An Interview with Toya and Reginae from ‘Toya & Reginae’

Photo of Toya and Reginae Courtesy of WE tv.

Toya and Reginae are names that are synonymous with reality television and rightfully so. Since this duo have been featured on several shows throughout the years, to the point where Reginae has grown up right before our eyes. And at long last, this mother and daughter duo have their own show of the same name airing on WE tv and we here at NTG had the distinct honor of sitting down with both of them to discuss their television experiences. 
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John Betancourt: What motivated each of you to want to open up your lives on this show?

Toya: Oh, well, you know, we've been in the reality TV world, we're no strangers to reality TV, for some time now. But the difference is this time we get to work together, you know, and, you know, produce a show that, you know, shows our life from our eyes. And we're also executive producers of the show. So, we're very excited about that. And we're at a different page in our lives, like a lot of growth, a lot of changes. So, you know, we're just excited to just work together this time.

Reginae: Oh, yeah, definitely excited for just, you know, I feel like… like my mom said, we have been on TV for so long, and people watched me grow. And I'm excited for them to see, you know, me just grow into this young adult. And yeah, I'm just excited for them to see my growth.

John Betancourt: Now since reality TV is nothing new to either of you, what motivated each of you to step into this world in the first place? 

Reginae: Um, well, my mom… actually I’m going to throw it to my mom, because it was her, I was 10 years old.

Toya: Oh, yeah, it kind of started… me and my friend Tiny, T.I.’s wife, we did a show called Tiny and Toya on BET a couple of years ago. And that was kind of like our start into the reality TV world. And from there, you know, like people thought that we were about to produce a show based on being rapper’s girlfriends or wives. But we kind of changed it up and showed our life and what we deal with on a day to day. And that's how we kind of got started with it. 

John Betancourt: What changed in your life by becoming reality stars?

Reginae: I feel like with reality, you bring people in on a deeper level. And I feel like they connect with you more, like through like years and years, like people will come up to me and my mom, like, they look at it, they look at us as family, and like, you know, like, they can relate to us with all of the things that we've always shown, we've always been vulnerable, we’ve always been real, like, and people can relate to that.

Toya: Yeah, that kind of… you know, it, it shows people like you are human, you go through things, life is not always perfect. And we're not afraid to show that you know, you have good times in your life, you have bad times in your life, ups and downs. And during the reality TV lens, you get to see a more deeper level of the people that you know, you follow and, you know, you kind of like through social media, you see a different side of them. And like she said, it draws you closer because they feel you feel like you can relate to them. But that's the good side. Of course, you’ve got people that don't like the way you do things. I don't like the way you handle it that's on reality TV or off, like that's on social media, also like you people have an opinion regardless.

John Betancourt: Now that brings me right to my next question. What kinds of challenges have you run into as reality TV stars?

Toya: Well, um, the challenges you run into is because you open your life up so much, you leave room for people to have an opinion and people to judge you. And it's not always good things that people have to say, you know, unfortunately, you do run into people like “oh, why did you say that? Why did you expose this?” This is the issue, I was wrong for that? Because that's, you know, someone else's opinion and you can't get mad because you did allow these people into your world. So, you have to just deal with it. You know what I'm saying? Like, although opening your life up, a reality show episode, is only but so long, so you only see clips of the whole entire situation and you're left to judge off of that. And some people get it, some people don't, you know what I'm saying? So, it's just one of those things that comes with it.

Reginae: Yeah, my mom pretty much touched on it. It’s definitely… like that.

John Betancourt: Now, it has to take a special mindset to deal with that. Since people online can be… rough… I think is the nice way to say it. So, as reality stars, how do you handle and reconcile all of that chaos?

Reginae: Well, you have to -- well, me and my mom, we have a relationship with God. And we pray and we know ourselves. Like one thing people… they want to put, you know, they want to project what they're going through, on you. We know what we're going through, we know who we are. So can't no one, you know, make us feel any way. Of course, we have those days where, yes, sometimes you don't understand why people can be evil or can be this or could be that. But it's like, it's life, everybody goes through it, you never know what people are going through. So yeah, we just have a strong relationship with God, we pray, and we know that we can never let whatever happens outside, break us up.

Toya: Yeah, we know, it starts with having a good foundation. You know, when you sign up to do these types of shows, like, you know, this is my daughter, this is my family, my husband, you know, so you have to be on the same page, because you know, you are opening your lives up, not everybody can handle what's to come and everybody's opinion. You know, we've been dealing with it for a while. So, we kind of got used to it. But you know, we're human. So, nobody wants to just be listening to no one just straight bash them. But we do understand what comes with opening your life up to the world.

John Betancourt: Now I’ve always had great respect for reality stars since you all lead such different lives. What changes in your day-to-day life as a reality star?

Toya: Well, because the show is based on our reality, and to be honest, with you, it's 100% what’s going on in my life. It’s just cameras following. So, you don't see everything. But most of the moments that you know, things that are happening, or whatever they're filming, you know, of course, like a reality show, you know what I'm saying? But it's not like, nothing is adjusting. Because if we have to go to the office, we will make a stop at the office, like they're not running cameras 24/7. But throughout that time, we are still able to navigate our life still, and do the show. You know, it's not a thing that's completely taken over our whole life where we have no privacy. Of course, you have things you don't open up and share. But for the most part, you know, it's real. It's our life. And it's just cameras.

John Betancourt: Now what’s changed for you on a personal level by doing a show that features the two of you? 

Toya: I really don’t think much has changed, other than my daughter live in California now. 

Reginae: Like, I feel like it's, nothing's really well -- there’s things that's like, you know, just like how life how… it happened a couple of months ago, so a lot of things has, like, it's probably like, I don't know, not more, so like, like you said, I was living in Atlanta, now I'm in LA. So that changed, so but you're gonna see how that plays out on the show. But as far as like us and how we maneuver our relationship, not much has changed.

Toya: Like, from family dynamic, I mean, we're working to change the relationships with our family, who are a part of the show, and things are, you know, getting better there, but like, but the negative side, there's no negative. Nothing, has affected anything, everything is just is what it is.

John Betancourt: What do you hope people take away from your journey? 

Toya: I will say, you know, the biggest thing is usually when people are in the public eye, they are put on this pedestal like, their life is just supposed to be, super grand, they’re not allowed to have vulnerable moments. They're not allowed to do this. They're not allowed to do that. Through the show, you know, I want -- we want -- people to see that we are human. Just like you, we bleed just like you, we go through things, we're not afraid to talk about it, we, you know, we are who we are. And our life is not perfect. You know, like… perfect does not exist in our world, but we have a blessed, beautiful life. And drama comes with that, we have family stuff that we go through. And most importantly, we love each other and are there for each other and are trying to you know, heal and, you know, work through things or whatever, we're just doing it with cameras there, but we are human. We're just like, you know, everybody else that go through things. So that's the most important thing.

Reginae: Yes, I will say that too. I will say just like, also getting to know like my mom said, we are posted online, you know, the blogs, a lot of stuff like that, where people may see us on a blog one time and don't know us, they might turn on a TV and get to know the real us. And just like the behind the scenes of what everybody else is talking about, we get to share our life through our show.

John Betancourt: Last question I have for you both today, what are you each most proud of when it comes to this show? 

Toya: I'm proud of the growth. I'm proud of like, as it comes to Reginae. Like, you know, Reginae has done multiple shows. And I think with this show, you get to see how much she's grown over the years, you get to see her go through what she's going through and still come out super strong. And back to working. You know, people automatically think things are handed to her. But like she said, because of who her parents are, but you actually get to see how she's evolving, and you know, finding a way on her own. And with my family like you get to see like, how much we love each other, like how much we are there for each other and are fighting for these relationships to get stronger and stronger. And just being there and supporting each other, whatever, which is very, very important in these days and these times. Although we have the drama, and you know, we got some family members that are you know… them. You know, we still find a way to love on each other and be there and support each other no matter what.

Reginae: I would say… what my mom said. (Laughter)

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Also, watch ‘Toya & Reginae’ on Thursdays on WE tv at 9/8 CST.

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