Miami Living Magazine

Jennifer Esposito

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Winfrey. The second half of Season 2 returns August 15th at 10 pm with a two-night premiere on the OWN Network. "It's such a cool show and it's so funny to be a part of a show like this because I was a PK, too. Preacher's kid. So it's pretty right-on as far as the writing and what happens." And working with Oprah is a pretty big deal. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be in the makeup chair next to Oprah. She comes in and hugs everybody — super-duper sweet. I don't get star struck for a lot of people, but I had to calm my nerves. I'm like, she's a human being... Get it together, Luckett!'" Next year, LeToya has two big projects coming out: she will portray the legendary Dionne Warwick in the new biopic Dionne, and record the songs for the movie soundtrack as well as appear on USA's true crime series, Unsolved: The Murders of Biggie and Tupac. Based on the murder investigations of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, LeToya plays Sharitha Golden, the estranged wife of Suge Knight, the co-founder/former CEO of Death Row Records. [One theory points to Suge being responsible for the deaths of both rappers.] "She seems to be the only person who's not afraid of him, so this should be fun." Fearlessness is something that LeToya is embracing these days. Ready to "jump off the high dive," metaphorically speaking, this bold beauty no longer operates in fear. "I used to just stay in my comfort zone, feel all snuggly and cuddled there. But that's not living. It's really OK to be yourself and live out loud." It's been a process, but she's all about it. She cut off her long locks, put out a candid, heartfelt album, released a hotter- than-ever album cover, and has gotten comfortable showing off a sexier side of Toya. "I think the older we get and coming into your whole woman thing, you're like, 'I don't care. This is who I am and I feel sexy.' I'm not afraid to express my woman —whatever that is. That's not something I would've felt comfortable saying on my last couple of albums. And I like my cleavage," she says confidently in reference to her album cover. "They mine. God gave 'em to me," she says with a big smile. "I'm walking in my truth, and being authentic — that's all I can do. At the end of the day, this is me, this is who I am. Love it, like it, or leave it, whatever. But this is Toya," she laughs. ML Keep up with LeToya on www.letoyaonline.com, and follow her on Twitter.com/LeToyaLuckett, Instagram.com/LeToyaLuckett, and Facebook.com/LeToyaLuckett. WE WANT MORE! What do you think fans would be surprised to find out about you? "I think most of them know I'm a goofball. I love to have fun and laugh. I am very shy. I was telling you before, as a kid, I was the awkward girl who'd cover it up by being the big personality in the room, but on the inside I was like, ahh. I still have to give myself a little bit of a pep talk before I walk into certain rooms. And I'm growing out of it, for sure. But I think when people meet me they think, 'Oh, she has this bright personality. She's funny. She's not scared of anything.' And I am just kinda very to myself. But I'm breaking out of that. I really am." Where do you go when you're in Miami? "Bal Harbour mall all the time. Love the beach. I love to shop. I love Prime Italian. Like Prime 112. I go to Nobu. There's also a little breakfast spot, The Ice Box, that I love. It has the best oatmeal and desserts. They have this French toast that has cranberry or cherry preserves—ohmygosh. Fontainebleau has a spa I really enjoy. I do not mind LIV! I mean, if I'm out here tryin' to shake my groove thing." Do you interact with your fans? "Yes, especially on Instagram. I run my Instagram and my Snapchat. I gotta start doing more of the live Instagram or Facebook live. I used to do it all the time. I did: 'Ask Toya' on my Twitter, but I think I'm going to do it on my Instagram and Twitter, to just kinda allow people to ask me questions. I like to hear what's on their mind? I love to hear what they think of the music. I've had people ask me about relationship advice and stuff like that."

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