Karen King has made a name for herself. Some may view this name as questionable, however, those who know the true Karen King, know there is definitely more positivity to her. I asked her how she would describe herself in one word and not surprisingly, she said “Boss”.Â
As a reality star, one might conjure up visions of diva antics and outrageous demands. The woman who greeted me was the complete opposite. Karen King is so relatable, and that is probably because of the many experiences that she has survived and her standing up against adversity.Â
At the tender age of sixteen, she was already in a seriously committed relationship with a kingpin. As his woman, she not only had to mature emotionally and mentally faster than her peers back then, she also had to defend her position and be on point, representing him at all costs. She was showered with the best of the best, and from that age was molding that “boss” mentality that she has clearly maintained to this day. The relationship she forged at sixteen taught her a lot in terms of commanding respect and being assertive and standing for what you want or believe, no matter who or what the adversity or obstruction is.
Karen King is a mother first. Family is what gets her up in the morning, and is what motivates her to be better and do better. She is a self-described boss, however, there isn’t a drop of arrogance or cockiness when she says it. As a young woman, she was entangled in many situations and learned from each and every one of them. She adapted a boss mentality because that was what she saw as an example in terms of survival. This was before motherhood.
Motherhood gave her more responsibilities as a leader; she had her children to lead and impart all her knowledge and wisdom. She also sustained her boss mentality so she could keep the positive part of her reputation intact. Society and the media have spun many narratives about Karen, especially when she was thrust back into the limelight, this time with Love and Hip Hop Atlanta. She was previously involved with the entertainment industry because of her talented and handsome sons, Scrap DeLeon and Sass, who were rappers in their younger years. They had that unforgettable taste of celebrity that had them affiliated with icons in the music industry.
By chance, fate, or serendipity, whatever you choose to call it, the powers that be at Love and Hip Hop Atlanta approached her sons for the reality show. Karen was reluctant at first, but after much convincing from her sons, she decided to grab the opportunity and try to make some moves with the familiar territory of the entertainment industry. It was also a way for her to not only walk the walk, but talk the talk she always told her sons, Scrap and Sass, about ensuring and maintaining some sort of independence.
Karen realized that her truth, her true character, and demeanor, were not being displayed. She decided to take matters into her own hands and wrote HERstory, her words, her version. It’s her way of showing the media personality versus the real her. She not only wanted to speak her truth, but she also wants others to learn from her experiences, good or bad. Without accountability, one cannot evolve, grow, and get closer to one’s ultimate potential. This is another reason she does speaking engagements, she feels it’s very important we forge sisterships and always be open to learning. In that connection, we were not reality star and contributing correspondent; we were two women learning from each other and it was indescribable to have such a connection with an O.G. like Karen King.
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Be sure to pick up her book, “Do You Know Me” available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Ingram Spark. Also, look out for her cookbook dropping at the end of July. She will also be conducting cooking classes twice a month. Check out her social media for more info.
FB: IamKarenKing
Twitter: @IamKarenKingÂ
–MzLez
About MzLez
MzLez is a very passionate advocate and activist for women’s rights and special needs children. She has an undeniable passion for the entertainment industry, which was nurtured when she majored in Journalism and Communications with a concentration in media studies. She developed her gift for writing as a child and finally as a young female, she started publishing her work. She was born into an entertainment family and thrives on the arts, from writing, creating, and interviewing to acting. Follow her on IG at @IamMzLezizzzle.
