Angel Brinks may be the mother of Tyreke Evans (New Orleans Pelicans) daughter, but this mogul mom has made a name for herself in the fashion industry. Known as the Queen of Leggings, Angel Brinks’ fashion also features bodysuits, dresses, lingerie, and so much more. She’s also been featured in New York Fashion Week and Facet Studio’s Fashion Show and other local fashion shows from coast-to-coast.
Baller Alert got the chance to chat with Angel, who joined Season 4 of VH1’s Basketball Wives LA, to discuss her business, friendship with Draya, thoughts on the reunion, and more. Check it out below.
BA: You’ve always been a private person. What made you decide to join basketball wives?
AB: Before I joined “Basketball Wives LA”, I had a strong following from my fashion line. When Draya approached me about joining the show, I thought it would be a great way to show my supporters a more intimate side of me that they had never seen before through my social media. I had just moved back to my hometown of LA months earlier to be closer to my family and just opened my flagship Angel Brinks Fashion retail store there as well. As a business owner, I am always looking for ways to expand my brand and being that the show is one of VH1’s most popular series, it was a natural fit.
BA: Besides Draya, who did you feel most connected to on the show?
AB: I feel most connected to Jackie. She is extremely sweet and sassy, I love it. She’s a woman who knows exactly what she wants and I can respect that.
BA: How Is your friendship with Draya now? Did the show affect it?
AB: Draya and I are still really close. We live 20 minutes from each other and get together every time our schedule permits. The show didn’t affect anything because we have a genuine friendship. So whether or not the cameras are rolling, we’re still gonna do us. We get along really well because we both are entirely focused on two things: family, and business. She’s supported me throughout my entire career and vice versa. We understand and respect each other.
BA: How would you describe your experience on Basketball Wives? Do you feel you were portrayed right?
AB: Not gonna lie, there were many nights I couldn’t sleep. My intentions of coming on the show were always good. I truly thought we all would form some sort of sisterhood, exchange stories, help each other, whether it was about love or even if anyone needed my assistance with business. I wanted other females in the world to see me and say – “Wow, this girl Angel, has been through exactly what I’m going through! And look at her! She picked herself right up and turned all the negative in her life into a positive!” I wanted all single moms and females in general to see that no matter what life brings your way, do not lose track of your dreams, responsibilities, and goals. Most importantly, don’t lose yourself. I’ve experienced a ton of hardships and tragedies in my life and I’ve felt hopeless at times too. We’ve all been there. I hope to be somebody that the viewers can relate to and find inspiring. I have received so many loving and supporting messages from fans of the show. It’s really been overwhelming. If me going on TV and looking vulnerable at times helps somebody at home find the strength to push through their problems, then it was all worth it to me.
BA: Your business has been very successful for years. What’s next for you career wise? Any new business endeavors?
AB: Thank you so much for saying that!! Sheesh!! For years now, I have reached over 6.7 million views on my website, I sell all over the world, and STILL someone somewhere will think because I had a baby with an athlete that now I can just kick my feet up and say “I hit the jackpot! I never have to work again!”.. No way. I had a career before him, during him, and after him. I’m not a kept woman and I’m forever expanding my business. I’m working on launching my very first perfume. I’m a total perfectionist and I’m in the end stages of finalizing it with my talented team of chemists. I’m excited about the smell, the packaging and the ideas I have for it. I also am excited to get them in department stores! I am working on a baby clothing line. I absolutely ADORE children. It actually makes me even happier to design for them. I have started on designing clutch bags, they match the my collections which is fun for me as well. I have locked in a few movie deals, styling for the actresses. I would love to design for cheerleaders one day (pro-league) and open more stores in the country! I’ve got big dreams and I’m determined!
BA: Do you find it a struggle to juggle a love life and successful business with someone in the industry?
AB: YES!! YES!! It’s hard to not only balance a love life and running a business but being a hands-on and very involved mother as well. It is not easy at all. I put over 12-15 hours a day towards my business. People don’t understand, so let me enlighten. I sketch my designs. Spend days every month searching and buying materials. We make the sample. Once its perfected, we produce and upgrade patterns. I model in my line, and post at least 10 new items a week. I style all my shoots. I do most of my uploading online myself. I run a production team/manufacturers. I have a call center. I have a showroom. I design my own hang tags and do all the merchandise ordering for my company. I read all emails and watch security cameras. I do all campaigns, promotions, advertising, respond to fans, all on a daily basis. In between, during, before, after, I’m with my children. They require so much attention that I love to give! I don’t have much time for myself, and any hard-working person knows exactly what I’m saying. At first, I thought, dating someone in the industry, or someone who is busy like me, will be perfect for me. I didn’t think about what would happen when two busy people’s schedule will conflict. It takes a lot of trust, and understanding.. as in any relationship, but once one person starts to feel neglected, everything goes downhill.
BA: Can you touch on how you felt about the reunion, and would you be open to return to the show next season?
AB: I felt attacked at the reunion and like some of the girls made their mind before they ever met me that they were going to throw shade at me. I’ve been nothing but polite, nice, and genuine to everybody until I was pushed to my breaking point. I’ve been in the fashion game for numerous years and have completed hundreds if not thousands of photo shoots that have been featured in magazines and websites all over. As everybody knows with the popularity of the modern day “catfish” once your photos are online, they are public domain in cyber space and unfortunately it allows free range for anybody to steal your photos. It’s a problem that doesn’t only happen to models and public figures, but even to the every day girl or guy next door. At the reunion, I was presented with an ad for adult companion ad that somebody had posted using one of my stolen photos. What you didn’t see at the reunion was that the photo that was posted on that ad had a magazine’s watermark on it, proving it was taken directly from their website unauthorized. This is nothing new to me I’ve been dealing with it for years. It won’t be the first or last stolen photo somebody uses of me. I think it’s pretty obvious what my career is. I’m self made, I’ve worked my ass off for everything I have and it’s a shame that another woman would bash the next simply because they are intimidated by her success but it is what it is. I believe in uplifting my fellow women not tearing them down. Attempting to tarnish my name with false claims doesn’t make your own name look any better. I guess that mind frame comes with maturity though. As far as returning to the show, stay tuned to find out!
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