- 1 hour ago
Born in New Orleans, Popeyes has long been a part of the culture, flavor, and traditions that make Louisiana special. Bold Lives Here: Celebrating NOLA Flavor with Popeyes brings those connections to life through an engaging conversation between ESSENCE Girls United Content Editor Danielle Wright and Reginae Carter, celebrating bold stories, cultural pride, and the unforgettable flavors and memories rooted in New Orleans
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00:06Miss Reginae, before we start, how has your weekend been going?
00:10Oh, it's been going good.
00:11Last night I was lit.
00:13I got here late yesterday.
00:16It's okay.
00:17I had a great time.
00:18See, and that's what I love about Essence Fest, because there's always something going on.
00:22So whether you come Friday, Saturday, or today, you're not missing anything.
00:26Love it.
00:27All right, so let's get started, because today we are with Popeyes.
00:30But I want to ask you first, what is one family meal or tradition that immediately takes you back to
00:35your childhood?
00:37Oh, my childhood?
00:39Mm-hmm.
00:41So my mama wasn't a chef, but I would say macaroni, cheese, sauce, berry, steaks would take me back to
00:49my childhood.
00:50Okay, okay.
00:50But my grandma?
00:51Mm-hmm.
00:52Bell peppers.
00:53Ooh, I love me some bell peppers, girl.
00:56Combo.
00:56Red beans and rice.
00:58I'm sorry.
00:58I love it.
00:59You're thinking about it now, huh?
01:01I love it.
01:02I love it.
01:02So you've kind of grown up in the public eye while building your own career.
01:07How has your family's influence sort of shaped the woman and the entrepreneur that you've become today?
01:12Well, I see my parents just work their behind off to get where they're at, and they always push me
01:20to do the same, to always follow my dreams and just push myself to the fullest and never give up.
01:27So I just feel like that's like the epitome of me.
01:31Like, I literally walk like that.
01:33I talk like that.
01:34So you got to feel it.
01:35And it definitely shows out in your confidence.
01:37I feel like no matter where I see you, whether it's Essence Fest, whether it's you doing something amazing on
01:42social media, you always bring your confidence with you.
01:45So I love you.
01:46So whether it's food, fashion, or business, speaking of confidence, authenticity seems to guide everything that you do.
01:54What has staying true to yourself been so important?
01:58Staying true to myself has been important because I'm only me.
02:02I only can be me.
02:04So that's the only person I can be.
02:06Also just having that relationship with God and just making sure that I am true to myself and everything that
02:13I do, everything that I do or I do give out or I show, I just know that that's, that
02:19I have to stay authentically true to myself while I'm doing it.
02:23Yeah, I love that.
02:25I love that.
02:25So what is one lesson that you've learned that you hope young women watching today will carry with them as
02:33they build their own path?
02:35Oh, well, I would say just be true to yourself.
02:41Never give up.
02:42And don't let nobody tell you what you can and cannot do.
02:45I'm really big on that.
02:47Like, you can do whatever you put your mind to do.
02:50Yeah, and I love that.
02:51I feel like, you know, I have been watching you since Tiny and Toya, baby, okay, when the OMG girls'
03:00were starting, okay?
03:01And, you know, I just, I feel like you have really always shown up your authentic self no matter what.
03:08Like, even in all of the projects that you do, like, you're not going for nothing, and I love that.
03:13And I feel like watching you, I'm trying to adopt that energy, especially, because I feel like being women in
03:19media, sometimes it's like, no, don't play with me.
03:23Don't play with me.
03:24So I love it.
03:24I love it.
03:25Oh, well, thank you.
03:25Well, just sitting here, right here, just meeting you, we've met before, but re-meeting you again, seeing you again,
03:32you're doing an amazing job.
03:34Your confidence is peeking out the room, baby.
03:38All right, so beyond the food, let's talk about New Orleans a little bit, because it's famous for second lines,
03:43festivals, and block parties.
03:45What is a specific hometown tradition or hidden gem experience that you think everyone needs to experience while they're here
03:53in New Orleans?
03:55I know, there's so much.
03:57Like, they be trying to get me a crawfish in Atlanta.
04:01I'll be like, please.
04:02No.
04:03Like, crawfish.
04:05What else?
04:06You have to go to a Mardi Gras.
04:08Mm-hmm.
04:09You have to eat Popeyes here.
04:11Period.
04:12Dang it.
04:16And what else?
04:17Mm-hmm.
04:19A snowball.
04:20A snowball.
04:21Okay, I've been hearing about that, but wait, really quick.
04:23What's the difference between a snowball and a snow cone?
04:28It's a cone and a ball.
04:29No, I'm just kidding.
04:34No, really, it's like a cone and a snowball.
04:39Is it, like, thicker?
04:39It's, like, more flushy.
04:40It's more, like, um, it's more, like, um...
04:44Flushy-like?
04:45It's more snowball-y.
04:46Okay.
04:46Like, I feel like a cone is, like, more icy.
04:48Yes, yes.
04:49Like, a snow cone is, like, more icy.
04:51Okay.
04:52Yeah.
04:52Because, like, literally, like, I've been talking to so many people, and they're like,
04:57oh, my God, I've got to get me a snowball, it's so hot.
04:59And I'm like, what is that?
05:00Because I heard of a snow cone.
05:02I need to get a snowball, girl.
05:04So let's talk about NOLA music for a little bit, because it literally marches to its own
05:08drum from bounce to jazz.
05:10Who or what is currently on your playlist when you want to channel that authentic hometown energy?
05:16Okay.
05:17Let's see.
05:18So y'all know I like to bounce a little bit.
05:20Shake a little bit.
05:21I love me some, like, hot sizzle.
05:24Okay.
05:24Um, TZ, I will never, ever, ever get tired of Sissy Noby.
05:32Period.
05:33Love of Sissy Noby.
05:34Yeah, and, of course, my dad.
05:36Love it, love it.
05:38Oh, of course, of course.
05:39Of course, my dad.
05:40Literally.
05:41But, like, oh, my God, I love Sissy Noby so much.
05:43My favorite is when he's like, because I'm crazy about my boyfriend.
05:46Oh, that's my song.
05:47Period.
05:48I love that song all the time.
05:50Because I, so I'm from Houston, and I live in New York now.
05:53And, like, whenever I be playing New Orleans Bounce, they be like, wait, what is this?
05:57And I feel like they can't keep up.
05:59Oh, no.
05:59But it's okay.
06:00It's okay.
06:00They'll get there.
06:01They gotta get with it.
06:03Exactly.
06:04Because, listen, y'all be making it in a circle.
06:08Okay?
06:08I be like, I could do a little square, a little rhombic, but I can't do a little circle, baby.
06:13Did you know how to throw it in the side?
06:15No, seriously.
06:17All right.
06:17So, wind you down a little bit.
06:18So, you know, New Orleans is a city that literally never apologized for being loud, colorful, and bold.
06:25How has embracing, you know, that NOLA boldness shaped you to navigate your own, like, career and personal growth?
06:34I guess everybody in New Orleans, honestly, like I said, they don't care.
06:39They do what they do.
06:41It's so, like, the hospitality is just so great.
06:43People really support you out.
06:45Like, they really love you out here.
06:46They really support you.
06:47I feel like that's what I carried on with me.
06:52Like, I'm very, I'm a supportive person.
06:55I love, I love love.
06:57I love to give love.
06:59I love to support others.
07:01So, I guess just staying true to myself and just being authentically me, I definitely feel like that's my New
07:07Orleans side in me.
07:08And the raw, the real, the, like, you can't tell me nothing, really.
07:13And you can't.
07:14So, winding down, so you've obviously built this very incredible platform, especially honoring where you're from.
07:22What advice do you have for the next generation of young black women looking to step into their own power
07:28and really reclaim their space?
07:30I would say make sure you know what you want to do, plan it, and execute it.
07:40Like, but also just, like I said, make sure you plan it.
07:44Make sure you really, like, sit down by yourself and really, like, plan what you want to do and go
07:50for it.
07:51And don't let nobody stop you.
07:53Yeah, I love that.
07:54Because I feel like sometimes it's, like, obviously being on the ground, you being a content creator, speaking to so
08:00many content creators, the number one piece of advice they always say is just do it.
08:05Just do it.
08:06But I agree with you.
08:08Because I feel like sometimes you need a plan.
08:10You need to be able to lay everything out on the table and be like, all right, how do I
08:14get from A to B?
08:15You know, so I love that.
08:16So we're about to play a this or that game.
08:19But before we do that, we have some lovely Popeyes here.
08:22I kind of want to take a bite.
08:24Can we have a little piece before we continue on?
08:28Literally, because I'm like, you can't be in New Orleans without a little something.
08:32I'm going to take a little chicken piece real quick.
08:35All right, hold on, y'all.
08:36I look a little ugly when I eat, so just give me a second.
08:39Pause real quick.
08:40Right, I'm going to need you to pause for it.
08:41We said a little pause.
08:44Oh, forget it.
08:49I love that.
08:50Okay, I would have some gum in my mouth, though.
08:53I always got to make it a little better.
08:56There you go.
08:57Oh, you did it the classy way.
08:59I just did it, girl.
09:02Oh, that's so good.
09:03This is so good.
09:05They're making this brush somewhere.
09:09It's so crunchy.
09:11I'm sorry, y'all.
09:12I'm talking while I'm eating.
09:13Yeah, my mom would be so disappointed in me and my manners.
09:26Sorry, girl.
09:27I'm a slow eater.
09:31I would love to be on a Popeye's commercial just to eat the food.
09:36I swear.
09:39Call me for y'all commercials and I'll just eat the food all the time, actually.
09:43What?
09:44Why are we taking our...
09:46Sorry.
09:47I took a big bite, y'all.
09:49I didn't even realize.
09:50My bad.
09:51But it's okay.
09:52Popeye's is happy.
09:53They're happy.
09:53Hopefully, I don't have no crumbs.
09:54All right.
09:55So, we're going to get into a little this or that game.
09:58All right.
09:58So, Popeye's spicy chicken or Popeye's mild chicken?
10:07Spicy.
10:08Okay.
10:09Of course, you got to have a little spice.
10:10Okay.
10:11Here's a little bit of a tough one.
10:13Okay.
10:13Mardi Gras or Essence Fest?
10:24I still love a little Mardi Gras.
10:26I still love a little B.
10:27Yes.
10:29But, you know, one thing about Essence Fest is celebrating and bringing black culture together
10:35and, you know, just being up all black.
10:38And I just love that.
10:39Period.
10:40Period.
10:40All right.
10:42Beignets or pralines?
10:46Um, pralines, I thought.
10:47Oh, pralines.
10:48My bad.
10:48My bad, y'all.
10:51Is it pralines or pralines?
10:52Is it pralines or pralines?
10:54Oh, nobody knows.
10:56Y'all see it.
10:57Like, you know all this we make up.
10:59Right.
11:00Oh, it depends on who's tomato, tomato.
11:02Okay.
11:05Um, oh, my gosh.
11:08Not for giving me these heart.
11:09I know.
11:10I think I would say beignets.
11:11Beignets?
11:12Put some extra, extra powder on it.
11:14Okay.
11:15Love it.
11:15Love it.
11:16My mom is so obsessed with beignets, so I'm definitely taking her to Cafe Du Monde.
11:21Oh, my gosh.
11:21Literally, she's been begging.
11:22She's been begging.
11:23All right.
11:24Here's one.
11:25Okay.
11:25Me, personally, I feel like there's an obvious choice, but you're from New Orleans, so you
11:29may say different.
11:30A crawfish boil or gumbo?
11:32Oh, my gosh.
11:36Oh, my gosh.
11:37I mean, I would say gumbo.
11:40Really?
11:41Yeah.
11:42You ain't have my grandma's gumbo.
11:44Okay.
11:45I'm about to say it, because, girl, I love-
11:47So, you just going off- I feel like I'm not going to get full.
11:51What?
11:52With just the crawfish, bro.
11:53I need some gumbo.
11:53I need, like, some stuff in it, some, like, some sausage.
11:58Listen, I be having all this stuff in it.
12:00I need, like, five potatoes, three corns, maybe one or two sausage, and then four pounds.
12:06I don't like corn.
12:08What?
12:09I won't- Yeah, I know.
12:11My mom tell me my taste buds got to grow up a little bit.
12:13Yeah, maybe a little bit, right?
12:15Because you're missing-
12:17A little bit.
12:17It's essential to the bull, girl.
12:20All right, so here's a fun one.
12:21Nola Bounce or classic Southern hip-hop?
12:25Uh, Nola Bounce.
12:26Okay, period.
12:27That was obvious.
12:28Of course.
12:28And then winding down to my last one, a dress po' boy or muffaletta?
12:35A who?
12:37Muffaletta.
12:38Muffaletta?
12:39Yeah.
12:40Girl, that sounded a little Spanish.
12:41Muffaletta.
12:42Oh, no, I'm going to do the po' boy.
12:44I love me a po' boy.
12:45I just had a po' boy yesterday.
12:47Hot sausage po' boy.
12:49Okay, quick question.
12:50Where can the audience get a really good po' boy from?
12:55I would say Mondays.
12:57Okay.
12:57I really like Mondays po' boy, but I don't know, because don't, I don't know who else
13:03have a good po' boy, but Mondays, every time I come out here, they po' boys be good.
13:06All right, so I'm going to have to stop by po' boys.
13:09Do it.
13:09But before I let you go, Regine, for those in the audience that want to follow you on
13:13social media, where can they find you?
13:15Okay, you can find me on Instagram at itsreginecarter.
13:19I know that's right.
13:23Yeah, everything is Regine Carter.
13:25All right, perfect.
13:27Well, thank you so much for chatting with me, Regine.
13:29And make sure y'all eat some Popeyes over the weekend.
13:32Thanks, y'all.
13:35Yeah, sure.
13:36Okay, ladies.
13:37Okay, if it's just...
13:38It's right.
13:38Yeah.
13:39Right there.
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