DISCOVER THE REAL | DRITA D’AVANZO
Most people know Drita D’Avanzo as one of the fiery stars of VH1’s hit reality series Mob Wives. This year viewers will see a different side to D’Avanzo, both on and off screen. Behind the scenes, D’Avanzo is a savvy businesswoman who recently launched Just Me Cosmetics - her own cosmetics line, a loving mother, and a humanitarian. With a strong desire to give back, as a freelance make-up artist, D’ Avanzo has hosted various fundraisers for victims of Hurricane Sandy to raise awareness for her Staten Island community. She also has her own charity organization, Single but Not Alone, which helps provide funding for single-parent households. Raine uncovers what you don’t know about this rising reality star.
RAINE: You stated in a previous interview that we’re going to see a new Drita this year. Can you tell us more about that?
D’AVANZO: People aren’t going to see a new me. They are going to see the real me. I am going to try to stay away from drama. It’s hard to do on a reality show. I made amends with my co-stars and it’s nice because now I’m not aggravated and I’m not fighting all the time. I like to crack jokes and fun. My focus is the kids and I am not turning a new leaf – now you’re just seeing me. Now that everything is cool, I’m just focusing on building an empire for my daughters.
RAINE: What inspired you to make this change?
D’AVANZO: My daughters. I don’t allow my kids to watch much TV. If they do, it’s educational or a kids’ channel - that’s the rule in my house. When I’m watching the show - it makes me sick that they will watch it one day. I saw myself getting physical and fighting and I was sick. I don’t want my daughters doing that. Hopefully, I won’t be getting attacked or abused by these girls anymore and if I do, I will take a different direction in settling things. My girls gave me the drive to do that. It’s funny, I am very different with my kids. My kids tell me to stick up for myself. They think I am a wimp.
RAINE: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
D’AVANZO: I would like people to remember me for doing everything and anything for my kids. Being a good mom. Seeing myself change for my kids. They have to come first. I want to build an empire for them. All my drive and hard work is for them. I want to help single moms - I want to financially help them. I realized that stress can kill you - it can get you that sick. I want to be an inspiration and role model for other single women. That’s what makes the show worth it in a way. I don’t want people to be like me in terms of being tough; I want to be remembered for my help to single women and being a role model to my children.
RAINE: What has been the most difficult thing about being a reality star?
D’AVANZO: The most difficult thing is to see the things I don’t like about myself on TV, things I did growing up, seeing myself get angry - being famous is hard. I’m more reserved. It’s a little scary sometimes; everyone knows you but you don’t know them. And they know everything about me. One day a complete stranger came up to me and asked how my daughter was. I’ve had fans show up to my house. However, I appreciate the support and love I get from my fans.
RAINE: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a businesswoman?
D’AVANZO: My cosmetic line. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I launched it myself. I used to be a makeup artist and now I’m opening a store. I put my heart, mind and soul into it. I want to have stores everywhere. I want to show my kids, “look what mommy did as a single mom”. I want them to understand not to rely on anybody. What do you do if you don’t have a career? You have to go to college and get a career. My eldest daughter gets it. My kids are amazing.
RAINE: What inspired you to launch a cosmetics line?
D’AVANZO: I want the girls to love themselves. It’s not about everyone else - it’s about loving yourself. The shoot was about strong women. I was such an outgoing child: I was at the soccer camp at 5 years old with 400 other kids and said, “anything boys can do, girls can do and can do better”. I’ve always looked up to women business owners, police officers, and strong independent women.
RAINE: What makes your cosmetics line unique?
D’AVANZO: Most cosmetic lines start from a professional makeup artist or a big company and most of them didn’t work for everyday women. When Lee went to jail I had to go work at a high-end cosmetics store and that was the best thing that happened to me because I got to work with everyday women. I learned so much. I tried to give women what they want: high end products that are affordable. I love Chanel and Armani, but their products are expensive. I took my favorites and put the things I like about them into my own line.
RAINE: What is the most challenging aspect of running your own company?
D’AVANZO: I like everything to be perfect and I do everything myself. It’s hard to do the reality show, launch cosmetics, hire people, and be on top of feedback. I’m always taping during the day and running the business at night. It’s tiring. It’s tough. A lot of people throw their name on their product and just sell it - I went hands on. I apply makeup sometimes; I sell the product and ring them up at the register - that’s how important it is to me. I launched my company 6 months ago as an online store and I did the site myself. I wrote the details about the descriptions of each color.
RAINE: What made you decide to start your charity?
D’AVANZO: If you have the capability to help someone, how could you not? I have struggled as a single mom and wanted to create something for other single moms.