The stars of R&B Divas: LA (L-R) Dawn Robinson, Michel’le, Lil’ Mo, Chante Moore, Claudette Ortiz and Kelly Price attended the “R&B Divas LA” premiere event at The London on Monday, July 9 in West Hollywood, California. “R&B Divas LA” is a spin-off from “R&B Divas,” originally set in Atlanta and featuring R&B singers Faith Evans, KeKe Wyatt, Nikke Gilbert, Monifah Carter and Syleena Johnson.
Like their Atlanta predecessors, the LA cast have their own personal issues with men to fill a few seasons — if the LA show is renewed.
Photos: Angela Weiss/Getty Images
Claudette Ortiz, 31, (pictured right) was an original member of the R&B group City High, whose hit song “What Would You Do?“ peaked at #8 on the Billboard charts in 2001. Desperate for love, Ortiz dated both male members of the trio, eventually marrying City High member Ryan Toby. But their marriage ended in divorce 3 years later. Ortiz is now a single mother raising 3 children.
Singer Lil ‘Mo fared much better than her cast members — even though her first marriage also ended in divorce. The 34-year-old Diva married her first husband in 2001 after dating only 5 months. Mo’ waited for the Dopamine to fade before marrying Gospel singer Phillip Bryant. The couple have 2 sons together (ages 4 and 2), and Bryant helps raise ‘Mo’s two daughters, ages 10 and 8, from her previous marriage.
Chanté Moore, 46, is the daughter of a minister and his homemaker wife. Chante grew up singing in her daddy’s church, but the talented teenager longed for a personal relationship with her father, who was rarely at home. That emotional disconnect led her to numerous failed relationships with men before she secretly married actor Kadeem Hardison in 1997.
Their marriage ended in divorce 3 years later when the Dopamine highs faded. Chanté thought she found love again with singer Kenny Lattimore, who was rumored to be bisexual. And though their union produced a son, Kenny, Jr., 10, Chanté announced her divorce from Kenny in a July 27, 2011 statement on her Facebook page.
“R&B Divas LA” premires tonight (July 10) on TV One at 10/9c.
