INTERVIEW WITH JENNY

Jenny speaks about working with Fantasia

(Sunday, December 3th, 2006)

How long have you been doing hair?

I've been doing hair for 12 years.

How did you start doing Tasia's hair?

I had a hair show every year and I wanted her to be there. Just in case someone was there that could hear her and take her to record or something. So I asked her to be there in 1998 to sing for the show. That's the first time I cut her hair short. She sang with her brother Tiny. They sang "We Can't be Friends" by Deborah Cox.

Take me through your time that you spent with Fantasia on American Idol.

I was on bed rest. At home and pregnant. She called me and told me that she wanted me to do her hair. I was like shut up Tasia, you not going. So she really came and I did it in my kitchen. She went down to Atlanta. And when I saw on the news that she had made it. I just fell down on the floor and cried my eyes out. I was so happy that she made it. She asked me to come to Idol with her. And I believed in her for so long, and I didn't want anyone else doing her hair. I didn't have any money. People were donating money to me and we were having fish fries and hair shows. Tasia was staying at the mansion and I was at the Motel 6 and every Monday night she would come to the hotel and she would just rest. And people would see her just chilling at the Motel 6 and they knew that she was just real cool and down to earth. I was doing her hair in the sink at the Motel 6.

Do you travel out of town to do Tasia hair?

Yes! Now I do. In the beginning, they wanted someone LA or NY based. But she fought fought fought to get me to come.

How do you manage to keep up your client list while you travel?

It was so difficult because I had a large client base. But when I went to Idol, I lost a lot. Those that are faithful will wait on me, but I can probably count my clients on my hands.

How do your children deal with you being on the road?

OMG, my oldest is like go ahead mama. Make that money. My middle girl has a tough time with it. She loves Tasia, but she is a mama's baby. It's hard on her. But my little baby…as long as she can talk to Tasia on the phone she is okay with it. She is like ok ok mama. She's three. She told me the other day. She said mama where's Tasia. I said she's on the phone. She said tell her to get off that phone I want to talk to her. LOL. But it's hard on me because sometimes they'll be at three different houses. But I try to get them together on the weekends or whatever.

Do you already have the styles together for Fantasia when she arrives? Or does she come in with a style in mind? How do you or Fantasia decide what type of hairstyle fits each of Tasia's appearances/performances?

Miss Thing knows exactly what she wants. I do exactly what she tells me to do. Sometimes she doesn't know and then I'll get there and she wants some hair, but I didn't bring any hair. LOL! I try to bring what I need. But lots of times we just make it up right then and there.

Does you advise Fantasia on her hair color choices, or is Fantasia spontaneous and makes the decisions on when she wants to make changes?

It's all her. We fight a lot about the time you wait between relaxer and color. I tell her you aren't going to have any hair. LOL! So we fight a lot and she's like it'll be ok. I say un uh, I'm not going to do it. But I have to tell her sometimes we can't do this or that and she'll pout.

Where were you working before you became a celebrity stylist?

I was working at Tight Endz in Greensboro, NC.

Do you truly enjoy what you do for a living?
Yes, this is it. It's so funny because I never knew I wanted to do hair. I worked at a jail and I was so sick of that. So my sister was going to beauty school so I said I'm going too. I got in there and I had such a hunger. I was the one running up to the front getting the stuff that no one else wanted. I didn't care. I wanted to know everything. So I just stumbled upon it.

If you weren't doing hair, what would you be doing?

Teaching. High school or college. I have little kids and little kids drive me crazy.

How has your life changed? I am sure you are the most popular stylist in town.

I'm one of those people, that if you don't know that I do Tasia's hair I won't tell you. I don't do that. It's actually been kind of hard. People hate you so bad, and I'm not a bad person. But some people always try to tear you down. But it's a blessing. And I love seeing my children's faces when someone says oh your mom does Fantasia's hair!

What is like to work with Tasia?

It's a pleasure to be able to make her happy every time. To be able to do exactly what she says to do it's a fulfillment. And I like to see her transform. Like when I'm doing her hair and she's getting her makeup done. Sometimes I wish we could do a before and after because she just turns into such a star.

Ok, so tell me a little about the salon.

It's a beautiful upscale salon. We have manicures and pedicures. There is retail such as purses and jewelry. Also the product lines that we use will be available. You will be able to hold bridal showers and parties there. It will service the men as well. You can get sport massages and male manicures.

Once you start working at Imaj Spa and Salon, will you still be on the road with Tasia?

Yes. They have my schedule for when I'll be with Tasia. So that way they can work clients in around that…If they would like to wait on me.

Well thank you Jenny, and everyone wanted me to let you know that you keep Fantasia’s hair fiyah!

I needed to hear that because sometimes I just get beat down because some people don’t like what I do. And I’m just doing what she asks me to do. And I just appreciate all the love and comments.

-Fan-tasia.net

(Fan-Tasia.NET would like to thank Jenny for taking the time to do this interview.