Model Erica Mena Talks :: Career, Reality TV, Fight With Kimbella & What’s Next

Over the weekend, we spoke to video vixen/model Erica Mena, one of the newest faces to join VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop.” Although Mena is not officially one of the cast members, we caught a glimpse of an altercation that she had with cast-member, Kimbella, during the season’s teaser. In the interview, we talked about her past reality show experience (on “Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami”), her modeling/video experience (she’s been in videos for Fabolous, Chris Brown, Akon, etc.), motherhood (she has a child with Terror Squad’s Raul Conde) her role on “Love & Hip-Hop”, her issue with Kimbella and more. Peep a few excerpts:

On how she got started in industry:

“My first video I was 16 turning 17 so I’ve been in the game for a pretty long time…..I started modeling at 14. Right off the bat, I did catalogues and things like that and an MTV scout found me and I did a Jennifer Lopez look alike contest and I won that.  Prior to airing that, one of the members from Young Gunz reached out to me and wanted me to be in one of their videos.  So that’s how I got into the whole video thing.  And ever since then, I’ve been really lucky.  I’ve worked with a lot of top artists and have had the opportunity to have lead roles and be kind of “that girl” when you’re watching videos, well the decent ones, that you sit back and kind of admire. So, I’ve kind of been lucky in that sense.”

On her first gig in reality TV, on “Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami”:

“Scott Disick is very good friends with my friend’s father and they came to Miami. Kourtney and I already knew each other.  She basically wanted someone she knew to help her with the store.  I took it on as an opportunity to learn how to actually be a woman, have your own company, and run it and still have a family.”

On if she was apprehensive about participating in, “Love & Hip-Hop”:

“Absolutely. When I was on Kourtney, it wasn’t so much of a bright light on who I was.  It was ‘I’m Erica, Kourtney’s friend.’  This is like ‘Erica, this is my life.’  It’s definitely scary because people are going to judge you. People are going to have things to say.  Everything that it comes with is a scary thing.  But for me, it was kind of like I had the opportunity to show, finally, the different dynamics of the whole video girl thing and then also too, me being in a relationship with someone who’s affiliated with the whole rapper, hip-hop thing.  So you know, it’s different.  I’m young; I’ve been in the game.”

On her altercation with reality cast member, Kimbella:

“It’s funny because with the trailer and what you see, unfortunately there’s a little fight scene between me and a fellow cast member.  But what’s funny is when I initially went into it, the whole goal for me was to show the different dynamic of the whole video girl.  There’s much more to it.  We may be crazy, but it’s not how people perceive us to be.  And unfortunately, I was in a situation that kind of backfired on me because of intentions I had going into the show.  I was being compared to Kimbella and that eventually led to what it led to.  I think it was never a side I wanted to show but I’m the type of girl where if I ever have to defend myself obviously I will and I know how.”

On what her real issue is with Kimbella:

“Everybody knows of her.  She’s been around.  Whether you know her personally, you’ve definitely heard of who she’s been with and her scandal.  She’s definitely one of those.  She used to run around in Miami for many years when I was living out there so that’s how I became familiar with her and her little antecdotes that she’s about and how she’s basically made her way around… that’s the nicest way to say it.”

On a recent (unpleasant) twitter exchange between the two:

“She wanted some attention, she needed some followers, so she decided, let me just stalk her page and make something up.  She just wanted to start a little something.  But at the same time, you can’t really entertain someone who’s miserable and has nothing going on.  She is what she is; nothing more, nothing less.  You kind of have to accept that from people like that.  My fault is that I did reply but at the same time, she needed to be replied to.  I said what I had to say and kept it moving. I’m not very worried about her.  I HAVE to expect that from girls like her.  There’s no real value that they have to loose so when they see me, and it’s a different dynamic, it’s a huge threat.  But you know, I’m not worried about her.  She’s worried about me. She just wanted some attention, so I gave her some and some new followers.”

Outside of the incident, her problem with Kimbella and how her type depreciates the video modeling game:

“No real issue, it’s just that females like her depreciate the whole value of the game.  They don’t know how to conduct business.  They prefer to basically walk on set and do videos for free and then get urban editorial spreads from it.  Girls like that come in and out.  They want the quick, ‘look at me!’ I bent over this way, that way, give me some attention.  That’s what they do.  And it’s like there’s 100 of you.  With 100 of you it’s like why pay for quality, when there’s so much.  And that’s a challenge I’m dealing with.  Sometimes I won’t get a role because I work for 3 grand and there’s a girl out there willing to work for $3.  It’s like why pay when you don’t have to?  Whether she likes to admit it or not, she is one of those people that contributes to that.

On how someone makes it’ on her “Son List” (a slang term that she used on twitter):

“You know how Nicki Minaj says the line.  The sons line.  Yeah so we’re gonna go get some bibs for them.  I just added her to my collection, it’s not big deal.  Basically I’m saying I’m not worried about her, she’s not something that phases me and at the end of the day, it’s like a ‘who are you?’ kind of thing.  It was just a cute comeback.  I’m one that knows how to use words.  I don’t have to be violent like her so it is what it is.”

Mena also discussed her plans outside of reality TV and modeling (she’s working on music), being in a relationship for seven years and what she wants her legacy to be.

Listen to the full interview here: