Karrine Steffans
Encyclopedia
Karrine Steffans is an American author, most notably of the Vixen series of books. She has worked as an actress and as a hip hop model
, having appeared in more than 20 music videos, many by multiplatinum-selling rap artists. Steffans visits college campuses on speaking engagements to speak to young women about the dangers of the entertainment industry.
, and moved to Florida
when she was 10 years old. She has written about her troubled childhood: she grew up in poverty, suffered emotional and physical abuse at the hands of an alcoholic mother and indifferent father, and was raped when she was 13. She ran away at 16, and began working as an exotic dancer
. She lived on the streets for a month. She lived in New York and Arizona, and then moved to Los Angeles in 1999. She currently resides near Hollywood, California.
When she was 17, Steffans met Nathaniel Wilson, better known as Kool G Rap
, with whom she had a son. Their relationship was "tumultuous", and Steffans says she left for Los Angeles to protect her son after verbal and physical abuse landed her in the hospital.
industry. After moving to Los Angeles, friends she had made in the industry through acquaintances of Kool G began showing her the ropes. She made her video model
debut at the age of 21, appearing in Jay-Z
's "Hey Papi
" video in 1999. Steffans has also worked in videos with R. Kelly
, LL Cool J
and Mystikal
.
In April 2006, Steffans appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
in a segment titled "Smart Women on 'Stupid Girls' – Guests discuss the objectification of women". Steffans discussed how she had suffered sexual abuse as a child, and how she allowed herself to be sexually exploited in order to obtain work in music videos.
In 2004, after her appearance in A Man Apart, Steffans modelled for Smooth
magazine's 'Hollywood Swimsuit' issue, and appeared on its cover the following year in conjunction with the release of her first book. In 2007, Karrine Steffans appeared in an exclusive photo-layout and on the cover of King
magazine.
, starring Vin Diesel
.
called Freaky Flows, with a spoken word
introduction and epilogue by Karrine Steffans, made available for free through King
magazine.
(2005), The Vixen Diaries (2007), and The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce & Keep the Man You Want (2009), have all made The New York Times Best Seller list. She dedicated her first book to her son, and she donates part of the proceeds from the book to the Boys and Girls Club of America. According to Essence Magazine editor Michaela Angela Davis
, Steffans is reaching people "who may have dismissed earlier protests against rap's misogyny". Stephans has been speaking to young women at colleges about the lesser-known dangers of the entertainment industry.
Upon publishing her cautionary memoir Confessions of a Video Vixen, Steffans departed on a promotional tour and has been interviewed by many journalists, including Bill O'Reilly
, Geraldo Rivera
, and Donny Deutsch
. Entering The New York Times Best Seller list at number seven and peaking at number five, Confessions stayed on the list for over twenty weeks in hardcover and returned to the best seller list a year and a half later in paperback.
The Vixen Diaries, published by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group USA (formerly Warner Books), entered The New York Times Best Seller's list at number six in the fall of 2007.
The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce & Keep the Man You Want entered the How-To/Self-Help New York Times best sellers list in July 2009 at number seven.
Steffans started her own publishing imprint, Steffans Publishing, in 2008.
Steffans has occasionally guest-written columns for King
magazine.
In March 2010, Steffans announced on her website that she had signed two deals with Fox Television Studios
. In one deal her book, The Vixen Manual, has been optioned, and the other involves the writing and production of a scripted television series.
Hip hop model
Hip hop models are female models who appear in hip-hop-oriented music videos and related men's magazines, calendars, award shows, beauty pageants, or live performances. Many video models are aspiring actors, singers, dancers, or professional models...
, having appeared in more than 20 music videos, many by multiplatinum-selling rap artists. Steffans visits college campuses on speaking engagements to speak to young women about the dangers of the entertainment industry.
Early life
Steffans was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin IslandsSaint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, and moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
when she was 10 years old. She has written about her troubled childhood: she grew up in poverty, suffered emotional and physical abuse at the hands of an alcoholic mother and indifferent father, and was raped when she was 13. She ran away at 16, and began working as an exotic dancer
Exotic dancer
The terms exotic dancer and exotic dance can have different meanings in different parts of the world and depending on context. In the erotic sense, "exotic dance" is a often used to refer to practitioners of striptease...
. She lived on the streets for a month. She lived in New York and Arizona, and then moved to Los Angeles in 1999. She currently resides near Hollywood, California.
When she was 17, Steffans met Nathaniel Wilson, better known as Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, with whom she had a son. Their relationship was "tumultuous", and Steffans says she left for Los Angeles to protect her son after verbal and physical abuse landed her in the hospital.
Model
Steffans' relationship with Kool G introduced her to the growing Hip hop musicHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
industry. After moving to Los Angeles, friends she had made in the industry through acquaintances of Kool G began showing her the ropes. She made her video model
Hip hop model
Hip hop models are female models who appear in hip-hop-oriented music videos and related men's magazines, calendars, award shows, beauty pageants, or live performances. Many video models are aspiring actors, singers, dancers, or professional models...
debut at the age of 21, appearing in Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's "Hey Papi
Hey Papi
"Hey Papi" is a single by rapper Jay-Z from the 2000 soundtrack of the film, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. It features guest rapping by Memphis Bleek, guest singing by Amil and production by Timbaland...
" video in 1999. Steffans has also worked in videos with R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
and Mystikal
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler , better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper, and actor from New Orleans.-1993-1994: Early career:...
.
In April 2006, Steffans appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
in a segment titled "Smart Women on 'Stupid Girls' – Guests discuss the objectification of women". Steffans discussed how she had suffered sexual abuse as a child, and how she allowed herself to be sexually exploited in order to obtain work in music videos.
In 2004, after her appearance in A Man Apart, Steffans modelled for Smooth
Smooth (magazine)
Smooth is a bimonthly magazine, published by Sandra Vasceannie geared toward young urban men that includes a mix of news, entertainment, urban fashion, music, movies, books, sports reporting, as well as feature articles on the hottest stars in black entertainment. Smooth covers feature photos of...
magazine's 'Hollywood Swimsuit' issue, and appeared on its cover the following year in conjunction with the release of her first book. In 2007, Karrine Steffans appeared in an exclusive photo-layout and on the cover of King
King (magazine)
King is a monthly men's magazine geared toward African American and urban audiences. It features articles about hip-Hop and R&B, as well as articles covering sports and fashion. The magazine is published by Harris Publications, and was a spinoff from XXL. It ceased publication on March 31, 2009,...
magazine.
Actress
In 2003, Steffans appeared in the action movie A Man ApartA Man Apart
A Man Apart is a 2003 action-thriller-drama film directed by F. Gary Gray and released by New Line Cinema. The film stars Vin Diesel and Larenz Tate. The story follows undercover DEA agent Sean Vetter who is on a vendetta to take down a mysterious drug lord named Diablo after his wife is murdered...
, starring Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel is an American actor, writer, director and producer. He became known in the early 2000s, appearing in several successful Hollywood films, including The Fast and the Furious and xXx...
.
Rap recording
In 2007, Datwon Thomas the Kingpen and DJ Rhude released a mixtapeMixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
called Freaky Flows, with a spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
introduction and epilogue by Karrine Steffans, made available for free through King
King (magazine)
King is a monthly men's magazine geared toward African American and urban audiences. It features articles about hip-Hop and R&B, as well as articles covering sports and fashion. The magazine is published by Harris Publications, and was a spinoff from XXL. It ceased publication on March 31, 2009,...
magazine.
Author
Karrine Steffans' first three books, Confessions of a Video VixenConfessions of a Video Vixen
Confessions of a Video Vixen is memoir written by Karrine Steffans which details the first 25 years of her life. Part tell-all covering her sexual liaisons with music industry personalities and professional athletes, and part cautionary tale about the dangers of the otherwise romanticized hip-hop...
(2005), The Vixen Diaries (2007), and The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce & Keep the Man You Want (2009), have all made The New York Times Best Seller list. She dedicated her first book to her son, and she donates part of the proceeds from the book to the Boys and Girls Club of America. According to Essence Magazine editor Michaela Angela Davis
Michaela Angela Davis
Michaela Angela Davis is a writer on urban style, race, gender and hip-hop culture in the United States.-Writing career:She was the associate fashion, culture and the executive fashion and beauty editor for Essence magazine. She was the founding fashion director for Vibe magazine, and she was the...
, Steffans is reaching people "who may have dismissed earlier protests against rap's misogyny". Stephans has been speaking to young women at colleges about the lesser-known dangers of the entertainment industry.
Upon publishing her cautionary memoir Confessions of a Video Vixen, Steffans departed on a promotional tour and has been interviewed by many journalists, including Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
, Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
, and Donny Deutsch
Donny Deutsch
Donald “Donny” Deutsch is an American television personality and advertising executive. He is also the former host of the CNBC talk show The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The television audience first became familiar with him on February 11, 2005 when he appeared on NBC's The Apprentice with Donald...
. Entering The New York Times Best Seller list at number seven and peaking at number five, Confessions stayed on the list for over twenty weeks in hardcover and returned to the best seller list a year and a half later in paperback.
The Vixen Diaries, published by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group USA (formerly Warner Books), entered The New York Times Best Seller's list at number six in the fall of 2007.
The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce & Keep the Man You Want entered the How-To/Self-Help New York Times best sellers list in July 2009 at number seven.
Steffans started her own publishing imprint, Steffans Publishing, in 2008.
Steffans has occasionally guest-written columns for King
King (magazine)
King is a monthly men's magazine geared toward African American and urban audiences. It features articles about hip-Hop and R&B, as well as articles covering sports and fashion. The magazine is published by Harris Publications, and was a spinoff from XXL. It ceased publication on March 31, 2009,...
magazine.
In March 2010, Steffans announced on her website that she had signed two deals with Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios, Inc. is the TV production arm of the News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, as well as being the production arm of Fox and a production arm of 20th Century Fox Television, Inc., itself a division of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation...
. In one deal her book, The Vixen Manual, has been optioned, and the other involves the writing and production of a scripted television series.
External links
- The Secret Life of Sugar – Personal Blog [closed]