Jevon “Vawn” Sims of ”The New Atlanta” has already made a name for himself in the Atlanta music scene, finding new talent and developing artists. But he also has other passions and has written a book on his theories, experiences, and guy code secrets regarding love and romance. Sims talks with UPTOWN about finding love, raising his son, and cast fights …
UPTOWN: From the sneak peeks it seems as if there is a lot of drama going on with you on the show …
Vawn: (Laughing) Yeah, yeah there’s drama here and there, you know how that goes!
[Images: Bravo]
UPTOWN: How did you end up as a cast member on “The New Atlanta”?
Vawn: I heard about it through a friend and once I heard Mona [Scott-Young] was involved – who I’ve known for a while – and found out what the show was about … I was in.
UPTOWN: How do you feel “The New Atlanta” differentiates from the other reality shows in rotation?
Vawn: Well, I think – and not to say that the other shows don’t – but I think we have more about Atlanta, and what we are going through in our careers. Sometimes people on the [other reality] shows have different angles, and we have a different view of what Atlanta is, and how we are going about getting what we want; good, bad, drama, pain, love, family, and everything you can imagine. Most of the people are singles and not in a relationship or marriage and I think it makes it more interesting. Everybody on this show is really going after what they want and that’s what I love about this show.
UPTOWN: What is it that you are going after?
Vawn: I wrote a book that is inspired by my mom and I want to get it out there. It’s therapeutic and I want to show a man trying to be a great father, being honest about who he is, where he is going and his immaturity. These are things I couldn’t do before. Talking with my mother about her relationship with my father inspired me like, “Hey I can do this!” I can talk about it … how to obtain love and understand what love is … how to love myself and be honest about what I am good and not good at.
UPTOWN: Also, in the sneak preview of the show it looked as though you and Africa Miranda made a love connection …
Vawn: Oooooohhhhh … who?! (Laughing) You know there are so many connections on the show that you just have to watch it to see how it pans out and who we love.
UPTOWN: I also saw drama with your fellow cast mate Tribble Reese. You two came to blows!
Vawn: Oh man, I think we really came close to [Floyd] Mayweather and [Oscar] De La Hoya, I think I heard the bell and that Don King was in the building turnt up! You have to watch the show … Did we fight? I don’t remember … You have to watch the show!
UPTOWN: It seems people have a love/hate relationship with reality shows and the cast members. They love you or hate you, are you prepared for what comes with that?
Vawn: Absolutely I’m prepared. I’ve been prepared for a long time. Once, you figure out where everything derives from, who is doing the talking, why they are doing the talking, put God first in your life, and figure out who you are and where you are going … all of that doesn’t even matter anymore. You’re right, they have a love or hate attitude but what I want to do is embrace them both and maybe I can turn some of the haters into love. If not that’s OK. I’m ready.
UPTOWN: Are you single, dating, what’s going on in your love life?
Vawn: I’m single and I’m OK with that. At night sometimes you really want to have that companion and someone you can share with, and it’s crazy for me to even say that, because I was never open to that … to love and doing all that. Now as I’m growing as a person, it will happen. I will make sure I’m the greatest like my father.
UPTOWN: For my ladies … what type of qualities do you look for in a woman?
Vawn: It’s all about values first. I’m attracted to an intelligent woman. Honesty, regardless of what it is, give me your honest opinion that I can value. Spirituality, she has to be spiritual. I love a woman who can uplift me when I’m not uplifted because that is my thing. Beauty, which comes in different packages, and I like a beautiful smile, nice feet, lips … I should enjoy rubbing your feet as much as you enjoy your feet being rubbed!
Follow Jevon “Vawn” Sims on Twitter and check out his website JevonSims.com. If you want a little more tea on Sims’ love triangle with cast mates Alexandra Dilworth and Africa Miranda, then read their interviews here and here. Keep checking back over the next two days for UPTOWN’s exclusive interviews with the other two cast members of “The New Atlanta,” which premieres September 17 at 10 p.m. EST on Bravo.
