle Milian. Photo: Brian Bowen Smith/E!

Lizzy, Christina and Danielle Milian. Photo: Brian Bowen Smith/E!

Published Nov 26, 2015

Share

As she lets down her guard in the new season of her family reality show, we get to see a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, writes Debashine Thangevelo

WHEN it comes to family reality TV series – The Kardashians (Keeping Up with the Kardashians) rule the roost. Their sheer star power and bank balance puts them in a league of their own.

That said, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for other celeb families to hop on the bandwagon.

And Christina Milian’s Cuban-American family are bringing their own drama to the table in E!’s Christina Milian Turned Up.

Season one focused on Milian’s rebirth in a way: she had a new album on the go, was starting to do more red-carpet soirées and was putting her failed past relationship behind her.

Naturally, with family involved – no journey is without its challenges. And Milian’s momager, Carmen, proved to be a tour de force of her own.

Milian laughs, “This season it’s less about the drama and more about our transitions. Sometimes transitioning can be uncomfortable but as long as you have faith…it gets you to a better place. Our family is the core of our show and I think that’s what people love about it. It’s real.

“This season I am a lot more open about my relationship – the ups and downs that I was afraid to be open about with the cameras there – because it’s my life and it is what it is: nothing’s perfect.”

Aside from her refreshing candour – she is also making her presence felt. She recently made a lot of noise with her plunging black gown at the American Music Awards.

On feeling more in control of her life, the mother of one says, “Now I’m really starting to step into my own lane and take control of my music career. I hired a team to help me accomplish all things that I want to do. This season really shows me taking charge and becoming my own boss. I want to accomplish so much and I have the strategy and hunger to accomplish those things. People see my day-to-day routine. Everyone will be able to see me opening up my clothing line, We Are Pop Culture. It’s not an easy task but I make it happen because I believe.”

Shedding light on the disagreements between herself and her mother, which caused palpable tension, Milian admits, “Yes, it has been addressed. You will see that from the first episode. At the end of the day, as a musical artist, it’s about expression and how you feel in the moment, what’s going on your life. That’s what people want to hear, so to be muffled from being your true free self and worrying about what people think, that’s not the purpose of being a creative artist. I definitely took it upon myself to finally confront my mom about everything and since then we’ve been able to make some really good transitions.”

And her BFF Karrueche Tran is featured on the show, along with Nicole Williams and Larry from WAGS.

Milian adds, “Jeremiah makes a quick appearance, as well as Snoop Dogg. This season I take on developing a girl group. Of course, my sisters had some really cool moments in finding new opportunities for their careers. It’s fun to watch them grow up.”

And the actress-singer is pretty chuffed to have bagged a new season.

She reveals, “It makes you feel like putting your life out for the world to see was well received. People say they can relate to us, especially girls, women and young moms. It’s a lot of fun to shoot a docu-series with your family. I love the fact that people felt that they can relate to us and they understood how real our family is.”

Along the way, there are a few bumps in the road for the family – a pregnant Danielle has to come to blows with some bad news about her unborn child. And Lizzy is dating a French professional soccer player. As always, she slips into chameleon mode, adapting this season to all things French.

And Keeping Up with the Kardashians is still one of her guilty pleasures too. Milian admits, “I still watch the Kardashians, a bit of Love and Hip Hop and, of course, my show… on repeat.”

Christina Milian Turned Up is back on E! (DStv channel 124) on Fridays at 8pm.

Related Topics: