‘BWLA’ Draya Michele on Orlando Scandrick Wedding & Film 'Will to Love’ [Exclusive Interview]

Draya Michele is more than just a “fine ass girl.” The 30-year-old model and designer of successful fashion brands Fine Ass Girls and Mint Swimwear Collection has been entertaining fans worldwide as the breakout star of Basketball Wives LA. But after three seasons on the hit VH1 series, Michele is hoping to score on the big screen as a credible actress. Mstars News exclusively sat down with Michele to discuss her first film role in Will To Love opposite Keshia Knight Pulliam and Marques Houston and her impending nuptials to the love of her life, fiancée and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Danica: Daniel: Congratulations on your first film Will To Love. Tell me a little about your character Candice. She’s quite the gold-digger.
Draya Michele: Her name is Candice Koleto. She is a girl who is a former exotic dancer pretending to be this college educated classy woman who is in love with this man. She is playing a part.

Have you ever been an exotic dancer? I know you have a background as a cheerleader.
DM: No, I just kind of took the role and made her as close to me as I could. I ended up making the role funnier than it was initially. It wasn’t meant to be, but I made it pretty funny. It was a fun role. I had a lot of fun with it.

In the film Marques Houston plays a billionaire who needs to get married fast so he turns to online dating. Before Orlando did you ever go online looking for love?
DM: Oh no way! I’ve always been terrified of online dating or meeting people on the internet. I’m just convinced everyone on there is a serial killer. So no, I haven’t tried it. I don’t really recommend anyone do it!

How was the chemistry with your onscreen love interest Marques Houston?
DM: Marques was great. He’s funny. He made me feel really, really comfortable. There wasn’t romantic chemistry, but friendship chemistry. He was like a mentor to me. He made things really comfortable on set.

Did you have to audition for Will To Love?
DM: They asked me to read for the role of Candice and I and told them, “Before I read this for you guys, I just want you to know that I’ve already read it and it’s me.”

As a new actress making her film debut, working with Keshia Knight Pulliam must have been a real treat.
DM: Keshia and I share a lot of scenes together. I was really excited to work with her. She was a child actress and now she’s an adult actress but she’s also an acting coach and she coaches children. She helped me to relax, get my lines down and she gave me confidence.

She still holds the record as the youngest actress nominated for an Emmy Award. Did she give you any acting tips?
DM: No, but if I ever messed up she would just say, “It’s okay, next time you just do it better.” That type of comment was nice to have. Everyone on set would mess up, and she would make you feel like, “Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world” I was grateful for that experience working with Keisha.

Are you going to continue pursuing acting? Do you have any other films in the works?
DM: I’m definitely going to keep pursing acting, I love it. I just did two other films. I just did a movie with Terrance J called The Perfect Match and I also did a movie called All In.

Any notable co-stars in All In?
DM: None that I can remember off the top of my head, but It’s definitely a really good group of actors.

Will To Love is about finding the love of your life. You’re currently engaged to Orlando Scandrick. How did you know he was the one?
DM: I knew after a couple of months of dating Orlando that he was the kind of guy that I want to be with forever. He’s an amazing father, I just thought whom better to spend the rest of my life with than someone’s who is a great father. He’s a great son, he treats his mother really well. I look for things like that in a man.

I love seeing you on Basketball Wives LA and I noticed that you haven’t really been a part of the third season. Will you be making a return next season?
DM: I finished out everything that I needed to finish with Basketball Wives. It’s completely up to me whether I want to participate in episodes or not. I’ve started coming to the end of the road as far as reality TV goes.

What do you think is the most surprising thing that you’ve learned about reality TV while filming this show?
DM: Just that people can say whatever they want about other people and it really leaves a big impression on the viewers whether it’s true or not. So you have to be careful what you subject yourself to because someone is able to say anything about you.

You are killing it with your fashion lines Fine Ass Girls and Mint Swim. What the kind of girl you are designing for?
DM: For Mint Swim I’m designing for all women, all ages all sizes. We recently expanded to plus size and children. That’s for everyone. Fine Ass Girls is more for younger girls. The 17-25 year olds. It’s a young fun brand that a lot of college girls like. We just did a photoshoot this week for the fall and winter. They will be released early November and its a few dresses, overalls, just nice warm pieces that are really cute and fit right but still things that girls like and that are true to the brand.

You design all of the clothes for FAG and Mint Swim?
DM: Yes I design everything for both companies.

Would you ever consider designing your own wedding dress?
DM: That would be tricky, no. I would leave something that important to someone who designs wedding dresses.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
DM: Actress, designer, mom, wife. All of it. I want to do it all.

Check out the trailer for Will to Love below: