When a Bad Girl Goes Good, She’s Really Good- Jonica Booth

Since the Oxygen hit, Bad Girls Club,  Jonica “Blu” Booth caught our attention by displaying her cool and outgoing personality back in 2014 on season twelve. Being the most chill, laid back, and vibrant bad girl in the house has brought her a strong following and platform that follows her faithfully to this day. Fast forwarding to 2022, Jonica’s debut as a full-time actress. Starring in the new Issa Rae summer sizzle Rap Sh!t as Chasity. Who is the Duke of Miami with the perfect plan to chart the career of a hip-hop duo. The former bad girl is about to show us that you simply can’t put labels and limitations on anyone because you never know when someone will pop out to prove you otherwise. 

If you had to choose any superpower what would it be?

I would choose to teleport! To teleport to different times because there’s some stuff that I need to see in the future and the past. I would use it for good but it would be for personal gain for sure. 

What brings you the most inner peace? 

My family brings me the most peace. I have an eleven-year-old brother who I love so much. I won’t just say my family, I’ll say kids as well. They are innocent and they have the most authentic energy. (Laughs). They don’t care about anything. Social media, followers, anything. They just care whether you’re going to make their sandwich or not. I love the energy. 

What have you learned about yourself in a major way?

I’m learning more about myself in its totality. Learning to give myself grace. When I think about the things I’m doing in life, I have to stop and remind myself of grace. I’m also learning to heal myself. A lot of people go through life without actually doing that, and I’m glad to discover that at an early age. So that I can become a better version of myself. 

Rap Sh!t, let’s talk about it. Can we agree that Chasity is the perfect role for you?  How can you correlate your role and your personality? I know you’re not a madam or duke in real life but where’s the correlation?

(Laughs). You don’t know me NaShaye. You don’t know if I’m a madam or not. But I can correlate because I am in the community. Though I’m not a stud, I had to tap into the layer. I feel as if Jonica and Chasity connect because they’re both driven. Chasity isn’t giving up on herself and she’s a hard worker, and that’s how I move in life. But Chastity is something else, I’ll tell you that.

Did this role appear to you ? Or did you go after it?

This story is crazy. The role came to me, through my manager. But they didn’t give me a call back from my audition in December. So I was in the mirror one day, taking on the character of Chasity. In January, I directly messaged the casting director, Issa Rae, a video of me talking about how they didn’t give me a call-back. I don’t know what energy I had for that video, I wouldn’t even recommend anyone to do it. But two days later my manager called me and told me I had got a call back for the show. Her team saw the video but Issa didn’t see it until I was hired. She was humored and I was so embarrassed. But it worked.

I think that’s a dope example of you wanting something, not getting a response from it but still going after it anyway. Eventually achieving it. Does that inspire you to go after things more head-on like that?

My mindset was, what’s the worst that could happen? They already didn’t call me. What are they going to do? Double not call me?  Yes! I remember the feeling of wishing that I had done something and I didn’t like it. So now I do what I feel. The problem with us as humans is we fear the answer ‘no’.  It’s always either yes or no. So why not just try?  That’s where I am with it. ‘No’ makes me want to continue trying and move on to the next thing. 

Was acting always a part of your plan?

No. I have played basketball since I was six. So I always thought about going to the WNBA. I was good at it. About six years ago, I spoke with my dad and told him that I wanted to play in a celebrity basketball game. Meaning I had to get out and become a celebrity. His exact words were “That’s so backwards. Who thinks that?” So I began to try everything, stand-up comedy and commercials, and then it transitioned to acting. I believe if you keep throwing something on the wall, it’s going to stick.

Describe each day of the week as your favorite artist.

That’s cute. Monday would be John Legend. John makes you smile. My Tuesday is Jazmine Sullivan. Wednesday, I’m chilling now and I’m in the middle so I may go old school like Boyz II Men and Dru Hill. I’ll vibe out because Wednesday lets me know Thursday is around the corner. Thursday, I’m going to turn up but not too heavy. So Thursday, Beyonce. Friday, you have to City Girls. If you don’t have City Girls on your Friday, I don’t know what you’re doing. Make it make sense. Saturday, It’s going down. It’s me and Megan the Stallion because she’s going to get me right, her and Bia Bia. Sunday, I’m Gospel because now I have to repent for everything. 

What’s the ultimate goal for Jonica Booth?

I want to win an award. I don’t know what for but I want to win one. I want to walk up on stage and give my speech. My ultimate goal is to give my thank you’s on a wide platform because I want to give everyone their flowers, and of course, I want to continue to accumulate wealth and success. To continue to put the people around me in a position to be greater!