Making it Big in the Real World

[image error]“I want to win at this game.” That’s the phrase that Tami Roman lives by. The actress and entrepreneur brings determination and tenacity to all of her ventures – but it took years to build her confidence and get to this point. 

When Tami was just 16 years old, her mother lost her job and the two were homeless for several months. “I realized how much I took the little things for granted, like waking up and taking a shower or brushing my teeth in my own bathroom. That experience taught me that I should always be satisfied in the moment.”

Several years later, Tami was introduced to the television program, The Real World. She recorded her own audition tape and hand-delivered it to the MTV studios in Los Angeles. “They told me I was too late and the show was already cast, but I said, ‘No, you need to watch this! You need to see who I am!’ The casting director agreed to watch the tape, and the rest is history.”

The show premiered in 1993 and launched Tami into the national spotlight. “Nobody understood what reality television was at the time, or how big it would grow to be. People really thought that we were acting; they couldn’t grasp the fact that we were just being ourselves in front of the camera.” The next year she married professional basketball player Kenny Anderson, and the couple had two daughters. 

When Tami and Kenny divorced in 1998, she channeled her energy into an acting career. She has appeared on Married with Children, J.A.G., Summerland, and more. “My favorite part is being able to play different characters. I get to be someone else.”

But her appearances weren’t bringing in enough money to support her family, and one day she realized all of her savings were gone. “I remembered what it was like to be homeless, and I did not want my daughters to experience that.” With few options left, Tami signed on for the second season of Vh1’s Basketball Wives. 

“After the Real World, I wanted to be taken seriously as an actor. I felt I was taking a risk by affiliating myself with reality television again, but it was a risk out of need. The challenge has been finding my way back to an acting career. It has been difficult.” 

Always looking to take things to the next level, Tami has used her celebrity to launch several successful businesses, including her own makeup, jewelry, and hair extension collections. “No one can stay in front of the camera forever. I get involved in projects that are important to me, and I’m a part of the process from start to finish.”

At the end of the day, Tami enjoys unwinding with her two daughters over a meal. She has lots of ideas for future projects. “When there’s something that I want to do, I do it. I don’t wait for opportunities to come to me; I reach out to people and make things happen.”

How Tami Finds Her Entrepreneurial Inspiration:

Cosmetics. “When I fell on hardship, to show self-love I would get a mani-pedi and buy a lip gloss here and there. I had to keep myself looking good on a small budget. My nail polishes are named after my favorite sayings, while my lip glosses are named after the women who have inspired me.” 

Jewelry. “My jewelry line is TR LOVE Jewelry, and they feature sayings and symbols that have gotten me through tough times. Love, infinity, hope…I want to inspire people and incorporate these themes into my products.”

Hair extensions. “I know a lot about hair weaves, I have been wearing them for a long time. I decided to start a hair line because I know a lot about the product.”

–Lindsay Putnam