INTERVIEW: RHOA Star Cynthia Bailey Talks Self Care For Working Moms And The Power Of Just Being Still

In case you are a fan of the Actual Housewives of Atlanta, you might be in for a deal with. Supermodel and entrepreneur Cynthia Bailey, who made her first look on the present in season 3, is usually the one individual on the sequence who tries to maintain the peace amongst the ladies and is never on the middle of drama.

Maybe that’s as a result of when she’s not taping, the 54-year previous mannequin turned entrepreneur is pursuing a number of companies and partnerships together with her modeling company, her line of eyewear, changing into a model ambassador with Seagram’s Escapes and her newest enterprise, the Bailey Wine Cellar. 

In an interview with BET.com, Bailey talks about how she’s in a position to stability all of it. Along with being an excellent concerned mother to her 21-year previous daughter, Noelle Robinson, and newly married to tv persona, Mike Hill. 

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BET.com: You appear busy with the present and all of your different ventures. How do you navigate all of it?

Cynthia Bailey: We often movie for six months after which additionally market it. So it may be laborious as a result of once I give attention to one thing, I like to offer it my full consideration—being a perfectionist, I wish to be sure that I’m invested in each minute. So, once we’re filming Actual Housewives, it’s my primary precedence, and as quickly as we’re completed, I leap into checking on all my different companies and new tasks. But it surely’s a blessing to have this job as a result of it has afforded me different alternatives. 

BET.com: How do you then stability all of these alternatives along with your private life?

Bailey: I can communicate for myself and in addition my castmates; that’s certainly one of our largest struggles looking for stability. What’s useful for me is simply having an understanding little one. Her dad is actor Leon [Leon Robinson, The Five Heartbeats and Cool Runnings], who has been within the leisure business his complete life. I used to be a mannequin earlier than the present, now we have all the time been within the enterprise indirectly since she was born, and she or he’s come on the present with me when she was eight years previous, and now she’s 21. So, she will get it. It doesn’t imply that Leon and I don’t dwell in a ball of guilt at occasions. However although we weren’t all the time there, we all the time made certain she was taken care of. I’m doing this for her and my household. However after all, there are occasions when I’m exhausted, and I’m newly married, however my household is knowing. We make it work. 

BET.com: Like many working mothers, you’ve gotten lots occurring, and you might be used to doing a lot; what do you do particularly for your self?

Bailey: I deal with myself alongside the way in which as a lot as I can. I actually get pleasure from a very good mani and pedi. I find time for that after per week, and I get the works. I ask for the recent stones, a leg therapeutic massage. I really like getting massages. It’s vital to reset and reboot as a result of you’ll burn out. And I can’t present as much as work and inform them, ‘hey, I’m sorry, I don’t really feel like working.’ I’ve to point out up and on this present, present out, more often than not. I additionally get facials. I like yoga, meditating, taking walks, and typically it’s nearly being alone. That would imply watching back-to-back films on Netflix and simply ordering from DoorDash. There may be a lot energy in being nonetheless. 

BET.com: Inform me a bit about your collaboration with Seagram’s Escapes? Why this partnership?

Bailey: The partnership with Seagram’s Escapes began in 2018. It’s actually a blessing. Seagram’s, and I didn’t solely wish to create my incredible Peach Bellini, which is among the high sellers you guys noticed play out within the launch on The Actual Housewives of Atlanta, however we needed to assist to empower girls, one thing that’s vital to me. 

After we began this partnership, we instantly hooked up a girl empowerment portion to all the things we do. As a Black girl, I perceive the worth of different Black girls empowering me, so I wish to be sure that I do the identical for others, and Seagram’s has been superb in supporting my efforts.

As an entrepreneur and a enterprise proprietor of a number of companies, all of us wrestle, even earlier than the pandemic. So many are struggling now. I really like that I can have a dialog with Seagram’s and we will determine a approach to do our half. That’s how the Seagram’s Escapes market was created. We had been in a position to give $10,000 grants to 3 Black-owned companies. I care about individuals, I care concerning the world, and I care about empowering different girls.

BET.com: Can we stay up for some other partnerships?

Bailey: I’ve some issues popping out, however I can’t discuss them proper now. Plus, I’m specializing in my marriage. My wine cellar is again open although we struggled by means of the pandemic like everybody else, however it’s open and doing properly. And concerning partnerships, I really like working with my husband, now we have quite a lot of issues that we plan on working collectively, and I’m enthusiastic about that.

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The factor that individuals don’t understand, as somebody who’s been working since I used to be 17 years previous, I’ve all the time needed to achieve success, and I’ve all the time been ready to do the work to remain profitable, however there’s one thing nice about having your greatest buddy, and your husband and create some nice issues collectively. I wish to do some issues with Mike, the person who, , I plan on spending the remainder of my life with.

BET.com: How have you ever advanced because you began on the present?

Bailey: I feel one of many issues which have saved me on the present which explains why I’ve been in a position to be on the present for over a decade at this level is that  I by no means overlooked who I’m as an individual. I didn’t attempt to be one thing else. I got here on the present, and I gave you guys me, no matter that regarded preferred: profitable at occasions or going by means of monetary points, damaged marriage, friendships, damaged friendships, motherhood, and all the things that goes with that. I all the time attempt to stand in my reality of who I’m, even when it’s not as entertaining. I’m on a platform the place drama can work. Every part I’ve completed on the present is how I might have dealt with them had been I not on the present. I do me. I’ve all the time been true to myself. 

Final 12 months, Seagram’s Escapes and Cynthia Bailey started a nationwide empowerment tour to host girls leaders at schools and universities. There’s a digital tour coming this 12 months. 

This interview has been edited for readability.

The Momosa for Mom’s Day

4 components Seagram’s Escapes Peach Bellini

2 components Glowing Wine

Mix and serve in a champagne flute

Recipe courtesy of Seagram’s Escapes.