The Celebreality Interview - Brandi M.

Brandi M., takes it all! The former “drunken pirate” and Charm School grad has gone from arrrgh to awesome. Below, the proud owner of a new $100,000 check talks about her struggles (both internal and with the other girls), her quiet strategy, what she plans on doing with the cash, and why there might be more reality TV on the horizon for her.

Congratulations.

Thank you. The show was a very cathartic experience. I’m amazed I won.

Did you not think you would?

No. I got brought down to the carpet so many times. I had a lot of scares.

Was there any point where you thought, “OK, I have this in the bag”?

Sharon took me into her office and she hinted, “You’re so close, you should be smelling the money right now.” Just the look on her face gave me more confidence. I was starting to doubt myself. Also, after being with some of the girls on Rock of Love, you know what their strategies are. It’s a game. I’ve learned to manipulate them.

What was your strategy, then?

My strategy was not to hurt anybody, because that’s not my style. I’m a nice person. I definitely was there to give it my all, and knock ‘em all out one-by-one. When it came down to Destiney, though, I didn’t want to knock her out. I couldn’t have gone out with a better runner. If she would have won, I would have been so happy for her. By the end, when I started winning the challenges, I could really feel victory. It’s like The Secret: if you really want it, you have to really imagine it and see it.

Sharon said that when you tore up the note cards with your speech on it, it was over. You won at that point.

I was so nervous, I couldn’t write anything that day. When I got up there, I realized that I should not need those cards to express myself. Honestly, I don’t even remember what I said, because I was crying and shaking and so nervous.

You said the show taught you self-respect.

It did. I’ve been a depressed person, but I’m good at hiding it. Other girls, show it or let it out, but I’m not about to air that on national television. I kinda hid that. Sharon Osbourne has given me so much confidence. She’s such a strong woman and she taught me so much. I’m still using what I learned to this day.

So was it just the fact of having someone supporting and rooting for you that did it?

My mother’s a great mentor. She’s been my backbone for a lot, but my mother doesn’t know this industry. That’s where Sharon came in. She knows the industry, and she saw something in me she didn’t see in the other girls. Or maybe she did, but not this strong. She’s like a second mother.

Do you still talk to her?

I have. She got me an invite to the Playboy Mansion for Labor Day weekend. She hooked it up VIP for me. It was so nice of her. She’s busy, but I talk to her here and there on the phone. I try not to abuse it, though.

Do you find yourself applying what you learned in Charm School in everyday life?

Definitely, especially at work. There are times when I slip up, but for the most part, yes. My love life has improved. I’m dating more. Where as before, guys would never really date me, I was just one of the boys. Even business-wise and the way I speak to people.

The negative part of you died, you said in your speech.

I’m over it. I’ve been so positive. I’ve been laying low. I’m not like the rest of the girls, who have to do all those appearances. I work for a living.

What do you do?

I’m a cocktail waitress at the Wasted Space at the Hard Rock. I love it. Carey Hart’s an awesome boss. They’re a great management team.

Are you not interested in appearances?

I am. I just hired a publicist and manager. I didn’t have them before, that’s why I didn’t do it. But now I do and we’re working on a European tour in February and we’ll be at the Grammys. Daisy’s publicist is mine.

I really enjoyed when you, Destiney and Lacey were discussing Heather’s “A-list comment” in one of the extras and you said, “We’re not even D-list. We’re reality whores.” I thought that was really down-to-earth of you.

A lot of my fans on my MySpace tell me I’m the only one who’s real that’s there. When people meet me at Wasted Space, they’ll say, “I feel like I should be serving you.” No way. I’m a real person. I’m humble. I have to work for a living. I have bills to pay. I take care of my mother. The other girls have gotten management, but it’s obviously not going anywhere for them. They’re just hot messes making asses of themselves.

Do you resent anyone? You clashed really hard with Brandi C., and Megan.

Brandi’s just a follower. When she’s not with Megan, she’s a great person. As for Heather, I can’t believe she turned on me after I took care of her the way I did. I know a lot of dirty secrets about them since the show’s aired and they have not changed. As for Megan, yeah. But I gotta learn how to forgive and get over things. She’s the epitome of a woman should not be.

Why was it that you clashed with her from the start? Did you just not like her?

Honestly, Catherine Brown from Rock of Love 2 asked me to give her a hard time. I was like, “OK.” And then it turned out that I didn’t like her, because she’s a very shallow, classless lady. She doesn’t have any character to her. Yeah, she can make fun of my voice and how deep it is, but it gives me character. With her, she’s just another blonde with boobs. There’s nothing intriguing or interesting about her. She’s a smart woman who doesn’t use her brain. Her looks aren’t going to last forever, little f***in’ trophy wife.

Was it hurtful that they were calling you “trailer trash,” since, as we found out, you were on welfare as a kid?

I never lived in a trailer, but yeah, we were on welfare. We were in the ghetto of Niagra Falls, but we were never in a trailer park. My mom lives in a $100,000 home, and I live in a $200,000 home in Vegas, so I don’t know where they got that. But you can’t really let it get to you. They’re going to s***-talk because they are insecure with themselves. They are what I used to be: very negative and down.

What are you doing with the money?

Getting rid of a lot of student loans. When I was filming, I was taking online classes, but because of all the craziness in the house, I failed them. But also, I wanted to devote my full attention to Charm School. Who doesn’t want to win $100,000? You can always take those classes next semester.

Are you going to do anything extravagant, though?

I probably will get a boob job. I have lost dramatic weight. I’m like 100 lbs., now so I lost my boobs.

Why the weight loss?

Working out a lot. Drinking water, I cut pop out of my diet. I don’t burp and fart no more because of the soda.

You didn’t even need Charm School for that!

No. Being back in the bar industry, when I’m cocktailing, I’m in go-go boots and constantly going, grabbing bottles. You get insane arm strength. Plus, I just turned 28. I gotta keep myself looking good.

How hard was the show in all?

Hard! I don’t think I ever cried so much. A lot of my friends were like, “I’ve never seen you cry that much in your life.” It was touching and moving and a mind-f***, of course. Spitting, plate-throwing, ear-muffing people so they could calm down. Just crazy drama. I love it though.

Now that you’re a reality winner, are you hanging up your reality hat?

I have this money and class, but I have no man. So I don’t know. Maybe. Daisy and I have become really good friends now.

Will you turn up on Daisy of Love?

I’m hoping.

So you have no plans to leave the public eye?

I definitely want to get in some acting classes and do more modeling. I’ve been doing a little bit of modeling. I missed the Guitar World cover because I fell down the stairs. I was supposed to be on it with the other girls. But it’s OK. Others will come along. But yeah, I would not mind doing another show. Give me another challenge. Bring it on.

Keep up with Brandi M., via her FamousVH1Friends.com profile and her MySpace.

Related content
Rock of Love Charm School show page
Charm School videos and extras

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 21st, 2008 at 10:25 pm