VH1 Star Schatar Sapphira Collier – a Real Life “HOTTIE” with Brains!

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My Dear Friends,

One of my favorite places in California is Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s often considered the entertainment capital of LA along with the adjoining Universal City Walk. I adore the old movie sets in the back studio lots and love the bright lights of the walk at night inviting young and old to discover the magic of Hollywood. This is where Mario Lopez records his interviews with famous celebrities on most week nights for the popular TV show EXTRA. On this particular evening Universal City Walk is the perfect location to meet up with glamorous VH1 reality star Schatar Sapphira Collier.

Curvy, Vivacious and larger than life this bombshell beauty struts through the Universal City Walk with her protective entourage alongside.  Heads automatically turn – everyone from little girls and women admiring her flashy attractive appearance, to young boys and older men ogling her ….her… Well you get the picture!!! 😉 Your little Cyndi Sleuth was there. Psssssst! Come with me!

Pictured is Schatar Sapphira Collier (l) and Cyndi Targosz (r)

Hi, I’m Cyndi Targosz and I’d like to share “My Cyndi’s Secrets – Shhhh!™”. Today we have an exclusive “Cyndi Chat” with Schatar Sapphira Collier for BISZU Magazine. Schatar, of course has gained international fame as the break out star of the VH1 hit TV shows “Flavor of Love” and “Charm School”. Most know her simply as the name of the character she played in these shows which is “Hottie”. One look at Schatar’s vavavooom figure, flirty butterfly lashes and long wild whispery hair, you can easily see why she got the name that continues to stick – “Hottie” is a hottie.

Your little Cyndi Sleuth always likes to dig a little deeper than required. I’m very familiar with the comedic capabilities of this delightful actress. However, could it be that she has much more going on than the zany cartoon-like character we have often seen her play on “reality” TV? Hmmmmm! Upon further review I find that Schatar Sapphira Collier is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has completed graduate studies at the famed Peabody Conservatory of Music and has starred in three musicals at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center including a 6 month national tour. This dynamo is also a vocalist, producer and publisher.  She has hosted the BMA’s (Black Music Association) awards and has won a BMA for Best Pop Music Performer as well as the “Verge” award which is given to the person the BMA deems to be Americas next big star. I personally invited her to be on a “My Cyndi’s Secrets – Shhhh!™” panel for a keynote speech I gave to the students of UCLA. They were deeply touched by her true story of being legally blind as a child. She overcame the stigma of fat glasses and the cruelty of bullying children that ensued. Schatar Sappira Collier is an evolving story of overcoming obstacles against the odds.   She’s a bundle of brains, beauty, talent and kindness, wrapped in a combustible body on fire with flames of sensuality, femininity and yes even balls.

I invite you to enjoy this “Cyndi Chat” with Schatar Sapphira Collier as she opens up about reality TV, making it in Hollywood, men and overcoming struggles. Shhhh!

CT.       Schatar, everybody knows that you are this beautiful woman, but I know there’s a lot of depth to you.  So, I have to ask you first, how did the name “Hottie” come about and how do you feel about that today?

SSC.      Actually, on the show Flavor of Love every person received a name, they had different names like “Sweetie”, or “Goldie” or other names and I received the name “Hottie”. Now considering that some of the girls were named “Thing One” and “Thing Two”, I think that I got one of the best names in the house,  Right?  And so I just accepted it and rolled with it and so I’m happy to have it.

CT.        Well it is such a good name, there’s certainly nothing wrong with being called “Hottie”! …  But let’s talk about the reality shows.  How much of it was actually real, what was it really like to be on the shows Flavor of Love and Charm School?

SSC.      Well I can tell you that the house was real.  We lived in a home that had many bedrooms,  lots of space, we had the fitness area, the tennis courts, lots of places to do  Tai Chi  and an amazing kitchen and the competition was also real.  All of the risks that came with the competition were completely real.  Now as an actor and a producer I realize that it’s good to have a lot of fun with the things that you’re doing,  because mainly you want the audience to tune in every week and you want something to happen in that episode that makes the audience say, “ Hey, I have got to see what is going to happen next.”  And so every episode I tried to do something funny, you know, wear really fun colorful things and just have fun with it and people said that the episodes did really well.

CT.        Well. So were you conscientious about the “character” that you were playing or was it really “you” on the show?

SSC.      You know, I have to tell you, you always cut directly to the chase.

CT.        (Laughing) Yes! I do.

SSC.       Yes, you do, you do. So the truth is yes.  I was aware of the character I was playing. I was aware that there may be young people watching, so I made a point to try to set some sort of an example for the audience that was watching and not get into physical fights on the show. That was very important to me, but also to do something comedic because when people are watching they want to have fun, they want it to be light hearted. So that’s what I hoped to bring to the show.

C T.       The fact that you feel a sense of responsibility about how you portray yourself when you know children are watching says a lot about you. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of bad stuff that’s out there and bad examples.   How do you feel being on these reality shows affected your life?

SSC: During the filming of Flavor of Love, it was like the little show that could. Who knew if it would ever be seen by anyone or not? It could have become another one that was not seen and on to the next show, you know? However, it became a hit and went #1 for the entire history of the Vh1 network. By the time we did Charm School, the spin off show, it premiered with 5.1 million viewers and eventually, both were seen globally. When I went to sing in Amsterdam after Charm School had aired, people at the airport there knew who I was and I did not realize it had even aired globally… It was a big difference. Whatever privacy may have existed before was definitely gone. From then on, going to the grocery store, through the airports, even with shades on, it became more likely to be recognized as the character “Hottie” from the show. Years ago, I realized that when this happened in anyone’s career, it was an opportunity to do something for the good and make a difference in some way. So, I try with many opportunities to encourage people and inspire them in their own lives as often as I can when I meet them.  It completely changed my life.  ….  from going to maybe three auditions a day to someone who’s known for doing that specific  show… And as someone who’s known for that specific character, because they think that is my real life, everyday……The main question I received was “ Can you really Not cook chicken?”, because they believe that it is all authentic. (Laughing together)

CT.         Well – fess up – was the cooking of raw chicken in a microwave a planned mistake or do you NOT know how to cook chicken?

SSC.         The truth is, I am a vegetarian so I had never cooked a raw chicken in my life. But, I was acting. I was trying to create a scene that would be memorable for the viewers so they would tune in week after week. 🙂 So I had fun with the recipe…I put a few chow mein noodles on it, some jelly, some mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and topped it of with a marshmallow smiley face. Since many of the scenes are improv, I figured that would be a scene to remember. (Cyndi & Schatar laugh) (That chicken episode was the highest rated episode of the series )

(Cyndi (l) and Schatar (r) pose at city walk)

CT.         OK, let’s talk a bit about your early background.  Ya know I think it’s so important when you speak with people of your caliber to find out a little bit about their history, where they came from.  I had heard that you actually grew up in a church or that you began early on performing in a church at the age of five?  Tell me a little bit about that and how that affected your life.

SSC.       You heard the exact story.  I started singing in the church choir at age five and my godmother at the time was a producer for the New England Emmys.  And so I asked her to help me prepare to do a presentation at the church, I was going to do, “The Creation” and present this presentation at five. And she didn’t spare anything.  She said, “Well, if you’re going to do it you’re going to do it like a professional.”  So, I had to research the role as a professional would, I had to look up the other people who had done this piece, I had to look at their presentations of the piece and I had to come up with my own version of this character at age five.  And so that type of preparation helped in preparing for roles that I’m doing now.

CT.          You know Schatar, when we first met, I was giving a Key Note at UCLA and you were one of the guests on my panel. I remember distinctly how everyone loved you.  One of the things that you  had talked about  on the panel was your earlier life experiences.  I think that our audience would love to hear this and be inspired.

SSC.       Yes.  It is very personal and you have an excellent memory to remember this.  I overcame childhood blindness.  My family realized that I wasn’t able to see that well out of one eye.  When they took me to the doctor as a toddler the doctor covered one eye and I started screaming.  And eventually they realized I was having difficulty seeing and if I didn’t do something about it, it would be total blindness in that eye.  So I had an opportunity at that time to address it.

CT.        It is inspiring the way you have dealt with blindness. I also know that you are a person who believes in the importance of getting good training. Even though you are great fun and you’re beautiful you have a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.  You also graduated from the famed Peabody Conservatory of Music. Wow! Amazing! Has that helped you?  Tell us your feelings about formal training.

SSC.         Yes thank you.  I ended up doing my senior thesis on Women in Entertainment… Looking up women who were producers as well as entertainers and studying them, not just from the years in school but years and years before.  People like Marilyn Monroe, Josephine Baker, Pearl Bailey and Madonna, and Oprah Winfrey and just watch how they built their careers and what impacts they had on lives. I also can tell you that when I was in school that my Mom was in a debilitating car accident.

CT.          (Sympathetically)  Oh.

SSC.        So I was in school two hours away from home and I would travel back home on the weekends to take care of her.  I ended up adjusting my schedule since I was doubling my classes so I could finish on time and still help take care of my Mom….  It was not easy, but I felt it was important to have a strong foundation before coming to Hollywood and dealing with the competition of auditions and working on productions.

CT.        What a good lesson that is for any career! To look at people who have made it and see what is their history.  Not just where they’re at today but, what road they had to take to get there. It’s important to see that successful people like you also have had to struggle. This takes me to my next question. Eventually you made your move to Hollywood and naturally when most                                                                                                                                                     people move to Hollywood there are struggles.  There’s the struggle of getting noticed as an actress,  There’s the struggle of survival.  What was it like when you first moved to Hollywood? Might you share any of your horror story experiences?

SSC.        (Big Laugh)   Do you want the Press answer or do you want the truth?!

CT.          (also laughing)    … this is My Cyndi’s Secrets – Shhhh!,  so come on, speak from the heart!

SSC.        (Laughing)   Alright, OK.  …..Cyndi, that is such a great question. Do I have some stories for you! One is – once, I had an audition. I looked up the address and drove over. When I arrived at the address, I saw that it was a persons house. But it wasn’t just a house, it was the house behind the house. Ummm, I did not even get out of the car. Once I saw that it was not a real audition, with a real location, I continued about my day and headed to the next one. I did wonder though how many other actors saw the address and actually went inside.

The other Hollywood horror story is an agent I had at the time gave me an address and time for an audition in a great office with a cool production. … I was prepared too! Resume in hand, and my brightest Hollywood smile. As soon as I walked in, the casting director said, “Who are you?” I told her my name. She then asked why I was there, I told her I was there to read for the role. She then said that she had not invited me to audition and asked how I got there. I told her my agent had given me the info and told me to come and read. She was livid. Apparently, that agent had arranged for me to do what they call crash an audition – when a person just shows up. Fortunately, the casting director understood and she then said, whoever that representative is, you should fire them immediately. I thanked her for her time and walked out of the casting office. I felt so embarrassed and angry that a person who I thought was on my own team could put me in that situation… That rep was fired. I got new representation and one of the two casting agents that were in the room that day have brought me back to read for other productions since Whew, glad I did not let that stop me.It would have been easy to just give up but it is so important to stay focused on your goals and take every opportunity to live your dreams.

CT.         What a positive eye opening experience.  And I think in listening to you that  you make it clear that yeah, when you move to Hollywood there is the good and the bad. Actually in any business you can either let it bring you down or you use that to go to the next level.  And that’s what I love about you.  You take whatever life throws at you and you use it to your advantage.  Alright Schatar, now it’s time for a little fun stuff!   This is My Cyndi’s Secrets!  I’m really happy for you and have to congratulate you.  I know you’ve just recently married Max Collier…And you have a son.  But, before we talk more about Max, I’m sure you had to kiss a few frogs before you met your prince. I thought maybe you could shed some light on some of the do’s and don’ts of dating.

SSC.      (Large laughter)   First of all, OK.  Guys.  You totally have to make sure you are clean! That means bathe regularly at least once, maybe twice a day.  That’s very important! …when you bathe daily,  make sure to use a manly scent. Women love that!….Yes, yes and another thing that they should do is listen. Have you ever had the experience when a person may be talking to you and they’re not looking at your eyes and not listening to what you’re saying?

CT.          Where are they looking? (Laughing)

SSC.         Exactly, Yes! (reference to her breasts) They should listen and look at her “eyes” and pay attention.  That’s another thing that’s extremely important. … And also to appreciate the person for who they are.  Not who you think that they should be, not that they remind you of your ex-girlfriend, nothing like that.  You have to appreciate them for their style and the things that they themselves are interested in.

CT.          I think that’s excellent advice. Now tell us a little bit about your husband Max and what he did to win your heart. How did you guys meet?

SSC.        Oh my goodness, well first of all he totally makes me swoon. He’s absolutely amazing! We met on a movie shoot of the film “Eros: Emmanuel and Me”. My character is Mike Cruise, an established CEO of a multi-million dollar company who falls in love with a hot, much younger man. It is a dramatic story of love, passion, and betrayal. When we filmed the steamy love scene for the opening, everyone had to clear the set except the camera crew, the director, and the make-up artist.……  The producer of the movie was a member of Max’s family and they told me about Max. They said that there was this great big guy that I should meet and so whenever I saw him on set he literally walked from the door to where ever his destination was, so I would wave and say “Hi How Are You? And he would just say “ Hi Hi,” and keep walking. So basically he ignored me the whole time. …….  And so when I got a chance to actually talk with him, I found that we were from the same home town, we knew some of the same people, we had a lot in common and we started working on a business venture together. And then I had to travel. I went out of town and I realized that I miss him. I missed being around him every day. I missed talking with him, I missed the conversations and then I was hooked from then on. That was it!

CT.          Oh that’s a beautiful story. Wow!  I’m so happy for you. And all you guys, you listen to this because she just gave some great advice.  Well you also mentioned Schatar, that your parents had a part in all of this love triangle romance. Tell us a little bit about that.

SSC.         A totally amazing story.  So my Mom knew Max’s Dad years and years ago.  When I was only fourteen I actually met his Dad who had founded the Black Psychiatrist Organization of which my Mom was a member, so they were both Psychiatrists.  And so I knew his Dad and we knew other people in common, but I didn’t actually meet Maxie until on the set here in California.  So you know, they say you don’t necessarily know, just continue to follow your journey and enjoy all of the good things along the way.

CT.           What a beautiful story!  This was meant to be.  It truly was.  What’s next for Schatar?  Are you working on any projects now, what are you doing?

SSC.          Yes, well the very set on which I met Max for the film “Eros: Emmanuel and Me”  has just been turned from a miniseries into this movie, so I’m starring in that one and we’ll continue to look for the release date for that.  Also we founded “ Let’s Make TV” ,  it’s an E-Learning center, we have a number of courses.  I’m working on different productions through New Vista Studios.  We’ve developed a training  series on the parts of speech, so it was an animated thing that teaches people about the parts of speech through animation and music  and color and it’s really great. Also the Twelve Pipsqueaks.  We’re working on and our son Maxie J. Collier is also an advisor and a co-writer on this one .

CT.            And how can people find out about your projects?  Do you have a web site?

SSC.         I do!  They can go to Schatar.com .

CT.          You know Schatar, I have a quote that you actually said that I want to read to you.  And it says,  “Believe in yourself.  Sometimes making it through a day without anyone giving you moral support  or encouragement may make you feel you’re swimming alone, stuggling to stay afloat. “

SSC.          So many people are going through a struggle daily, every single day and they don’t tell people about it necessarily.  It can be something they’re going through at home, it can be something they’re going through at work, it can be a goal they’re trying to reach but they don’t know how to get there.  So I share that as to say:  A) I understand what people are going through.  B) To not give up.  Continue to keep your motivation to go for that goal because it’s so important.  And I always feel like, even if they feel like no one believes in them, whatever it is, if they don’t believe that they can learn that recipe, or get that degree or, whatever it is that I believe that they can do it and I want them to be motivated and know that someone does care.

CT.             Oh, that’s so beautiful and well stated. So, is there anything else you want to share with everybody? This is My Cyndi’s Secrets – Shhhh! Is there something that maybe your fans don’t know you?

SSC.            I want to tell them… uh, I confess. I do have a confession.  …  it’s just something fun, but I like everything “Hello Kitty”! …. I have  “Hello Kitty” everything!

CT.            (Large laughter)  And you heard it here. My Cyndi’s Secrets – Shhhh!™

And until next time……Strut your stuff on the red carpet of life! Shhhh!™ Life is too short so I say InJOY!                      ~Cyndi Targosz