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Adeja Allen is an array of talent. The former Miss Greater Oxnard Teen USA is not just a pretty face. The consummate professional is passionate and keeps herself motivated by focusing her drive on her numerous talents. A Broadcast Journalism major at California State – Northridge, Adeja has hosted and produced her own hip-hop Internet radio show called The Nikki Allen Show and was also a VJ for the Skee Love Hip-Hop Show.

Going from interviewing the likes of Three Six Mafia and Chris Brown to being interviewed, this former basketball star MVP Buena High School has left the high school and is going straight for the league. Ms. Allen is featured in the 2007 Cali Dimes calendar and is ever the budding entrepreneur, cultivating her own new clothing line. Her passion for music also sparked the idea to create her own independent recording label.

Ever the analyzer, this Gemini loves life, loves fashion, and HHDX loves the opportunity that was presented with this interview. Sit down and stay awhile as Adeja Allen talks about what she’s looking for in a man, discusses her future plans, and is so smoking hot that she even makes Stevie Wonder see!

HHDX: Your pictures aren’t as risqué as others might be. But that hasn’t stopped you from cultivating your career. You’ve been featured on the 2007 “Cali Dimes” calendar. How was that?

AA: It was really cool because with that particular project. The month that I’m featured in is a boxing theme. So, I wasn’t dressed all exotic and whatnot. It was a beautiful experience, I wasn’t super exposed and I was very tasteful. I actually stumbled into modeling. This wasn’t a dream of mines. I used to play basketball in high school and I was recruited by a pageant director during a game. I entered into a pageant. I ended up winning, becoming Miss Greater Oxnard Teen USA and I transitioned into modeling from there. But this is not what I want to do with myself. I don’t aspire to be the next Melyssa [Ford] or Esther [Baxter]. This is more of a side hustle thing. I don’t want to make a career out of this.

HHDX: You’re a Gemini, correct? I personally think that they’re crazy. Since you’re such a “good girl”, what’s been the craziest thing that you’ve ever done?

AA: I don’t think that Gemini’s are crazy. I think that being on is the best of both worlds. There is a part of me that is definitely a go-getter, plus there is a side where I just don’t play. I don’t really do anything that is “super crazy”. I’ll say that I don’t do those types of things, which is funny because I come off as “wholesome” as far as modeling is concerned. But when I’m around my friends, I’m the center of attention. So, I will say that I have done some risqué pictures. There’s one where I’m pulling on my clothes, and kind of touching on myself provocatively. My last shoot has definitely been sexier.

HHDX: Are you single?

AA: I am… very single. I do want a boyfriend, but I am very focused on my career. I am trying to get my money right now and my businesses lined up. What I have found out, particularly lately, is that guys have really big Hollywood egos. I need someone who is not going to trip off of the lifestyle that I live. They have misconceptions about who it is I am. I need someone who is secure within himself.

HHDX: You’re taller than some of the other women we’ve featured in the Beauty & Brains section. Were you a basketball MVP at Los Angeles Pierce or California State?

AA: Yeah, but I love food. When I was younger… I did a lot of runway stuff. It was mainly high fashion and things like that. But as I grew and matured, I got thicker in some places. So, I took what some would think of as a negative and made it a positive. That’s why I want to create my own clothing line. I want to be able to make clothing that is appreciated by Black women. Once I get that up and running, I will be able to make the rules up for myself.

HHDX: You and Britni Cardosa (September Beauty & Brains) go to the same school. Do you know her?

AA: No, I don’t know her…

HHDX: Well, how do you plan on to utilize your education to further your career goals?

AA: My major is Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Business. So, as far as Broadcast Journalism is concerned – that is something that I want to do. I have a couple of friends who have done it and from that I was skeptical of it at first. But that may be a route that I want to take. I want to do continue to construct my independent businesses. School is helping that. I am going to utilize everything that I’ve learned there and apply it to what I want to do with my career.

HHDX: Going to school is a smart back-up plan, just in case this modeling thing doesn’t work out. You’re also building up your own independent record label.

Tell us about it. AA: Well, I do marketing for KJLH. It’s privately owned by Stevie Wonder. I started working for them about a year ago. I recently just took a leave of absence because I wanted to focus more on school. Being there put me closer to the music industry. I mean… I was always around music, I used to host and produced my own Internet radio show. But by being there, I learned how to do all the behind the scenes work. I learned a lot of valuable things from my programming director. All of my experiences dealing with music inspired me to go this route. But there is a lot of hard work that goes into this. With me trying to start up this label, there is a lot of paperwork that goes into it, so I’m taking my time to try and do this right. Don’t get it twisted, I am accepting demos [laughs]. I have a couple of potentials that I’m looking at right now. But I am trying to get the infrastructure situated so that the label’s foundation is strong.

HHDX: You’re also developing your own clothing line, too?

AA: I am very excited about that! I will be designing clothing lines that deal with accessories for women and men. I will be starting with the women’s line first. I believe that there is a demand for it. I will be starting my own lingerie line. I have a partner and we’re working together to realize our dreams. And with the men, I’m starting off with ties for them. I think that it’s sexy. I want to do away with the white tee phenomenon. It’s cool when going to the grocery store, but it’s not fashionable for the clubs. I want to bring back the class that we once represented. You look at our hip-hop moguls and they’re looking the part. It’s classy, it’s sexy, and I just feel that you shouldn’t wait till you’re 30 to dress up like that.

HHDX: You’ve been a VJ for a cable hip-hop show, even interviewed the likes of Akon, T.I., and John Legend, just to name a few. Now that the tables have turned, how does it feel?

AA: It feels… interesting. It’s definitely weird for me, because I’ve interviewed some phenomenal people. I like it, though… it’s cool. I VJ’ed this cable television show… it was kind of like a hip-hop version of 106 & Park. To get prepared for those they would tell me who’s coming through and I would do my research on them. I would listen to their music, you know, so that I could talk about what they’ve worked on. Most recently, when I did interviews for the radio station, that stuff was on the spot. So, basically, you have to know your stuff. You always have to be aware of popular culture. I wasn’t always aware about their upcoming projects or too many details about what was going on with them.

HHDX: So, who was your best interview?

AA: I would have to say… probably Three Six Mafia. They were so much fun. Right after the interview, they blew up. They had just put out an album, but this was pre-Academy Awards, so it wasn’t the monster that it became afterwards. Crunchy Black is hilarious. They all are. That’s why the interview went so well, because they didn’t make me feel nervous. They were very down to earth and were really goofy!

HHDX: Who was the worst?

AA: Van Hunt. [Laughs] I didn’t know anything about him. I had only seen one video from him. It was really hard to get it started. It was kind of awkward, too. I don’t even remember how I initiated the interview. I kept asking him general stuff. But he was cool with it. He didn’t overreact or anything like that. When you’re getting interviewed, you kind of just go with the flow. I handled myself very professionally. The pressure is nothing. I had to go through that when playing ball in high school. You may get rattled sometimes, but it’s nothing. He didn’t take any offense.

HHDX: We interviewed Lekish Turner (aka Lady Nicole) too for Beauty & Brains and you’re both a part of the Urban Godiva Girlz. How is that coming along?

AA: I actually just became affiliated with them. I am really excited about that. She is very down to Earth. She’s killing the game right now with MySpace and she just got into [Benzino’s] Hip-Hop Weekly. There are so many very beautiful women who are a part of Urban Godiva Girlz. Right now, she’s in the Bay Area, but she’s supposed to be moving to Los Angeles, so I hope that we get a chance to build. Honestly, since doing this modeling thing, she’s one of the coolest people that I have met, so far. She’s shown me a lot of love.

HHDX: You also have your own crew called “Bella Capos”. What’s the about?

AA: My homegirl Amber and I… that’s my ninja. We started it out as a clique, intended as a joke. But we just took it more seriously and we’re looking to build it up into a brand. I mean it’s supposed to be Capi – that would be the proper use of Italian, since we’re women. Because it’s supposed mean “beautiful bosses”, but we’re hood, so we use “capo” instead of “capi”. We’re young, ambitious Black women and we’re not waiting or depending on men to lace us with an opportunity that we can create for ourselves. Our whole mantra is that we’re trying to get money and make power moves. My girl, Amber, she’s working on a magazine and I think that we’re going to use that as the title.

HHDX: So, are you saying that you don’t need Black men?

AA: I’m not bashing men. I have dated really great guys. I just want to make that clear. I think that it’s always been a thought that women being independent, whether it was the Women’s Rights movement or a song like, “Independent Women” by Destiny’s Child – that they’re trying to liberate themselves from men. That’s not true. It’s one way to feel like that and it’s a completely different thing to walk it. A lot of women have that Hollywood vibe with themselves. I really don’t see a lot of women really trying to make moves to be independent. They’re looking for the ballers. You can’t knock anyone’s hustle, really, because you have the women who want to be the eye candy, or go for the ballers, but in the end… it is what it is.



HHDX: You also do marketing for a station owned by Stevie Wonder. Did you ever get a chance to meet the man?

AA: Oh, yes! To be honest, I think that that experience and many others have help mold me into who I am and basically those experiences are the reasons that I have the mentality that I do. When I met Stevie Wonder, it was a beautiful thing. I grew up on him, he’s an inspiration to me, and I love him. I won’t be impressed with anything or anyone else unless it’s Prince or God.

HHDX: I know you’ve seen “Ray”… so, did Stevie feel your wrists?

AA: [Laughs] No, but he did kiss me on both of my cheeks. His whole aura is crazy. It’s like you know that he’s blind… but you forget that. He knew where my face was. He’s really cool. His whole demeanor is dope. How can someone be so dope musically and they can’t even see, that’s just an inspiration. There are people who are fully capable of doing things and have no disabilities, can’t even catch up with this man.

HHDX: Since it’s the beginning of the new year, what are your plans for 2007?

AA: There are some major moves that I have to make for the next year. But what the theme of it is this, “Keep God first and get money.” I just want to work on getting my companies off the ground. In 2006, I lost a couple of friends, unfortunately, so I am trying to be more focused. In this life… nothing is guaranteed for tomorrow. You cannot procrastinate. You have to start as soon as possible. My friend and I know that 2007 is our year and we’re trying to make moves. I’m going to continue to grind hard with school and make it in this business.