The Juice Boxx

Tionna Smalls

There's nothing small about Tionna. Not her voice, not her full shape, and not her opinions. That's probably why VH1 and the producers of "American Idol" had to have her as the resident relationship expert for their upcoming reality show starring TLC member Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas. Tionna's mission? To help the 38-year-old recording artist and single mom get the long-term serious relationship she craves.

Tionna, 25, first came on the scene giving relationship advice in her "Ask Tionna" column on Gawker.com, that's where I first saw her. A year later, I was her editor for a while when we worked together at GlobalGrind.com. Tionna covered celebrities and gossip, but relationships and female empowerment are her roots. Check out our chat...

Tionna.....Some people think of your personality as "larger than life" because you are very confident and matter-of-fact about your opinions. What was a young Tionna like growing up in Brooklyn?

I just got off the phone with my 4th grade teacher, and they said I haven't changed a bit. I was 10 years old, writing stories, I wanted to write books. I was loud-mouthed and exactly the same. Always attitude.

Well, it seems like exactly where you are supposed to be because in the last few years you self-published a book, "Girl, Get Your Mind Right," had a column on Gawker.com and a radio show, Talk Dat Ish, on blogtalkradio.com. Whew. So how did this VH1 show happen?

I was supposed to get a show with [VH1] along time ago, but things happen in their own time. It was good though because the chance to have a show back then made me step my game up. This new show just came to me in April of this year. I went to L.A. to meet the producers and to tape my audition. A few weeks later they told me I got the show and that it would be in Atlanta.

That's crazy that this show is set in Atlanta, because you and I have had conversations in the last year about moving there, living there. So this was destined for you! What else can you tell me about the show?

Some of the producers are Free Mantle Media, the people that do "American Idol." They didn't tell me who the star was going to be. I was guessing a few other people--some young singers--but then they finally told me it was going to be Chilli. I was like, wow, ok, I've got some work to do, only because I know some of who she has dated in the past and the fact that she's a mom.

So when you met Chilli...?

[The producers] liked the questions I asked her, I got her to be real. I told her that she still loves Usher, and her body language changed. I also called her a hypocrite, [laughs] but that was all in fun.

Sometimes people who work in certain fields, happen to not be good at it themselves, like overweight gym teachers, hairdressers who don't keep their own styles up... As someone who gives relationship advice, do you consider yourself a good partner?

I think I'm a true partner, I would never give advice that I would not take. I would feel like a hypocrite. I still make mistakes, but I'll be honest about them. Before I got with [boyfriend of almost two years] Cas, I had to get my mind right. I gave away a lot of sympathy coochie, you can quote me on that. I made mistakes. I don't mess with broke guys, broke guys bring broke mistakes. The way people study chess, I study relationships. This is what I do.

What  kind of man do you have in mind for Chilli?

A God-fearing man who loves children, a guy that can hold his own, a man she can respect, in-shape and confident.
Chilli is 38, she's a mom, she ain't got no time to play. I'm really dedicated to helping her find the one, I hope she has an open mind.

So, I can guess that you're excited about this opportunity...


This was my dream to be doing something big at 25, and tomorrow (September 16 is my 25th birthday). And I'm going to ATL, my dream city for two months, living in a loft.

So when can we expect to see the show?

We're taping the show for the next two months and hopefully it will be airing in January 2010.

Tentatively titled "The Chilli Project," the series has been picked up for eight half-hour episodes and is set to premiere in 2010.

UPDATE: Just a few days ago, Chilli and Tionna were spotted in Atlanta at a launch party for the show.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVkIQ79ucyQ]

Tionna and Chilli In Atlanta September 2009

But also at the party was championship boxer Floyd Mayweather. Chilli and Floyd have been friend for a while--and were rumored to be a couple in 2008--but they seemed super cozy at this event last week.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rLt3NJJXAM]



Is Floyd trying to swoop in and put a monkey wrench in Chilli's find a man "project"? Was this coziness all for "show"? Guess we'll have to tune-in to see...

----Stay Juicy!