With the season of Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta coming to an end, that can only mean that we are gearing up for an epic reunion. With last year’s reunion a part of the ‘throw them ‘bows past’ it’s slightly expected that there will be no fighting during tonight’s reunion. The reunion will highlight all of the fights, arguments, performances and new people, including Margeaux Simms, the wife of Nikko London, who says that we can expect “craziness” during part one and two of the reunion.
After being a breathe of fresh-air on the reality television – and one of the very few that has actually released a great single, I got a chance to talk with Margeaux and found out that she is more than just a fashionable songbird, but a multi-talented designer and artist hailing from Toronto, Canada.
The Jamaican Canadian named after a French queen – by her father – reveals that she soon will release an album; one in which she would like to surprise fans with; talks her relationship with Nikko, being a part of the LGBT community as well as her reasoning for joining the case of LHH.
Margeaux entertains the fact that she was upset that all of her hard work put into her craft as an artist, before the VH1 reality series – although unknown to some of us – would be put to shame just because of the drama conspiracy stemming from the television drama.
Find out more down bottom.
JaaiR (JR)
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JaaiR: I read of your website a quote, which is, “fashion doesn’t define me, my style is priceless, it’s a reflection of my personality.” For someone that doesn’t know you, how would you describe your personality?
Margeaux: Free.
You’re a Canadian Jamaican from Toronto. What’s that like growing up?
Yeah, I was born in Toronto, Canada. That’s where I grew up and went to school. That’s where I went to design school. That’s where I got my first taste of fashion, art and music.
When I first got into music, I was like 14-years-old. I grew up outside of Toronto, and I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere, so when I finally got to design school and then got into downtown Toronto … you could see more of the fashion scene. It’s really when I got into design school I was really submerged into that whole vibe. It’s so multi-cultural.
What design school did you attend?
I went to Ryerson Polytechnic University; it’s an art school. It was a great experience for me. I got to see the corporate side of fashion. I got a scholarship for fine arts. That’s why I studied design and art, but music was always something that called me. When I left school in my third year, I promised myself that it would all come together.
Finally now, after all these years the House of Margueax.
House of Margeaux is how it all meshes together?
Yeah, it’s the hub. It was like how can I do all of these things that I wanted to do and have it make sense.
How much did you have to focus to finally see everything happening for you?
Everyday; just trying different things.
I read on your Twitter that you wanted to put gossip aside and talk “real s**t,” so let’s go. Sandra Bland; what are your thoughts on her?
That was actually brought to my attention. I had no idea that that even happened. I’m still reading the papers to find out my assessment on it. At the end of the day, I just feel like young Black boys, girls [are] not treated the same way. Coming from Canada and being Black, I didn’t see racism until I came here to the United States, so even me being Black and coming here, it is still shocking to me at times. It’s just so many questions, and because you are a person of color, you are treated differently. It makes me angry. Like, how does one end up dying in police custody? How does that happen? She doesn’t have to be the perfect person to have to end up dead in police custody.
Did you see the video?
I saw the video. I’ve been in that position; I’ve been in the position where you sometimes have a police officer that wants to exercise their authority, and it’s more when your a person of color. I get that sometimes you want to be a little bit rude, especially when you’re being pulled over for something so minuscule; like failing to signal. It brings the attitude out of you. Makes you wonder, is he doing it because he’s a police officer or is he doing it just because you’re black?
Back in June, there was the same-sex marriage voting, which gave same-sex couples the right to marry; where were you when you heard he news and how did you celebrate?
I was in Atlanta. All my friends called me; especially all my friends that are in same-sex relationships. We were really happy about that. It’s just exciting. People’s views are changing all the time. At one point you were considered an alien and given shock therapy if you were considered homosexual, gay or lesbian; and now you can get married. I think it’s a great change. I’m really happy about it.
This effects you personally?
Yeah. I have a girlfriend that I love very much. For me, I’ve never dated a woman before. I mean, I’ve gotten comments from Twitter and Instagram and stuff like that, but I look at people for themselves. I love people from the inside out; she just happens to be a girl. That’s the way I look at it for my own life. I don’t know how I feel about every topic in the world, I just know how I feel. I don’t think that love has a gender line or a color line. She’s loved me harder than any one has in my entire life.
What led you to be more open to dating a woman?
I’ve always been open. It’s just that I was in a relationship for over ten years, and I was always focused on my art; it just didn’t happen. So, it’s not that I was opposed to it. Even with my marriage with Nikko I thought I’ll never get married, but it worked and just felt right. It’s the same with my girlfriend; we click and she’s awesome. I’ve always been a free spirit.
How did you two meet?
In New York. We meet bartending in New York. She’s a model and I’m an artist, so it worked.
Since we brought up Nikko, I know the two of you discussed a divorce; is that still happening or is it still in the works?
Yeah, that’s in the works. Nikko and I will always be friends … there’s a lot to that, but it is in the works.
There is a lot to the divorce, or Nikko?
Both really. Those things take a while. You can’t overnight a divorce Plus, there is a lot to our history that never really got to come out on the show; how we met and our history. I guess that’s just for us. We just have to move on from here.
Did you want to explain your history and what the show doesn’t portray?
Not really, but I will say that a lot of people want to know why I always defended him. I feel like I just know him differently, and for a girl to be with him for so long and be with a person for so long, [one] who pushes you to do your art … that always resonated with me. I guess that’s why I’ve always had such a bond with him.
Your most popular song is “Start a War.” How did that come about?
Well, “Start a War,” I wrote that about a year ago. I wrote that when I was depressed about everything that was going on in the media, last year, with Nikko and the show. I didn’t know how it came out that we were married; that’s something that we were always very private about. That’s kinda why I decided to go on the show to define myself for myself, so come 2015 I don’t have anything to hide or be ashamed of. But when I did the song, I’m like ‘God, what did I do? How did all this happen? I feel like I started a war.’ I didn’t even know how, but it was like how did I get in such a bad place; how did I get here and what was my part?
With “Start a War” you called on Jessica Dime for a feature. What made you add her to a song that was already a great one with your voice alone?
Thank you. She’s such a different artist and I thought that it would be a cool idea to bring two completely different spectrums together. Why not? When people heard my song, some people immediately said ‘oh’ … I’ve wrote for different artists, like indie artists … but sometimes when your Black and you do something different, people automatically want to put you in a box. Why do you have to be in that box? Why can’t hip-hop electronic fuse with something like what she [Dime] does?
Later on, I’ll put out the remix. Not now, because I’m still shooting the video for “Start a War,” and that will come out later on; in the fall, maybe September.
Is the video close to completion?
We are actually designing all of the costumes right now. When I initially thought of the video, I thought 300 Roman gladiator, but that was like a million dollar budget, which I don’t have. I feel like the more creative you are, the more you can get done on a budget.
You can purchase “Start a War” on iTunes.
With the whole Inside Out Project you’ve been promoting, and you’re ‘no judgement’ movement, do you think that with being on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta you’re putting yourself out there for complete judgement?
Oh my God, yes. That’s them [the viewers], I’m not judging them. There are times I would like to take a snapshot, put it on my Instagram and have people go in on them, but [laughs] I’m like no I won’t do it.
Speaking of judging, what do you think about your LHH castmates?
Well, I actually don’t know all of them. Things are based off of your story, their story, and then you get to meet. In terms of having long-term relationships, whether it be friendship or personal, the only person is Nikko. I can only make my assessments off of the situations I’ve been emerged in.
How about Joseline?
I think Joseline is … hmm, how can I say this … people with say this is judging, but sometimes you just have to give an opinion. Her level of education in LGBT is ‘come suck my pussy.’ If I’m suppose to like communicate with that kind of rhetoric, than I would rather not talk to her. A lot of people were like, ‘oh you put your hand in her face.’ I didn’t put my hands in her face, but there are also some things they cut out.
I feel like she’s a pig. I feel like she’s rude; I feel like she’s crap; I feel like she doesn’t know how to stick to the topic and issue of why we’re arguing. I think she’s immature. It’s like arguing with a child. I mean, what can I really say?
Would you say that Joseline is your biggest rivalry on the show?
Again, I’m just basing my opinion or judgment – like I say, try not to judge – but, based off of how she is, I don’t consider her a rival at all, no. There’s so many things I could say … but again, her level of communication is so low. I don’t even know how to communicate with her, you know what I mean. We could be talking about something else, and she’ll say ‘oh your a dick. I’m like okay, but we were talking about the fact that I don’t want to work with your husband because he has sneaky business tactics. It’s literally like speaking to a child. How does one ever win if you’re speaking to a child?
It’s just so frustrating, especially because a lot of things are cut out and it makes it seem like she has the upper hand; she doesn’t.
I really have to ask, where you really expecting $10,000 from Stevie J?
Well, he was mentioning all this money he has and all of these artists that he was working with, so I just threw out a number. I wasn’t serious about it. I didn’t want the money for me, I wanted it to go to the LGBT youth. I said that on three different occasions; once at the photoshoot, once at the meeting, and to Joseline. Each time it was cut out. I was really f**king pissed about that. I never wanted the $10,000 for me, I wanted it to go to the Lost-n-Found LGBT Youth.
*Lost-n-Found Youth is an Atlanta-based nonprofit corporation whose mission is to take homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths to age 26 off the street and transition them into more permanent housing.
Do you think you’re a good fit for Love & Hip Hop?
I don’t know. I’m just myself. I’m not a malicious or vindictive person. I just feel like you have to be yourself.
Follow the bold artist on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube at the HouseOfMargeaux.
