Baller Alert Exclusive: Brittany Renner Talks Fitness, Fame, & Colin Kaepernick

Recently Baller Alert got the opportunity to speak with fitness model Brittany Renner about using Instagram as a means to make money and build her brand, fitness and of course the social media frenzy that occurred after she posted a photo of Colin Kaepernick on Instagram. Check out the interview below.

BA” Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you emerged into the position that you’re in today.  What were you doing previously?

Ok ,so umm…I’m trying to think where you guys even want me to start.

What’s a typical day like for you now?

 A typical day…with being on Instagram, it requires you to shoot content daily, so wake up, work out, get ready, after my workout, hair, make up, the whole shabang! Go out, take pictures of whatever I’m doing. If I want to go to run, if I’m on Hollywood Boulevard, if I’m just outside in the grass and have my soccer ball, everything that I do I try to have documented. I have a photographer in LA. I have different people who will follow me or I’ll have somebody on the street take my picture. So I get to do a lot of different stuff like that… really just communicating with this guy (manager–James Farmer) about what our next project is really what we do all the time is just as far as really taking this platform and using it to get on television to do whatever it is.. so yea.

I know that you’re involved with various projects, including your own sports bra that highlights the #FitThickArmy campaign.  How is that progressing?  Are there any other initiatives that you’re currently working on?  What can we expect from Brittany Renner in 2015?

Yes! Ok, so there is going to be a new and improved Fit Thick Army sports bra. It’s going to come in different colors. It’s going to be really similar to a Nike bra, like that great of quality. Also, we’re going to have what I’m working on as well are yoga pants. Not so much the tights, but like the yoga pants that are flowy that appeal to all body types so it’s not just…you know what I mean like, Fit Thick Army.  What it is, people get it kind of confused, it’s not just for people who are fit and thick. This is you taking whatever your body type is and making the most of it. Like, I’m pretty skinny, you know what I mean like…I can only work with so much of what I got. I’m not the thickest and I’m not the leanest, but it’s just really about embracing what you have and taking your body to the next level the right way, the natural way. Squats, not shots! So, I have the sports bra, the yoga pants and I’m actually looking to do some virtual like online type training right now and I’m going to be doing boot camps on Microsoft, working with Xbox, oh, and Music Choice as well. We’re doing a lot of stuff with  different companies and really just try to go to the next level.

I follow you on Instagram and I can’t help but laugh when I read some of the “thirsty” comments people post under your pictures.  What’s the craziest thing someone has ever written?

Super thirsty! Umm okay.  I’m like torn between the word “thirsty” because  I’m flattered that someone admires me, but I do think that there is a level of creepy that can be surpassed and, you’re like “OK!  You just crossed the line!”  I think the creepiest comment I’ve ever gotten, umm.. the comment that creeps me out and it may not be weird to you is when people say that they would get me pregnant because that’s like, “I’ll find you and I won’t pull out” and I’m just like that sounds too forceful and I’m scared at this point and I’m  petrified at the fact of having children, so it’s like when people say that to me it’s so simple, but it’s really creepy. You don’t know me!  I could be the spawn of Ted Bundy and you’re talking about you want to have a baby by me.  That’s creepy. I don’t like that at all.

What about groupies?  Any bizarre encounters yet? 

I would say females, they’re really great.  I’ve never really had a problem with any females. Now, males, I’ve had people grab me and touch me and hit my butt, you know what I mean.  They get crazy!  People will try to cop a feel while they’re taking a picture and you’re like “Aye! What’s going on!?” So, I think my craziest encounter was probably actually a couple.  Well, we won’t even say where I was because I don’t even want to throw the shade, but somebody is the “brother.”  He just felt entitled and was grabbing on my arm and I had a spaz attack and they didn’t kick him out.  It was just a hot mess, but it was just that him grabbing me was kind of like aye b**** come here, grab.  So, that was my craziest encounter because, like, don’t put your hands on me. It’s like “Oh my goodness!”

Is there anything that you know now about the entertainment industry that wish you would’ve known before?  Explain.

I would say, man that really just made my armpits sweat, umm…I would definitely say that not everybody has the same heart as you and not everybody really truly wants to be your friend. I think I’ve learned the hard way because I’m a very passionate, really caring, understanding person and I just found out that a lot of girls even, it’s as simple as taking a picture with you and with hopes of it getting on, putting me posting it on Instagram, it’s that serious. I’ve had girls that are like “Let Brittany fix her hair.  We have to get the right lighting.  She has to like this picture, so she can post it.”  Like it’s never that serious girl! You know what I mean, so umm, I’m sorry.  So, just how people are not very genuine.  It’s a little shocking.  Just not everyone has the same heart as you and you have to be really numb and just aware to certain things.  It’s tough.

Fame produces haters and jealousy, as well arrogance and a sense of entitlement.  How do you cope with negativity?  How do you remain so humble and carefree despite your renowned status?

Well, yes, I have a lot of people who don’t really know my background.  They just like see how I look or whatever and they just assume.  My family, we never had money.   I never had money growing up and I get different pleasures from life. Like instead of buying a pair of Red bottoms, no shade to anyone that buys them, I’d rather spend my money to go parasailing or swimming with dolphins, so I’m not really a label whore.  As far as being humble I’m completely humbled by this opportunity that God has even given me a platform to be able to talk to a mass amount of people, so everyday of my life I don’t ever take the people that I have for granted because the only reason that I’m relevant or that anybody even cares about me is because of the Fit Thick Army.  It has nothing to do with me.  It has everything to do with the support of others.  I think a lot of girls that get confused and that’s when the delusion sets in, like “You’re not Beyoncé so sit down now!  You don’t get to do that!”  I think I’ve been called every single name that you can be called: thot, whore, slut, cunt, bitch.  Whatever!  I mean, it’s just I’ve been called everything and I think you have to be secure with yourself and I think that you just have to know that you’re only showing maybe 20% of your life and you can’t really…I pray to understand, not to be understood, so that’s just how I just put out who I am.  What I feel that day, what I’m wearing, and it’s like I can’t make you like me.  Not everyone is going to be a fan, so with me I actually like to reply with witty comments.  If I can think of something witty, I’ll reply, but if it’s not like “smart ass” then I just don’t because you don’t know me.  You don’t know what I’ve been through.  There is no need for me to entertain that.  I don’t like to reinforce negative behavior.  You know, it’s like a dog, you know what I mean, like, you have to train them.  It’s like you can’t entertain the negativity or it’s just going to keep coming even worse and harder because they know it’ll bother you.

Are you single?  LOL.  The world is curious.  LOL.  Any celebrity crushes?  We want to know.  LOL.  

 I am so single. Who am I dating?  Who would I date? Oh man!   I feel like this question will get me in trouble! If I could date anybody, and im just gonna say this because it’s a safe answer..hmm, who would I really want to date?  Yeah, I’m going to say Will Smith, but he’s a married man so I’m going to respect his marriage. I would go on a date with Jamie Foxx, I like them a little older.

A few weeks ago you posted a picture with Drake on Instagram and a lot of people started hinting about a romantic relationship between the two of you.  Can you clarify your relationship with him?

Yeah, we actually just know each other through mutual friend and it was a completely innocent picture. I will say that he’s very sweet and even more attractive in person.

Since Baller Alert focuses on the Ballerific Lifestyle, What’s the most expensive item you’ve bought for yourself?  What about the most expensive item a guy has bought for you?  How much is it worth?

O my!   Well, to be honest, I don’t allow, especially guys, to buy me gifts.  I know that’s really weird, but I just feel like sometimes certain guys will throw money at you and when you accept that money they have this sense of entitlement, so I’m very…hmm…I’ve come from very rocky relationships where I don’t allow finances to control what’s going on and I’ll flip the bill.  I’d rather me flip the bill, like pay for my own stuff,  pay for whatever as opposed to allowing someone to buy me something. I have not gotten an expensive gift.  I think the most expensive thing I’ve bought was a pair of Prada sunglasses and I’m not label at all and it was $360. Me, I get shopper remorse like “These glasses aren’t even that cute!  I’m about to take them back!” It’s very hard for me to spend money on items, so I’d rather just buy 20 pairs of leggings and some Nikes.  I would just say the sunglasses. I almost, almost  bought a Louis bag, but I was like “Eh! No!”  I don’t even carry purses. I have two cars.

It’s obvious that you’re extremely beautiful.  Please tell us some of your favorite beauty products and routines.

I just got a new beauty routine.  Honestly, I can’t even tell you the name of it because I’m very clueless when it comes to routines, to products, to makeup. I can do a great job on my hair, but I actually  seek help from different makeup artists and from different people that have used different skin products, so actually I’m sorry.  I can’t really answer this question because I don’t really have a set routine right now. I do use Forever Makeup Cover FX and MAC.  I can’t  remember the skin product that I use.  I just bought it.  I went to Sephora and was like “Help me with my skin.  I need something!”  The thing is, I’m such a tomboy, so I can’t really remember the name of the beauty routine.

How did you transform your body into such a masterpiece?  A lot of women idolize your physique and work hard to attain a similar stature.  What advice do you have for them?  We’re trying to get fit and thick like you! LOL.  

I was probably about 20 pounds overweight.  I know this sounds crazy but I used to eat Oreos for breakfast, like dip it in milk.  I used to be addicted to caffeine.  I had around 2 to 3 pops a day.  I would eat fast food before soccer games.  I mean I used to just shovel garbage down.  Your body has to do with your eating habits, so I literally had to cut everything off.  With the caffeine, I actually went through caffeine withdrawals…shaking.  Gosh, it was so terrible, but, it was like I had to just go from 3 pops to 2 pops or just 1 for dinner. So, it was a total, total, total transformation of what I was eating because I was eating trash.  My skin was really terrible.  Everything was bad.  I can’t even, I don’t even want to think about it. So,  I started going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and people get confused a lot thinking that you have to go to the gym EVERY DAY or be in there for hours and you really don’t because if you commit two or four times a week and are in the gym 1 to 2 hours, your fine.  You have to allow your body to recover and they say 48 hours is the ideal amount for you body to recover.  With my transformation it took, people don’t believe me, but it took three and a half months and it actually could have happened a lot faster, but when I first started working out I would always cry.  I would always cry and quit my workouts and that was just because I wasn’t mentally tough and I think with, with changing my body it took a complete change in my diet, being consistent, which is the second hardest.  Starting is the first hardest, but the second hardest is being consistent. So,  the third thing was just like making it a lifestyle because it’s not something that you can just half ass.  I mean just put it out there you can’t do that, you can’t.  You can’t cheat your workout.  It’s always going to show at the end of the day.  It just, it took a lot of change in mentality too.  I’m telling you, I could have had my earlier, but I just wasn’t about that life when I first started out.

I would want them to know that I really am about helping people and my biggest thing is that even people think I’m weird and people may not understand my personality, or what I’m about, I want to represent the majority.  I didn’t come from money.  I was a college student.  I played soccer.  I jumped around with jobs.  I’ve been broke.  I’ve had really tough living situations.  I just want people to know…sorry this is such a deep answer.  I don’t want to get emotional…just to not always believe the perception of someone.  Perception is one thing and who someone is is another.  I think I want people to know that not every somewhat attractive girl doesn’t have substance, like doesn’t have more to offer the world, doesn’t have a genuine soul, a heart.  I just want people to know that at the end of the day I’m here for the people, everything I do is for them.  Whatever I can offer…If people want to know why my hair looks this way, the way my butt is shaped, my eyelashes, whatever it is, I want to be able to offer.  I want to be able to dish any knowledge that I have out to people.  If you want to look like this…if you want to take your body from this to that, like I genuinely care about the people who support me.  I don’t know.  I feel like I went so crazy with that answer…just that I’m here and I understand and when it comes to relationships, when it comes to friendships, when it comes to hardships that you’re not the only one going through it.  Just because it’s a pretty picture you really don’t know what that person has been through something that you’ve been through and you’re not alone.  I’m getting emotional, sorry.

Somebody saw you post Colin Kaepernick and sent it in to Baller Alert and we posted it, which turned into a frenzy.  How have such situations affected your views regarding social media?

If we could just clear up.  I don’t know if you guys are aware of what transpired with that picture.  You guys are referring to when I posted “Perfection @ his username, correct?”  Ok.  There was 1 picture posted and it said “Perfection @ his username.”  There was never, there was never a first picture before that and the comments that you actually see on the photo shopped picture are the same comments that are still under the original, the only picture.  To me, it has showed me how serious social media is.  If I take a picture in a jersey, if I post a picture of someone who I think is fine and if they think it’s realistic, oh, they’re dating!  This is Baller Alert, Shade Room, they’re tagging everybody! It’s that serious!  It’s ridiculous!  Since then, I’ll post Will Smith, Jamie Foxx.  I’ll never post someone that I’m really interested in or that is interested in me because they see that and they run to Baller Alert with it…with the QUICKNESS!  You’re not going to find it on social media.