In a new interview with VIBE magazine, Erica Mena finally answers a question many of us have been pondering over the last few months: How in the hell did she and Bow Wow end up together?! Ever since the two announced their engagement in September, people have speculated that it’s all for show and attention, but she says that’s not the case. In this new chat, she explains why things didn’t work out with ex-girlfriend Cyn Santana, talks falling in love with Bow Wow after knowing him for eight years and why she plans to leave “Love and Hip Hop New York” once they tie the knot. She also spilled a bit of tea on how her man is packing…don’t ask us why. Here are the details that had us talking:
Why She And Cyn Santana Broke Up:
“One thing that I learned really early on, is that you could never be friends with people who want your life. So many people started to get in her ear, and it came from people that were her friends. Coming into this relationship, or any of my relationships, it was no secret how wild and crazy I am. As soon as cameras roll, everyone wants to play a victim when they’re dating Erica. From one minute to the next, me getting turned up in the club – the same thing I do with you – is a problem now because your friends make it a problem. So the best way to describe our breakup is, a lot of the worthless people in her life somehow were able to influence her. And that caused us to really have no choice but to part ways.”
How She Knew She Was In Love With Bow Wow:
“…me and Bow kissed, we got in trouble, and after that kiss is when I saw his feelings for me really start to show on that higher level. When I realized I was in love with him, it was the craziest thing because once I told him that me and Cyn were really done and over with, the first thing he was really concerned about was how I felt. So before he kind of made his initial move, he was trying to literally, as a friend, keep me going through that whole breakup. That’s when I realized it was more than that. Just because this is someone that actually gives a f**k about me as a person, my feelings, my mindstate. So it was the first time I really found someone who didn’t care about the Rich thing, didn’t care what people said about me, didn’t care about nothing but just Erica Mena the person.”
On People Struggling To Take Shad Moss Seriously And Still Looking At Him As Lil’ Bow Wow:
“Well that’s because none of his d**k pics have been leaked before. It’s a full hand. A fist and sh*t.”
On Being Submissive With Him:
“And that’s crazy. ‘Cause you know how you’re like, they see him as Lil’ Bow Wow? I become Lil’ Erica with him. I’m very submissive with him. Very. He’ll give me a look. It’s like whatever he wants. I don’t know why. It’s hard to explain. He makes the rules. He’s in charge. He has control. I don’t know, it’s just the way he is. He doesn’t play no games. And I think I just have so much respect for him more than anything. That’s what it is, once you find a man that loves you, you instantly have no choice but to give him all the respect in the world. That’s our role as women when we come into a relationship, to respect and honor your man. I never once respected someone as much as I respect him. That naturally keeps me in my place.”
Introducing Him To Her Son:
“I don’t wanna speak too much on his situation. It’s very touchy and there’s another parent involved that I’m gonna always respect. But he is very involved in my son’s life now. His mother raised him so well, that he is not only taking on being a great father to his daughter, he’s an exceptional step dad to my son. And I’ve never brought anyone around my son. No one. For this to be the first man, and the man I’m gonna spend the rest of my life with, it’s definitely a big deal for me. It’s that serious to me and extremely sacred. And now, I get to share that with someone. It’s dope. Now my family is really complete.”
Why She Doesn’t Plan To Do Reality TV Once They Marry:
“It’s time to be a wife. It’s time to be the woman my man needs. My man don’t need a girl that’s on TV, my man needs a girl by his side. That’s really what it’s about right now for me. It’s kind of bittersweet, this whole process, especially filming this last season. Even though there’s still the Erica Mena crazy stuff going on, this really is the best season ever for me.”
If Bow Wow Will Be On Her Last Season OF LHHNY:
“Well, you’re definitely going to see reactions I’m sure. My loser exes have a reaction to it. And you might see a little bit more, but one thing you’re not going to see is him. You know how I’ve been saying that I keep my son sacred? It’s the same thing with him. This is what really matters to me now. No one’s f**king with it. And if we do decide to do something like that, it’s not gonna be with a cast full of people who just, are nobodies.”
If She Thinks “Love And Hip Hop” Makes Women Look Bad, And Her Thoughts On Teairra Mari:
“It’s really not Love & Hip-Hop, it’s the people that come in. I can’t specify this enough: when cameras go on, everybody wanna be big and tough. You’re not like that in real life. Like, even this season, Teairra Mari was f**king screaming and running when I fought Kimbella, now this season, you’re so Detroit? And even if that is who you are, why weren’t you [that way] back then? Maybe you probably would’ve made a hit by now. When I came into it, I was a young girl, getting out of an extremely abusive relationship. Once I got out, I had this mentality that I have to now try to protect the little girl that I couldn’t protect then. So what you guys saw then was someone that was really lashing out because she was hurting, she didn’t know how to deal with things. I had just left a man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, had a kid, homeless, had to literally start from scratch. At the same time, I was releasing all the anger I had in me every time I got my a** beat. It’s not right, I’m not justifying it, but that’s just really what it is. So now, when I see girls come on and not be who they are, it makes the show look scripted, because this is not who the f**k you are.”
You can check out Erica’s full interview over at VIBE.com & Madamenoire.com
