In the wild world of reality television, few stars can keep it as real as Jackie Christie! Known for her unfiltered attitude and emotional honesty, Jackie has never shied away from sharing some of her most vulnerable moments with millions of viewers waiting on the sidelines, ready to pounce with judgment.
In this exclusive conversation, Jackie lets us in on the ups and downs of the spotlight and her plans for the future. With a genuine spirit and unbreakable resilience, dive into the life of a woman who pushes her heart to the front line in preparation for season 11B of Basketball Wives L os Angeles on VH1.
EBONY: Can you share a personal experience of feeling vulnerable or exposed while filming?
Jackie Christie: Yes, when my mother was on the show, and she was going through her battle with cancer, it was an extremely vulnerable time for me. She really wanted to bring awareness to everyone that African Americans are highly susceptible to getting cancer as well, and that is something that is [prevalent] in our community.
That was brave of you and your mother. How did you get through letting millions of viewers into such a deeply personal experience?
It was truly a very difficult and trying time in my life that still hurts deeply. I miss my mother so very much; she was my best friend and the best mother I could have ever been blessed with. I feel like I got through it with her help, her love and her guidance. I followed my mother's lead, and as she shared her journey with not just me and our family, she also shared it with the world through my platform on Basketball Wives Los Angeles . To this day, I still haven’t been able to watch that recording, but VH1 was so gracious to give me the DVDs.
I know it's been years, but candidly speaking, how comfortable are you with reality television? How long do you see yourself within that space?
A lot of people don’t know that I’ve had some experience [before Basketball Wives Los Angeles ] with reality TV, but not this kind of reality TV. My experience was more of a family show. The title of the show was Committed: The Christies , which I co-executive produced as well, and that was an amazing experience. [Overall], it’s been interesting and fascinating. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything else. I’ve had fun, I have grown up with my amazing fans, and I adore my network family as well, and I’ve met awesome friends and sisters for life and so much more! And I’m just getting started! I’m not just a reality TV star or personality; I’m also an executive producer and creator, and I truly have a deep love and passion for the entertainment industry as a whole. On another note, reality TV brings out things in you that you didn’t even know you were capable of. Some parts of reality TV will undoubtedly embarrass you because nothing is off the table! It's been an interesting journey, and it's something that I think I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future.
In what way does it help your confidence?
You will see yourself in real time, and you’ll have to face all of your insecurities that you may have about being seen in a very vulnerable way. There are no second takes. In reality, you are pretty much being filmed, and all of it can and most likely will be used on the show!
How has this experience helped you connect with the general public and connect with those who already know you?
It helped me connect with the audience because I’ve been on TV for over 13 years now, and people know when they see someone who means well but is, for the most part, highly misunderstood.
What is Jackie’s next mission? What do you see yourself doing beyond reality TV?
I definitely want to go behind the camera—a lot more. Even though I’ve produced TV and film before, I crave doing it more in a directorial or showrunner role! I’ll be doing some other projects in the future as well.
How have you handled criticism and negative feedback from social media? How do you get through that?
Since being married to a professional athlete, I have caught a lot of heat. I was always a private person, but then I met Doug, and things went crazy, especially when we got married. Some people in the media would say, ‘Why is she traveling with the team? This is unheard of, is he whipped?’ I’m used to people getting it wrong. I had to get tough skin real fast!
What are you into outside of your very public life?
Oh, great question! I love everything, but here are my top six: family, acting, movie dates with my hubby, work, travel and good food. I also love philanthropy, helping others, basketball, real estate development, writing, and so much more.
What makes you the queen behind the scenes?
The way I love and the way I'm able to help other people.
Catch Jackie Christie in the season premiere of Basketball Wives Los Angeles on Monday, July 1, 2024, on VH1.
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