There’s more to Mona Scott-Young than the Love & Hip-Hop franchise.
Though the show runner has been referred to as “The Devil” and “The Queen of Ratchet” for her portrayal of Black women on television, she stands by her decisions, saying that she wants to show us in all of our forms.
More so, she refuses to let other people define who she is. She opened up in our April issue and explained why she’s more than just a franchise.
She is on the board of GrassROOTS Community Foundation
When Scott-Young was first asked to sit on the board of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, an organization which works to improve the wellbeing and livelihood of Black girls, she declined, opting instead to raise money privately. Her desire to help young girls, though, quickly took over, and she decided to join the board. “Sometimes I hope that with that work starting at that age, maybe they’ll never end up across from me for a casting,” Scott-Young said. “I am always trying to provide opportunities that will allow them to live a different life.”
She sponsors two Haitian schools
Born in New York, Scott-Young was raised by her mother, who was a Haitian immigrant who couldn’t write or read. In addition to her participation on the GrassROOTS Community Foundation board, she has gone on to sponsor not one, but two schools in Haiti.
‘Love & Hip Hop’ Creator Mona Scott-Young: We Don’t Make Up Anything on the Show
Her Monami production company is worth $30 million
Since founding her production company, Monami, in 2008, she has turned it into a multimillion dollar company worth an unbelievable $30 million. Each week, the Love & Hip-Hop franchises attract 4 to 5 million viewers, she’s partnering with Nicki Minaj to launch a line of Moscatos, she landed a book deal with Simon & Schuster and she is working with LL Cool J’s wife to create a jewelry collection. Phew!
She’s attempting to broaden her reach
Perhaps most importantly, Scott-Young wants to bring a wide range of faces to cable television—both the good and the bad. Currently, she’s working on two shows: One that surrounds a group of Black female attorneys, and another that follows Teddy Riley’s family. “I want us to be represented in every shape and form—the good, bad, ugly—because I feel only with full acceptance of everything that comes with us will we ever really embrace ourselves and love ourselves fully,” she said.
For more on Mona Scott-Young, pick up the April issue of our magazine, available on newsstands now!