Model and singer Amber Rose poses for a portrait Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 in New York. (AP Photo/Carlo Allegri)
Forget what you think you know about Amber Rose, one of the stars of the movie SisterCode because she will surprise you. As the featured speaker at a recent event at West Los Angeles College, Rose proceeded to surprise many of those in attendance. Rose unabashedly smashed the elephant in the room by repeating many of the not-so-kind words used to describe her on social media. She was the first to admit that her story is not a pretty one but one that should be told because every life, no matter the path, has value and meaning.
Born Amber Levonchuck, Rose began at the beginning, softly telling the assembled students the story of a young girl whose grandmother and mother were victims of molestation and domestic abuse, who at the age of 15 was homeless, and one who desperately wanted to take care of her family financially, so she made the decision to become a dancer, the exotic type. Recounting her professional choice, (a decision her mother vehemently opposed), Rose remembered making $70 the first night as a dancer and deciding that night “that she would be in Hollywood one day.” Rose did not glorify those days when she danced under the pseudonym of “Paris”, in fact, she said many times during her talk that “stripping” is not a career that anyone should desire. Rose would go on to forge a career in musical video’s and her big break came when as she said, “ I met and fell in love with someone who was famous.” Instantly Rose acknowledged that she “became known as a woman who was unworthy of love, one who was not capable of truly loving another,” and a host of other names that are not fit to print.
Rose embraced the opportunities that came her way and today that path has led her to what she calls her greatest achievement to date, being a mother to her young son, Sebastian. Speaking lovingly of the joy her son has brought into her life, you forget that this is the same Amber Rose who has unapologetically flaunted her sexuality, who can and did use colorful language to express herself and who promises to “keep it real” no matter the audience. And now Amber Rose is on the big screen in the film SisterCode, that also stars Drew Sidora, Eva Marcille and Marcus Paulk (Miles from Moesha). Rose plays the role of Lexi, one of three foster sisters, a free spirit who is a struggling businesswoman who isn’t ashamed of having many suitors. The film celebrates the differences that exist in families and the familial bonds that keep families together.
Amber Rose (Lexi) with former child star Marcus Paulk who plays Lil Danger) in Sister Code.
Rose is also coming to a bookstore near you as the author of How to Be a Bad Bitch (October 2015) and she has decided to use her past as an advocate for women who have been and are being “slut-shamed” on social media. That’s right – Amber Rose wants to get young men and women talking about the double standards that exists when it comes to owning their sexuality and she wants to encourage women to support and embrace one another. When Rose asked the men in the room to raise their hands if they have ever called a woman a slut or a THOT (that hoe over there according to the Urban Dictionary), you could hear a pin drop in the room among the many hands raised.
Erica Ash on the far left, Amber Rose center and Drew Sidora far right
Rose was the first to admit that she has called women names that she is ashamed of and admittedly says she is working on that side of herself. Rose talked about the pain she has experienced when others who don’t know her have written her off as unworthy and worthless. Rose believes she can lend her voice to young women who live their lives in shame because of bad decisions they have made. Her advice? – You are not defined by your past. When asked by a female student what it means to be a bad bitch (the title of her upcoming book), Rose defined her as a woman whose “finances are straight, who is compassionate, confident in herself and her choices, and an amazing Mom.”
Amber Rose (Lexi) with Actor Duane Martin (Duane Shakir)
Dorell Wright and Amber Rose
To purchase tickets online for SisterCode: Visit www.sistercodemovie.com
