NeNe Leakes Shares the DOs and DONTs of Being Fabulous
as told to Jessica Duncan,Glamour
NeNe Leakes, star of three-count 'em, three!-hot TV shows, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Glee, and The New Normal, shares her Glamour DOs and DON'Ts guide to life.
A lot of people don't know that before I was a reality star, I was an actress. So the transition to scripted TV was easy for me--I love playing Roz on Glee and Rocky on The New Normal. I also love my life, and I've got some rules I live by that you should too:
DON'T be anyone but you.
I'm just not into trying to convince people like me. I always say to myself, It is what it is. I walk into a situation knowing that people are either going to love me or they're not, and that's OK. I'm just going to be me. You can't be everything to everyone.
DO know that chic is within your reach.
One of my girlfriends is a real estate broker who doesn't make a ton of money. Every year, she buys one new bag for the summer and one for the winter, and it keeps her looking great without having to go shopping all the time. One thing to avoid is trendy stuff, though--you gotta go timeless. Even if you want a little luxury in your life and you want to splurge on a Gucci bag, pick a great black one you can wear all the time.
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DON'T forget the beauty basics.
My biggest beauty secret? I wash my face twice a day, and I always, always use moisturizer. I'm not a real makeup girl--you see me in lots of makeup on Housewives, but I'm really all about skin. Take it from me: Wash, moisturize, and never neglect the neck.
DO wear heels. Heels are everything.
They make you strut, and all women look good with a strut on. Flats just don't get you the same swagger.
DO make sure you have a big, full life.
Here's the thing: I know TV isn't forever. Everybody has their time when their career is really good, but there comes a point later when it fizzles. That's why I always have other things going on in my life.
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DON'T go chasing guys.
I think I know everything about men. The only way to make a relationship work is to let him be the pursuer--I'm convinced he's got to like you more than you like him.
DON'T bother feeling bad about your guilty pleasures.
I'm a big potato chip girl. I don't like chocolate and cakes and all that, but I have to have my potato chips. I've got bags in the back of my car right now! But I never beat myself up about it, because, look: You can't give up every damn thing. You need something in your life that you like just because you like it!
What are your DOs and DON'Ts of being fabulous?
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