Candiace Dillard: I Only Have One Mama!
"I have a lot of love and respect for Karen as well..."
Bravotv.com: We see you accompany Karen to her dentist appointment and we see you refer to you as your surrogate mother and you also mention that the rapport you have with her is ideally what you’d have with her mother. Can you talk about your connection with Karen?
Candiace Dillard: I believe in vibes and auras and connections. The very first time I met Karen, at Monique’s house for her Chris’ birthday party, we instantly connected. I just loved her energy. She was kind, warm and funny and so I just went with it. Two years later, Karen is still my sister friend!
I do regret using the term “surrogate mother” in reference to our friendship as I don’t ever want to make my own, living breathing mother feel like she isn’t the most important woman in my life — which she is. My mom and I have a lot of bags to unpack and work through but I am grateful for her and love her endlessly. I have a lot of love and respect for Karen as well, but I only have one mama! That said, I have always believed in the power of strong, intelligent women when they’re bonded together and I make it a point to only surround myself with women who can pour into me and with whom I can pour into. Karen is one of those people and I love our friendship!
Bravotv.com: What were your feelings heading into the group trip to New Orleans?
CD: I honestly was missing Chris before I even left for New Orleans! I would walk around the house with my bottom lip poked out thinking about how much I was going to miss my huzzzzband! But I was also really excited to get to travel to a part of the country I had never been to (as an adult. I had been to NOLA with my family as a child). Getting to spend time with my girlfriends is always a welcomed activity, especially when it involves Gizelle showing us a more warm and welcoming side of herself (a rarity!).
Bravotv.com: What did you think of the confrontation between Gizelle and Karen after your cooking class?
CD: I can understand where Gizelle is coming from as a friend. But truth be told, Gizelle has not been the best friend to Karen and building that trust back takes time. Gizelle’s sense of entitlement makes her feel like she deserves instant gratification in her relationship with Karen and if I were Karen, I wouldn’t be giving in so fast either.
She has to earn the right to know what’s happening in Karen’s business dealings. Everyone gets respect until you give them a reason to pull back. Karen had no reason not to share her business plans with Jermaine because aside from Jermaine being a savvy, astute entrepreneur and business mogul herself, she didn’t glue letters onto a t-shirt to make fun of her friend's dire straits. So, there’s that...
