NeNe Leakes Quotes

I love the 'Housewives.' I don't watch 'American Idol' or 'X Factor.' I guess I don't like network reality: I like my Bravo; I like documentary programming - I love 'Intervention' and some things on TLC more than others - but the 'Real Housewives' to me are really revolutionary, in terms of giving camera time to women of a certain age.

In fact, I would advise against anyone doing reality shows. I won't be doing 'X Factor' just yet.

My fiance and I had a few problems working through some of the things that he saw me say and do on the 'Surreal Life.' Considering the company that I was in, Ron Jeremy and Trishelle from 'The Real World,' I think I was pretty tame.

We wanted to do a woman on a reality show because that's what's happening right now-it's part of our culture.

I think that a lot of women that know they're going to be part of history somehow decide to have a character to be remembered by.

Whenever the subject of doing reality television comes up, I immediately disregard it, because most people don't come off well, and it's embarrassing.

To be stuck with that Kardashian label, that was so hurtful to me and to my career. I probably realized that too late - not that it would've affected my decisions in terms of who I dated, but it would've affected my decision to appear on the show.

Women on television are not a fad; we are not a trend - we are a reality!

You know, I'd love to do a Maxim shoot. But I'm not going to do it, because that's just stupid to do.

People were fed up with reality shows about midgets getting married and weird Jerry Springer talk shows. There had been a real dry spell of intelligent family-oriented viewing: the type of program that Mom, Dad and the kids can all watch together. With 'Lost,' there are just so many characters for people to invest in.

I have yet to see a drama that puts forward women who are successful and also have a family... they are nearly always seen as victims.

I'm such a huge advocate for strong, intelligent representation of women in the media.

You have to remember that reality shows capture your worst moments.

People that really know me will tell you that I am not a video vixen.

I made a rule not to be on reality shows.

It's amazing that we have lead females on television and a couple of them over 40. Thank you very much. And being beautiful and strong and sexy and everything that you hope for.

I never call myself a Kennedy cousin. In fact, when I signed my contract with Bravo, I made it very clear that they were not allowed in promos to refer to me as a Kennedy cousin. I'm not that person. I don't feel it.

It was important for me to have other outlets outside of 'Basketball Wives' to represent myself and who I really am and what I really would like to put out there.

I published my first book, 'Drinking & Tweeting,' when I first started 'Housewives' and was being portrayed as a fun girl who spoke the truth.

For a long time I wasn't allowed to be anything but 'The Governess' when I went on TV, even if I went on a talk show I had to be in costume. I mean guys, I own clothes!

People had boxed me in as a 'pretty girl with followers that's rapping,' but I think my project and the work speaks for itself.

I was offered a lot of reality shows in the past. I continue to be offered things like 'The Surreal Life.' I did one in 2002, right after the attacks on the World Train Center. It was called 'Celebrity Bootcamp.' It sounded exciting and cool when they presented it. When you get down to it, it was corny and cheesy.

Taking off my shirt has become a part of my life, whether it is at award ceremonies or reality shows. As long as people enjoy it, why not?

I think it's important to present role models for young women coming up. I really do believe you can't be what you can't see, and representation matters. So, for me, it's the idea of putting women in media in ways that present them as having power, being heard, being true to themselves, and done from the perspective of women.

I'm not upset about my career; I'm just upset about how my name has been portrayed. A lot of guys have played with Bron and had success. There's nothing I can do about it. I've tried to change my image a million times.