Special interview with Canadian R&B singer DIVINE BROWN

Last night, I had the privilege of attending The Heart Truth fashion show. A gorgeous bunch of Canadian celebrities — including Shannon Tweed — strutted fabulous designer red dresses on the Carlu catwalk. Shannon's accessory was her famous husband, Gene Simmons (loved him in Celebrity Apprentice!!).

So why all this strutting? To spread awareness for heart disease as the number-one killer of Canadian women. For more information, please check out The Heart Truth website and share it with your loved ones.

After the show, I interviewed one of the Canadian celebs in red, the lovely Divine Brown. She shared lots of gems on raising her 13-year-old daughter and how she stays heart healthy. Checkit!

HO: What's it like having a teenager now?

DB: It's colourful. A very colourful period of parenting.

HO: Do you have any advice for parents of tweens and teens?

DB: Listen to them. It's hard because it's an interesting time period where they're not kids anymore, but they still are. So there's a certain aspect of parenting that you have to let go, and alter, to suit their age but, at the same time, instill respect for their elders. It's a delicate balance. But it's interesting because, at that age, she has so many great things to say, so many great opinions, such an amazing, fresh view of the world — I learn so much from her every day.

It's tough, don't get me wrong. And I know the tough parts will get worse as she gets older. And then it's supposed to level off by the time she's 18 [laughs], but we'll see what happens!

HO: Why is The Heart Truth event is so close to your heart?

DB: First of all, the statistics are insane. I can't believe that [heart] is the number-one killer of Canadian women. Compared to all the cancers combined, it's still the number-one killer? It's shocking to me. So it was really important to me to be a part of this to continue to raise awareness.

It was a learning experience for me too. There are women in my family who've had strokes — my mother and my stepmother. My stepmother had a full-on stroke, and my mom has been experiencing mini strokes. Because the symptoms are so different than what you know them to be, in women, you don't recognize them as quickly. So it makes you think.

HO: Since health and fitness are an important part of heart health, can you tell us how you stay fit and healthy?

DB: Very important! I switch it up. I love Capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial art, but it's tough on the joints. So I've been doing Bikram yoga for the past month, and I think it's fantastic. I do it about three or four times a week. Once I started it, I couldn't stop. It's such an amazing stress reliever. I also do regular exercise. I've been working with a personal trainer for years. We're getting back into the grind of a three-times-a-week program.

HO: And diet?

DB: It's very important for me to teach my daughter healthy eating habits. At 13, sometimes she has her moments when she wants to listen, and other times she just wants to eat some ice cream! You can't control it; but at that age, she's so active.

Still, she would be the first person to tell you that I cook healthy. So I really make an effort for her to see the types of choices I make in the kitchen. So when she gets older and it's time for her to look after herself, she'll make the same choices.

HO: Since this is a fashion show...what's your go-to beauty must-have?

DB: The hair salon! I don't have the patience to do it myself. And I love going because I love my hairstylist. She's key!

 

The angle of this photo is hilarious (for obvious reasons), but there we are — Divine and me.

Love!
xo Haley-O