COVER STORY: VIVICA A. FOX

By Teryl Warren

Empowering women. It’s a principle that’s been shaping our society since the days of the Suffragettes. It’s a notion that almost put a woman in the White House in 2016.  And, on a very real level, it’s the motivation behind a new provocative series about male exotic dancers. Don’t get the connection?  You will…

From the moment she first burst onto the scene, Vivica A. Fox has been bringing her unique brand of sexy-powerful to both big and small screens.  Whether turning the tables in Battle-of –the-Sexes rom-coms like Two Can Play That Game, to actually doing battle in flicks like Kill Bill and Set It Off, Vivica Fox has proven she’s got the sass, the savvy and the swagger to be a boss.

And her latest endeavor with Lifetime is taking things to a whole new level.

On Wednesday, January 4 at 10pm ET/PT, Lifetime will premiere “Vivica’s Black Magic,” a sexy new series hosted by the multi-talented actress, producer and entrepreneur as she tries to create and manage an exotic male revue with the ultimate goal of bringing them to the bright lights of Las Vegas.

It’s worth noting that Vivica’s Black Magic isn’t just Fox’s latest endeavor, it’s actually her brainchild. “I got the idea while we were still filming Chocolate City,” Vivica told us.  The film, in which she stars as the mother of a college student turned male erotic dancer, is a veritable eye candy store featuring the likes of Robert Ri’chard, model/actor Tyson Beckford and R&B singer Ginuwine.

“I told the director [Jean-Claude LaMarre], ‘These guys are gorgeous, and there’s potential to turn this into a franchise – maybe even a tour or reality show. ‘ As a producer, I look for projects that are fun, that can reach a lot of different audiences and grow beyond just being a movie in a theater.  An exotic male revue is definitely a gift that will keep on giving,’” she laughed.

In true boss fashion, Vivica saw the potential, turned her enthusiasm into a pitch and found a partner in Lifetime to help bring her vision into fruition.

But there’s a lot more to Vivica’s Black Magic than what simply meets the eye.  Vivica is putting her name, her money and her reputation on the line to give women a night they will never forget.

Photo by Joseph Viles

“This show is all about offering women a classy girls’ night out and showcasing beautiful men of every race,” Vivica shared.  “One of my main goals with this show is really to promote diversity.  We’ve all gone to bachelorette parties and shows like the Chippendales, but, there’s rarely any diversity. I know girls want to see men of every ethnicity, and we’ve got chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch and everything else – so that’s exciting!”

With a little help from her girl squad, Eurika and Kiana, audiences will watch as Vivica auditions hundreds of hot men, narrowing it down to a group of elite eight with six packs and moves worthy of a coveted spot in her show.

“It’s gonna be wonderful for audiences to see their girl Vivica being the head chick in charge and making boss moves,” she said. “You’ll get to see how my mind works behind the scenes. I’ve put a lot into this, and this is not a game.”

A few of those hot men to be on the lookout for include Michael “Bolo” Boulware – a member of the Chocolate City cast who Vivica describes as a “work of art,” Jonathan “Heat” Martinez – known for titillating tricks he plays with his tongue, and Andrew “Penetration” Williams – who not only danced in, but also choreographed Vivica’s directorial debut, the music video for Thomas Hobbes’ “We On.”

Each week, the guys will be pushed to dancing their limits and must put aside their big personalities, egos and personal life dramas to make the magic happen.

“It’s interesting because a lot of the guys’ personal stories mimic the stories of women in the game,” Vivica explained.  “Some of them are working their way through school and dancing to pay for it. Some of them are just dancers and weren’t exotic dancers, at all. Some are dancing and just trying to make money to rebuild their lives.”

And the drama isn’t limited to what happens with the men.

“There were times I literally thought I’d have a nervous breakdown,” Vivica shared. “I’d ask myself ‘Why am I doing this?’ One night at the Plaza, I was literally beating the girls off my boys. I lost my voice – it was crazy! But then, I’d sit down with someone like the producers from Thunder Down Under and they’d tell me that I was definitely on the right track. Moments like that made it all worth it.”

Vivica’s Wednesday night takeover will begin on January 4^th when, in addition to Vivica’s Black Magic, fans can continue checking her out in her recurring role as “Cookie’s” older sister “Candace” on the FOX series Empire.  On the big screen, we’ll all bow down later in 2017 as she breathes life into her role as the “Cheer Goddess” in the latest installment of the Bring It On franchise Bring It On 6.

Fashion and beauty fans can connect with the Vivica Fox brand through her signature line with Poetic Justice Jeans, her Vivica Fox Hair Collection and her affordable Jewelry line with QVC – Candy Ice Jewelry. And in 2018, Vivica will publish her first book with St. Martin’s Press that will offer inspirational and motivational advice on how to “get older, get better and stay fabulous.”

Boasting a resume that reads more like an encyclopedia, it’s hard to imagine that Vivica A. Fox has left a single stone unturned. Whether that’s the case or not, her focus is fixed far ahead.

“I’m blessed because I’ve seen a lot of my dreams come true,” she reflected. “Now, I just want to continue to see the Vivica Fox brand go worldwide and be successful.  I want to leave a positive legacy and pave the way for other young black girls. I want them to know they can achieve anything, but they’ve gotta work hard.”