Trend Tracker® Talks Independence With Lea Black
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- For this edition of "Women To Watch," Trend Tracker® Tara Gilani tracked down Lea Black, one half of a glamorous power couple.
Wife of ace attorney Roy Black, mother of Roy Black Junior, skincare and accessories mogul, power philanthropist and star of "The Real Housewives of Miami, " Lea Black is as pervasive as she is high profile.
Black and Gilani greeted each other with laughter and hugs at the Black's 20th annual fundraising gala, headlined by Aretha Franklin and held at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach
Lea Black has raised over $10 million for troubled youth over the last 20 years
"I promise the lives of a lot of kids are going to change because of generous donors and sponsors that we have tonight and that every day of my life I hope that I contribute something to the world and to people that are in need," said Black.
"Lea's favorite word starts with 'I,'" joked Gilani.
"She's right," replied Lea. "The one word I would have to go with would be 'independence.' I've always made my own money. I've always made my own decisions and I've always charted my own course."
Watch Trend Tracker® Tara Gilani's One On One With Lea Black
Gilani borrowed a line from J-Lo: "Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got." She explained. "Lea's got more jewelry than Harry Winston but their her rocks that she bought and paid for."
Black concurred and said, "You know when I married Roy I didn't have to work anymore after that. Once I married him I kept working for awhile and I saw it really isn't going to work out so I just quit working. And then I did the charity (and it was 20 years ago) and then when Roy Junior came along I made it all about him and when he got in first grade I said you know what….I may as well make it all about me again it's always been about me anyway. I started going back to work again. I like the action. I like making money, I like having other people make money, I like seeing people produce results and have success and be happy and create lives that they love to live rather than dread waking up and I think I have the ability to help women do that and that's what I do every day."
Lea Black is all about persistence and resilience.
"I think the main thing is persistence and not giving up. I mean for every accomplishment I've had, I've had 1,000 failures," said Black. "For every person that likes me you'll find 10 that don't. For every 'yes' I get, I've gotten 100 no's. So for me, it's just about not accepting a limitation and just pushing the envelope and if I fall down I pick myself up. Who else is gonna do it? At this age, I'm gonna need a lot of people helping me up," said Black.
Tara asked Lea about the 800 pound gorilla in the room; her show.
"Housewives?," queried Gilani.
Black asked, "What do you want to know?"
"Is anything happening," asked Gilani.
Black replied, "It's kind of…I'm going to say it's on hold. Nobody knows and when I become the boss, which could be any day now, I'll make the announcement!"
Black loved playing Gilani's fill in the blank lightening round.
When Gilani said, "I am ____?"
Black replied, "I am whatever I choose to be in the moment."
When Gilani asked, "I want ____?"
Black said, "I want to be everything that I think is possible in the universe."
When Gilani said, "I will _____?"
Black said, "I will do what I can for the world and I will do it not at the expense of anyone else."
Gilani also asked, "I wont_____?"
Black replied, "I won't compromise who I am or what I believe to be popular or to have people like me. I'd rather take a stand than be popular. I don't need any more friends. I got you."
Black's philosophy is "Black" and white. "You come into the world alone you leave the world alone and that's it. Make the best of it."
Great advice, said Gilani. "For all you do, we salute you. Cheers Lea Black!"
For more on Lea Black, keep track of her online, on Facebook and on Twitter.
www.theworldofleablack.com
www.facebook.com/LeaBlackMiami
@LeaBlackMiami
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