“Basketball Wives” Mehgan James Talks Clothing Line, Reality Versus Real Life & Butting Heads On “Mind Your Business” With Mahisha (Exclusive)

HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Mehgan James attends OK! Magazine’s Pre-Oscar Party In Support Of Global Gift Foundation at Beso on February 25, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Robin Marchant/WireImage)

Reality Star Showed Off Her Designs At New York Fashion Week

Reality star Mehgan James is on a high after showing her 800West collection with Fashion Nova during New York Fashion Week.

Models clad in James’ swimsuit designs walked the runway this week at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s show. But “Bad Girls Club” alum James, who said she runs the line by herself, recently faced heat on social media after she clashed with OWN’s business guru Mahisha Dellinger over her decisions for the company after it was revealed that she owed thousands.

Now, James is setting the record straight in her first interview since the show aired. She said that Mahisa came in to organize her business and help her attract investors to 800West as she faced mounting costs for maintaining her inventory. But she said Mahisha came off belittling and disingenuous, which led to the tension on-screen.

We caught up with James during New York Fashion Week, where she spoke about her on-screen beef with Mahisha, her reality TV persona versus real life, dating and debuting her new collection for Fashion Nova.

Courtesy of Mean Girls LA/Fashion Institute of Technology

BOSSIP: What was your experience like at Fashion Week?
Meghan James: “It’s been really busy. New York is so small, but there are so many people coming out and looking at the designs for Spring/Summer 2019.”

HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 25: Mehgan James attends OK! Magazine’s Pre-Oscar Party In Support Of Global Gift Foundation at Beso on February 25, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Robin Marchant/WireImage)

BOSSIP: And speaking of your line, you and Mahisha had some friction on “Mind My Business.” What was that all about?
MJ: “Mahisha really didn’t help me. I didn’t like her energy – it was like ‘I’m above you’ energy. Nothing that she had to say to me was really positive. It was very demeaning. But with me being on reality TV, I’m used to people having negative things to say about me. I still got into the room to do my pitch (to investors) and Mahisa had no say over the investors liking my idea or not. And all three investors loved my business…She treated me like I was a kid.”

BOSSIP: How would you define your sense of style?
MJ: “I would say very tomboy. Anything that I design I would create it for myself. There are a lot of celebrity designers and designers that create designs that don’t relate to them. I don’t want to name any names, but some people will create stuff for their following and fans but you would never see them caught dead wearing it – and I’m the exact opposite.”

BOSSIP: How is your dating life these days?
MJ: “It sucks! My love life sucks so bad! I want to get married and have a kid so bad, but guys in 2018 with Instagram, it’s seemingly impossible. I’m so single. I’m not seeing anyone worth saying that I’m seeing. Of course I’m dating, I go out with guys, but it’s nothing serious.”

BOSSIP: Would you say that your reality show persona is different from how you are in real life?
MJ: “I did ‘Bad Girls Club’ when I was 21. I’m 28…I just hate that people still equate me to that person. Because if you don’t change in 10 years, then that’s like saying you haven’t changed from first grade to tenth grade. You grow as a person and you learn through experience.”

*This interview was edited for space and clarity.