Life coach Iyanla Vanzant not only fixes peoples’ lives, she could also save a struggling network. Her new original primetime series Iyanla: Fix My Life premiered on OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network on September 15 featuring a one-on-one with Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada, and it achieved the network’s highest ratings ever. The major debut marks an ascent for the channel, which previously was almost solely known by Winfrey’s interview series, Oprah’s Next Chapter.
Fresh off her buzz-worthy opening, Vanzant stands to take OWN to new levels, yet the 59-year-old says the new gig is nothing she wasn’t doing already. In fact, even Winfrey has given her free reign to take the spotlight and run.
“She didn’t give me any advice, she’s very supportive,” Vanzant told theGrio following a special screening of her next episode at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “But, you know, I’m a good student, and I’ve watched her. So, her advice has come through her being-ness. Do what you love. Do what you’re good at. Be yourself.”
She adds, “All I have to do is do my work; the universe creates the momentum.”
In her upcoming episode, Vanzant will volley between the struggles of a mother and her grown son, feuding over a family secret in Dallas. In each installment, Vanzant travels to the destination of her clients, spending 24 hours attempting to rebuild what they have internally destroyed. The rest of the season will tackle a variety of issues, from children of the incarcerated, to women attempting to open a business, to the catharsis of a transgendered preacher’s daughter. All guests are selected based on letters they wrote to Vanzant, including Lozada, whose highly publicized domestic dispute with ex-husband Chad Johnson in August fell right into the time frame of the shoot.
“She wrote me, just like every other guest,” Vanzant said, addressing concerns that it might have been too soon to discuss Lozada’s personal crisis on national television. “That’s an indication of willingness.”
Vanzant’s interview with Lozada was particularly unique, given it was filmed in two parts: the first prior to Lozada and Johnson’s explosive domestic brawl, and the second, afterwards. The downward spiral of Lozada’s marriage became a widespread topic of public fancy, and Lozada was not spared any infamy. Appearing on Vanzant’s show, Lozada detailed the story of the altercation, and acknowledged her intention to change her public image. The opportune and sensitive subject matter captivated audiences, and likely was a catalyst to the show’s ratings blitz.
Nevertheless, Vanzant rejects any criticisms that she may have been capitalizing on Lozada’s crisis for her own benefit.
“The show was done prior to the upheaval with her and Chad, and it was scheduled to be the third show, not the first show,” Vanzant explained. “The reason it was the first show was, because of the upheaval with her and Chad, it was timely…And so, you know, at my age, I can’t care what people say, and most of it, I forget.”
Furthermore, Vanzant told her audience at the screening that Lozada’s story reflects the core of her series’ theme – “life happens to everybody” – and that her intention with the first two episodes was to show young women who idolize reality stars that money, power and status can still equate to the same problems as those living “in the projects.”
Noted Vanzant, “Stupidity doesn’t care about your income level.”
Following the show’s taping, Vanzant says she continues to speak with Lozada nearly ever other day, and that the reality star “swings between gratitude and embarrassment.” Vanzant blames social media for attacking her, calling it a “veil” for “cowards.” Nevertheless, Vanzant doesn’t justify Lozada or anyone else’s actions or feelings; rather she seeks to understand and grow from them.
When asked about Lozada throwing a bottle at her cast member’s head, the life coach replied, “Have you ever been a Puerto Rican from the Bronx?…She was raised by a thug.”
Such candid, vivacious and open-minded sentiment makes Vanzant a compelling force to rally against, and one who will potentially hold her gravity on TV. In her own life, she has more than suffered the strain of tragedy, losing her mother at the age of 3, getting raped at 9, and being dealt several blows throughout her love life. She has since gone on to become a published author, lecturer, and “spiritual psychologist,” and was voted one of the country’s 100 most influential African-Americans by Ebony in 2004. Additionally, her work has garnered her an Emmy Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a Rosa Parks Award.
Prior to the premiere of Iyanla: Fix My Life, Vanzant was a regular guest on Winfrey’s program, Oprah’s Lifeclass, but the new show marks a major milestone for the motivational speaker, who credits her faith for any and all success that has come. She believes her self-confidence and pride will keep her wheels spinning, and, fortune favoring, the show has already added additional episodes to its slate on Tuesday.
“It’s my foster child, now everyone wants to adopt her,” Vanzant joked with the crowd. “The suits here in Hollywood said it couldn’t be done. It took a black woman to take a chance to say we could do it. Miss O was as surprised as I was…And we do it without compromising the guest’s identity.”
Accordingly, Vanzant says she’s “not doing television,” but “healing.” She’s found spiritual fortitude in her personal life, and now aims to lead others towards the same autonomy through Winfrey’s overarching vision.
“When Oprah Winfrey tells you that you need to have your own show, you feel compelled to do it,” said Vanzant. “Especially if she’s gonna pay for it!”
Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @courtgarcia