As an up-and-comer in Atlanta’s fashion scene, Emily Lipman of ”The New Atlanta” is a boutique owner who values her independence. She sits with UPTOWN to discuss cast drama, her ambitions, and the personal loss that changed her perspective on life …
UPTOWN: How did you become a cast member of “The New Atlanta”?
Emily: It’s actually a funny story! Atlanta is an extremely big city, but it’s actually like a really small town, and when you own a business in a small town people get to know you. I was featured in Jezebel [magazine] as one of the “50 Most Beautiful of Atlantans 2011” and that put me out there.
UPTOWN: You own a fashion boutique right?
Emily: Yes! It’s called Raw Denim.
UPTOWN: Are you originally from Atlanta?
Emily: I am … born and raised!
UPTOWN: Reality shows are known for their drama and in-fighting, and from the footage I’ve seen, “The New Atlanta” has its fair share …
Emily: There is a lot of drama and that is what reality television is. There is also a lot of good in all of us. You’ll see with my life that I am a business owner running my own boutique and my brother has Cystic Fibrosis, and my sister Wendy passed from the same disease at a very young age. Also, I have a tournament that has raised over $1.5 million in 12 years. The tournament is held every year. I try to see my family once a month and now my life is hectic, it’s hard to juggle everything. Then, you have to throw a guy into the mix … I also have a dog that needs me!
UPTOWN: This cast seems to be on a mission to find love, a successful career …
Emily: My parents are a little bit older, and although I’m not desperate to find somebody, it would be nice to have all of that. My brother has two kids and it’s amazing to see them with my parents and that they have time with their grandparents. I want my family – especially my Grandmother – to be around to see that happening for me.
UPTOWN: There is obvious tension between you and your fellow cast mate Alexandra Dilworth, stemming from a scene when she makes the statement that she wants to be a “trophy wife.” You seemed very offended by that … why?
Emily: I do get offended by somebody like that, that is absolutely 110 percent serious about becoming a “trophy wife.” I work for my money, and I’ve worked my butt off my entire life! I was 15 when I worked my first job, and my family has taught me that money is not just given to you by your father … it’s earned. For me to hear somebody that says, “My father is going to give me everything … I want to be a trophy wife” … It makes me nuts! I don’t get it and I’ll never understand why somebody wants that lifestyle. We will never see eye-to-eye about that.
UPTOWN: How do you get along with the rest of your cast mates?
Emily: Everyone has strong personalities and we are going to butt heads here and there, but I love everybody, and think they’re all great. We have become somewhat of a family, but you will see tension between all of us.
UPTOWN: There has been a huge backlash against women in particular fighting with each other on reality television. How do you feel about that?
Emily: I have never laid a hand on somebody in my life.
UPTOWN: What do you want people to learn about you and your life as a cast member of “The New Atlanta”?
Emily: For me, my life is a juggling act of being a business owner on my own, and not going into it understanding anything about business. My college major was sports! It’s been a huge learning process and you will see that on the show. I want people to also learn about my charity [in honor of her sister Wendy], and see that you can go out into the world and join any charity. The more people that do charity work, the better this world is going to be. I am hoping that people see my life, and lifestyle, and are inspired to be ambitious and do the same thing.
Follow Emily Lipman on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@emilylipman). Learn more about her charity A Wish for Wendy here. Check out her and the rest of “The New Atlanta” cast when the show premieres today, Sept. 17, at 10 p.m. EST on Bravo.
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