Anyone who has seen any part of the first few episodes of E! Entertainment’s newest reality show, Candy Girls, is already well aware of who Terricka Cason is. The show documenting the lives of four video models who work for the Los Angeles-based Bella Talent Agency has become a showcase for Ms. Cason’s determined outspokenness.

While her at times aggressive demeanor may lead some to believe the 27-year-old Midwest native is nothing more than an unfeeling bitch, when the Cal State grad spoke with Beauty & Brains she revealed herself to be an incredibly intelligent, surprisingly composed and thoughtful single-mom who is clearly just trying to survive the uncaring male-dominated music biz.  

Beauty & Brains: According to E!, you’re the “feisty” one [Laughs]. Is that labeling something you take offense to, or something you take pride in?
Terricka Cason: I definitely take pride [in that]. I’m feisty, but I’m feisty because I just have a really driven attitude, and I know what I want, and I know what I don’t want. So there’s certain things that I’ll do, and there’s certain things that I just won’t settle for. I’ve been in this industry for [over five years], so I know how dirty it is and how grimy it is, and how you can get used. And, you can’t do that to me. So, if I have to be feisty and have that attitude and stand up for myself, then so be it.  

B&B: I saw the clip where you almost got in a fight with [Bella owner] Danielle. Is it taking feistiness too far though to call your boss an “ignorant bitch” and threaten to whoop her ass [Laughs]?
Terricka Cason: The comment that she made I felt was extremely ignorant. For somebody to say less is more when dealing with somebody’s child, something that someone takes pride and joy in… I think that was uncalled for her to say, “Don’t talk about your daughter.” When I think about my life, and when I think about the success that I’ve [had], my daughter is included with that. I wouldn’t dare not speak about her. So, I felt that she was being disrespectful to me. And I think other people should look at that and read more into it and realize well hey, she does have a valid point. Like, why wouldn’t she talk about her daughter? Why would that set me aside from succeeding in my career? I’m very proud of my daughter. I’m not gonna downplay that I have one.

B&B: And you kind of alluded to this a little bit earlier, do you feel like you have to be aggressive in this business to be taken seriously, and be respected?
Terricka Cason: You definitely have to be very aggressive. Like I said, this industry is dirty. If you’re not strong enough [to deal with that], then it’s not cut out for you. People come to L.A. every day that try to live their dreams, but some people are just not cut out for it and they end up flying back home. But you know I’m from East St. Louis. I’m from a strong, grounded city, where I’m not supposed to be here. I grew up where I didn’t have sidewalks on my streets, and I’m living the life that most kids in my neighborhood would only imagine living.   

B&B: In all fairness to you, that director on the Mims video shoot [for “Move (If You Wanna)”] deserved a grilling about that dumb-ass direction: act like you “wanna sleep with him.” Do most of the directors you work with give degrading direction like that?
Terricka Cason: No. His choice of words and all that was [something I] would never use as far as directing. I don’t think he woulda went to a commercial site and told an actress on there to act like she would be having sex with the other actor on the set. You can act sexy, seductive, be sexual, show your beauty, but to say “act like you’re having sex with the artist” or “stop looking slutty” [like he did], I think that was very disrespectful, and I think that he looked at us in the wrong light. I don’t need to do this job to be disrespected. Treat me like you would treat another actress if you were [at] a commercial shoot.

B&B: Now, you gotta know most male viewers of videos don’t care how “video vixens” get treated. Do guys out in the world treat you in a degrading way when they recognize you from a video or find out you do rap videos?
Terricka Cason: I’ve never been degraded. I mean, you get degraded by ignorant people, just because they’re ignorant. But, a lot of people do acknowledge that we are models. And they do acknowledge that we are working [in] a tough industry. So a lot of times we get the utmost respect. Most of the time people just wanna say hi, or take a picture with us. I don’t get [those] degrading looks. But I’m different, I’m more humble. People can come across me and approach me. I’m more approachable, because I consider myself just real. So you get what you get when you deal with TC. I don’t sugarcoat anything. And I get love in this city, so…  

B&B: You mentioned your daughter, [and so] I just wanted to ask [this question]: In 15 years your now four-year-old daughter comes to you and says she wants to follow in your footsteps and appear in music videos, what do you say to her?
Terricka Cason: If that’s something that she wants to do, as long as she understands the industry. And I think [with] the way I handle myself, I don’t necessarily feel as if I’m not being a positive role model for my daughter. I feel that I’m very positive. I feel that she can be able to learn from me and be strong, and know that everything’s not gonna be handed to her on a silver spoon and she has to work for it. And if [video modeling] is something that she wants to work for, as long as she handles herself in a dignified way, then I support her. I wouldn’t definitely want this to be long-term for her, just like I don’t want it to be long-term for me, but if this is a step that she wants to use to further her career then I’ll support her.    

B&B: You said you don’t want this to be long-term, [and] I know you started off in this biz auditioning people for videos and commercials, and working as a production assistant [before debuting on screen in the video for Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”], [so] is that what you plan to eventually go back to?
Terricka Cason: Not so much working as a production assistant, or [in] casting. I was doing that just more so to learn about the industry, to learn how hard it is, to learn how to audition and what castings were like. I personally want to eventually audition for movies, and be on sitcoms, do commercials, [maybe] hair modeling. I am very into my physical health, so I wouldn’t mind doing athletic modeling…or extending my career further in the industry as far as higher roles and higher paying roles.

B&B: Is it realistic for a young lady to expect appearing in rap videos to launch a legitimate acting career? Have there been any real success stories of video models transitioning to a real career in film or television?
Terricka Cason: Yes! There’s been Carmen Electra. There’s been Lauren London. I can even say…Jessica Alba. There’s been a lot of people. Even Megan Fox appeared in her first video. A lot of people have gotten further in their career and used videos as a stepping stone, just to get their face out. And a lot of those video directors now are doing feature films. You got Chris Robinson. He did ATL. And Benny Boom now [is directing films]. They’re all going and doing films now, so why wouldn’t it be possible for me to work with a video director that I started in a video with to do a film that he’s doing?

B&B: Do you have any film projects on the horizon?
Terricka Cason: I’ve done a couple of film projects. I’ve done a straight to DVD movie [God’s Gift] with Master P, where I played Romeo’s mother as a child. It was a documentary that he did. I also was featured in a film called All You’ve Got. It was an MTV special with Adrienne Bailon and Ciara, where I played a volleyball girl on the set. And I also was featured on the Eve show, where I had a role as one of the waitresses. But I also have a theater degree. So I’ve studied film… I know what it takes, and I believe I have what it takes to succeed in the film industry.

B&B: And is this something you just kinda wanna transition into gradually, or you plan to stop doing videos at some point and just focus completely on [film]?
Terricka Cason: I plan to do it gradually, but videos are always hot, and videos [are] what keeps your name out there. Music is what leads to other things, so as long as an artist wants to feature me in a music video, then why not? Lisa Raye’s still doing videos… Tyra Banks, different actresses who are very well established now who are still showcasing their face on videos. So I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t do another video, no.

B&B: With the current downturn in the music biz, and the economy as a whole, are you finding fewer opportunities to do what you do? With dwindling budgets is there less of a demand for video models?
Terricka Cason: I wouldn’t say [there] was a less of a demand - artists are still shooting videos – [but] the budget might not be as high as it used to be. But alongside the videos comes the hosting of events. We host parties with the artists. They’re still concerts and tours that we make appearances at. So if there’s not a video [to shoot], we still work jobs through the music industry for other venues.

B&B: I don’t want you to put your financial business in the street, but can someone still really make a living doing what you do?
Terricka Cason: I’m living proof that you can. You definitely can. We make good money to be able to stay financially secure.

B&B: And did I read correctly [that] you’re in a union?
Terricka Cason: I am in the union. I’m in [the] SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) union.

B&B: And [now] you either don’t have to, or you won’t work as an extra anymore?
Terricka Cason: I started off as an extra. I think I paid my dues… I worked on sets for free. I’ve done things to get started in the game. But after I been a lead model for so many years, I just think it doesn’t make sense for me to go backwards. I never wanna go backwards in my career. I always wanna continue to go forward. So by me being an extra on a video, that’s something I can’t do. Now, if you want me to be an extra on a feature film with Denzel Washington, and that’s something where I can get experience and I can grow, then yeah, I’m not gonna say that I won’t start from the bottom at that point in my career.

B&B: But that has to be Denzel? Is that a requirement [Laughs]?
Terricka Cason: [Laughs] It doesn’t have to be Denzel, but if it’s a major film where I can learn and network - I’m all about networking, so if I can be on set and get noticed and network and learn some things, then I wouldn’t mind being an extra in that atmosphere, no.

B&B: I read that like almost everybody on your mother’s side of the family has a doctorate degree, so is your fam pressuring you to quit doing this and go to graduate school?
Terricka Cason: My family has been beyond supportive of me. They are just astonished at the fact that I was so driven that I left my [home] and came out here – by myself really. My mom’s here now. But I’ve grown up around family. I’ve always had my grandmother and my aunts that’ve surrounded me, so I’ve always had support everywhere I turn. They’re just really happy that I came out here and I was able out of all the people who worked hard and pursued this same dream to do it. And they just support me. I have my aunts that still say, “Well you can still go to school at night and get your graduate degree.” And that’s something I plan on doing possibly in the future. But as of right now, while I’m living my dream, I’m gonna continue pursuing it. School is always there.

B&B: Did I read correctly that your original plan was to go to law school though?
Terricka Cason: My original plan was to go to law school. I’ve always been aggressive, and I’ve always been really driven. And I always felt that was what an ideal lawyer would be, somebody who knew how to speak, somebody who knew how to get themselves out of any situation. And I believe that’s me. I know my rights, and I do my research. I know my union rules. That’s why a lot of people can’t take advantage of me because I know what the union rules are. So I always felt I had what it takes to be a good lawyer.

B&B: From the clips I’ve seen of the show, you’re a good arguer [Laughs].
Terricka Cason: [Laughs] But I always argue with a valid point [Laughs].

B&B: What do you think is harder, crafting an oral argument for court or keeping a rapper’s hands off of you on a video shoot?
Terricka Cason: I haven’t had the experience of a rapper [doing that]. I think that’s something that most people think [happens]. It’s more the entourage that you have the problem with. But a lot of people really don’t realize [that] while we’re on set the artists [has] his holding area, and then there’s talent holding area. We’re not even around them. So that whole rep that oh, these girls are on set messing with the artists, we’re not even nowhere involved with what they’re doing or who they’re trying to talk to. That misunderstanding is given by the girls that come on set just to meet the [artists]. It’s not the talent; it’s not the video models [doing that]. We could care less. We’re there to make our money, and half of the time we’re just ready to go – sign in and sign out.

B&B: What was the best video experience you think, if you had to single one out?
Terricka Cason: I think the best video experience I’ve had was with the recent Lil Wayne “Got Money” [video]. They don’t showcase a lot of what we did, but it was fun. It was like 12 women and we got to act like bank robbers and got to run through the bank, and the police was stopping us and arresting us. It was pretty fun. That was one of the best experiences. But other than that, I would say Chris Brown, but I don’t know if that’s a good topic to discuss. But I did his very first video, and with Chris being a minor it was just a very fun set. We were just able to be kids and play around all day, and run and have fun. So that was a great experience too.

B&B: Now my final question is just why should the HipHopDX readers watch Candy Girls? The only reality show I have any interest in watching right now is MTV’s Taking The Stage, and that’s only because one of my nieces goes to that Performing Arts school. So why do I wanna watch four video models fighting with each other and going on dates with Red Café [Laughs]?
Terricka Cason: [Laughs] Because we’re having a good damn time. No, I would say each [one] of us, we’re not just video girls. We each add something different. We each come from a different background. And we each are trying to pursue one common goal, and that’s to make a name for ourselves. And we as a whole [on the show] just wanna touch base on what we really do. We get the name-calling, and the bloggers [criticisms], but nobody really knows what we do and how hard it is to do what we do. It’s just an inside look at being a model in L.A. – the auditions, the parties we host, the events we go to. And not only that, it’s very entertaining. It introduces you to the artists. There’s a lot of artists featured on the show. And everybody wants to know what really happens on a video set.

Tune in to the show on Sunday nights at 10:30pm on E!