Sheryl Lee Ralph - Redefining Diva: Life Lessons from the Original Dreamgirl

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Redefining Diva

Gallery Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Karen Hunter Publishing
A Division of Suitt-Hunter Enterprises, LLC
598 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10012

Copyright 2011 by Sheryl Lee Ralph

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. Distributed by Gallery Books. For information address Karen Hunter/Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Karen Hunter Publishing/Gallery Books trade paperback edition March 2012

GALLERY and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Designed by Akasha Archer

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-4516-0842-7
ISBN 978-1-4516-0881-6 (ebook)

This book is dedicated to some of the biggest Divinely Inspired Victoriously Alive DIVA people I knowmy family!

My parents, Dr. Stanley and Miss Ivy, you have weathered the storms of life and have come out on the other side together in the calm of victory! I thank you for every sacrifice you have made and continue to make so that your family continues to prosper. If prayers and faith will secure us a place in heaven, then I know we are all taken care of!

To my brothers, Stanley, Timmy, and Michael, thank you for acknowledging that I am the captain of the ship and a good one! We charted a life course together and I couldnt have a better crew than the three of you.

To my children, Etienne and Coco, I look at you and know that I have done something wonderful in my life because after I am gone I will leave two outstanding human beings to take my place. Continue to make me proud. I love you in ways you will never completely understand.

Miss Mae, it was God who sent you to our family. You have loved and cared for my children as if they were your own and kept my home together. What a blessing you are.

Finally and so importantly, I thank my husband, Vincent, one of the most divinely inspired, victoriously anointed Diva men I know. Senator, I will always be your first lady. You came into my life right in the nick of time, and that has made all the difference for me. Your strength, love, and wisdom bless me indeed.

Wonderful, what can I say but wonderful.

Yes, its wonderful.

Tonight has been so wonderful and new.

And I couldnt have done it alone, I thank you.

Press Conference from Dreamgirls

INTRODUCTION
How I Became a Diva

CHAPTER ONE
Discover Your Diva Legacy

CHAPTER TWO
A Diva Finds Her Joy

CHAPTER THREE
A Diva Takes Risks

CHAPTER FOUR
A Diva Fights for Her Dreams

CHAPTER FIVE
A Diva Doesnt Quit

CHAPTER SIX
A Diva Embraces the Chaos

CHAPTER SEVEN
A Diva Gets Her Dream

CHAPTER EIGHT
A Diva Struggles

CHAPTER NINE
A Diva Deals with Difficult People

CHAPTER TEN
A Diva Has Good Days... and Bad Ones

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Divas Have Growing Pains Too

CHAPTER TWELVE
Divahood Aint Always Easy

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A Diva Knows When to Make an Exit

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A Diva Takes Risks

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Mo Diva, Mo Problems

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A Diva Looks Back... and Forward

AN EPILOGUE...
The Divas Final Chapter

It is important to note that Diva is more than just big hair and attitude for me. A Diva is an acronym: Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed. A Diva is Definitely Inspirational and Vivaciously Alive. Divas are Daringly Inquisitive and Valiantly Aware. Create your own Diva and embrace it. You will never know the Diva you are until you do. And when you do, you will laugh out loud and dance with your Diva self, knowing that you too are Divinely Inspired Victoriously Alive!

Be inwardly gorgeous and outwardly fabulous, Diva!

SHERYL LEE RALPH originated the role of Deena Jones in Dreamgirls on Broadway and was nominated as Best Actress for both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards. The star of numerous TV showsincluding Moesha and Designing Women her extensive film credits include costarring with Robert De Niro in Mistress and Denzel Washington in The Mighty Quinn . A mother of two with a blended family of four, Sheryl is married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes.

COVER DESIGN BY CLARK FAIRFIELD COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY REGGIE ANDERSON

How I Became a Diva

I am the Ultimate Diva . At least, thats what they tell me. I have been called Diva on TV shows and in magazines. I have been called Diva by close friends and utter strangers. I have been called every kind of Diva you can imagine, from Renaissance Diva to Warrior Diva . Real-Life Diva to Queen Diva, and my favorite, Diva-licious. Ive heard it more times than I can count: Sheryl Lee Ralph is a true Diva.

And to them I say, Thank you .

Being called a Diva used to bother me a lot. People love to throw around the D-word, and most times its synonymous with the B-word. Whether you spell witch with a w or a b, that is not me. When most people hear the word Diva to describe a woman, the first thing that pops into their mind is big hair and an even bigger, badder attitude. And there certainly are Divas that fit the bill.

You know them: an A-list celebrity finds her collection of Louis Vuitton luggage in the wrong order, she pitches a fit, throws her BlackBerry at the nearest assistant and ends up in court and on the cover of People magazine. What a Diva ! says the press.

Then theres the young actress on her first film who refuses to leave her trailer because craft services forgot to stock her favorite brand of bottled water and white M&Ms! So in playing the role of Divaand she has been painfully miscastshe holds up filming for three hours. When she finally gets to the set, she doesnt know her lines. But there are no consequences for her when shes offered the film sequel and her own reality show. Diva-in-Training .