Former Love & Hip Hop New York reality star and businesswoman Rah Ali has recently been named the official Brand Ambassador of White Label Hair. We talked to stunning newlywed and āWonder Womanā Rah Ali about her new business venture and of course⦠shoes.
ShineMyCrown: First of all, congratulations on becoming newlywed.
Rah Ali: Oh, thank you. Thank you.
SMC: Howās married life so far?
Rah Ali: Oh, itās good. Itās good.
SMC: Awesome. Now youāve become a brand ambassador for White Label. What made you decide to cosign this particular hair brand?
Rah Ali: Well, Iāve been using White Label now for a little over a year and through trying out different hair companies and, you know, just trying to make sure that you always have the quality. I found that theyāre just definitely my favorite. Their customer service, their professionalism, their accurate delivery times, the hair not shedding and just keeping the volume that you initially have when you first get the hair is really what impressed me with them the most. Because so many hair companies out there sometimes itās really hard to, you know, decipher whatās what but they are definitely really wonderful.
SMC: Awesome. What can we expect in the future from your collaborations with White Label?

Rah Ali: Well we just did a shoot, which was really fun and exciting. One of my favorite photographers, @CherryCollab, is his Instagram. It was really cool working with him. But weāre going to take the hair stuff as far as we possibly can. You know, like, just making sure that we sort through great products, great merchandise, things that the consumers would be impressed with.
SMC: What would you say your trademark/go to hairstyle is?
Rah Ali: Probably a part in the middle and down straight because if youāre going to a corporate function, then itās still sleek, and itās conservative and if youāre going to a more of a social event, itās still super sexy and flirty, you know? So to me, that hairstyle with the part in the middle and straight down is kind of like how I refer to black pumps, stiletto pumps. Itās like ⦠Itās transitional, and itās classic, and itās clean, and you can go from one place to the next with it.
SMC: As a Black woman, you know we will have a very like personal hair journey growing up with that hair.
Rah Ali: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SMC: How would you describe your relationship with your hair and how thatās evolved?
Rah Ali: I would definitely say when I was younger, I didnāt have as much interest in taking care of my own hair because I always felt like, āOh, itās fine. Just wash and set and just, you know, color your ⦠You know, do whatever you want.ā Now I understand and what I appreciate is that I can take care of my own hair in making sure that itās healthy, and itās strong, and I have, you know, I have everything I need with cabin quality hair myself, and then all the extra stuff is just for fun. You know, itās just like your nails. You do it for fun, but you still have to make sure that the foundation is intact and secure.
So I get my deep conditioners, and I make sure I get my ends trimmed, and no matter what length I have it at, sometimes I go really short, sometimes I grow it out. I make sure that itās still a healthy bed of hair.
SMC: Who are some of your favorite brands or products that you use on your hair?
Rah Ali: Oh my goodness. I have so many. I have so much. So one of my favorite hair companies is Motions. I just think they are wonderful for women of color. But I use Cantu, the shea butter. The shampoo and conditioner. I have this other one from Carolās Daughter that I love so much. Itās a styling conditioner called Pracaxi Nectar. I like them, and they have it as a wash and go leave in as well. So I love those products.
SMC: You are a star of reality tv series Love and Hip Hop New York. Would you say that platform opened up the opportunity to spread awareness about your brands and your businesses?
Rah Ali: Yeah, it did. Of course. Anytime you are on a platform where there are millions of people watching, millions of viewers, it gives you an opportunity to be able to come on and tell your own personal brand. But you have to try your best to make it work for you in as much of a positive light as possible. Because with reality TV comes pros and cons.
Itās not all the glitz part. Itās a whole lot of the other stuff as well so you just have to balance it all and make it make sense and make worth it for you in the end.
SMC: Now as a stiletto expert, what tips would you give women (like me) who are intimidated by the prospect of wearing stilettos?

Rah Ali: Oh God. I say get over it. Okay. Iām not going to baby you.*Laughs* Iām not going to baby you. I am not going to tell you to wear kid heels. Itās like, get over it. Itās like, to me itās like, itās something that we have to do. You donāt have to wear shoes that are uncomfortable, that are hurting your feet. Thatās something that I definitely do not promote ever. But you find that shoe thatās comfortable, that brand thatās in your price point, thatās classic or trendy, whichever works for you and you just do it.
Itās like being a mother. Itās like being an entrepreneur. Itās like being a hard working woman. You just do it. You just make it happen. Thereās no reason to be walking around in sneakers or flats every day. Weāre just too [cute] for that.
SMC: *Laughs* Okay. Iāll just do it then. Iāll get a pair. Do you remember owning your first pair of stilettos?
Rah Ali: Oh my God. I wish I did. I donāt. I donāt remember. Iāve been like this since very young, super in love with shoes. So I donāt remember what my first pair was. I mean, like most young girls I was definitely trying on my momās shoes and stuff like that. But I donāt remember my first pair. Iām sure I probably was like 14.
SMC: Do you have a favorite pair right now?
Rah Ali: I donāt think so. I have a favorite designer, which is Casadei. Casadei is one of my favorite designers on the high end and then Schutz is my favorite on a more medium tier price point. I really like their shoes a lot and I wear them regularly.
SMC: How do you stay focused and keep motivated?

Rah Ali: I think thatās just something thatās inside of a person. I donāt think that any one person should have to motivate the person. I think itās whatās within you.
When I wake up in the morning, I have my tea and I have my breakfast and I just get to my to do list. I just make sure that everything that I write down, that I check off my list while maintaining a balance and an at home life. I do what I have to do for myself. Itās kind of second nature. I donāt really think about it too much.
SMC: What next for Rah Ali over the next year or so?
Rah Ali: Well Iād like to definitely take my shoe website to more of a household name. Iād like people to be more aware of it. So definitely expanding and marketing strategies for my shoes.
Definitely working with White Label since we have this new relationship and thatās really about it for now. Just trying to expand my brand and just make positive moves.
SMC: What is Black Girl Magic to you?
Rah Ali: Oh my goodness. I think that every single woman of color has it. I think itās the way we walk. I think itās the way we talk. I think itās our aura. I think itās our smell, our ambition. Our strength to be mothers. That what it is to me. I definitely think weāre just born with it. Itās just something we have. That little sparkle. When you see a diamond, it just goes ding. I think we all have it!
If you fancy yourself as somewhat of a stiletto aficionado, head to Rahās website/store The Stiletto Group and shop away!