Erica Mena's Decision to Embrace Chaos Over Joining the Kardashian Clique

The Big Picture

Erica Mena's controversies and colorist remarks have caused major outrage, leading to her firing from Love and Hip Hop.

Erica Mena had a stint working for Kim Kardashian in the show Kourtney & Kim Take Miami, however, her problematic attitude led to her dismissal. Due to her reputation for creating drama, it seems unlikely for Erica to successfully transition into a legitimate acting career.

Erica Mena rose to fame through her appearance on Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta, where she unfortunately found herself involved in multiple controversies, some of which she actively contributed to. Other controversies found her guilty by association, such as when DJ Envy concealed his marriage from her while they were in a relationship. Despite having children of African descent, Erica has faced numerous criticisms for making colorist remarks. Recently, she was fired from Love and Hip Hop due to the outrage caused by her racist comments, specifically when she called Spice a monkey during a confrontation.

Since her departure from the show, Erica has been striving to be better understood. She has been taking the opportunity to share her side of the story and divulge information now that she is free from the confines of the Love and Hip Hop franchise. Through sharing revelations and causing a stir, some have begun to reconsider the trajectory of her reality TV career. What many may not know is that Erica actually started her reality TV journey earlier than commonly believed. Prior to joining the VH1 series, she worked as a music video and urban print model, even collaborating with the Kardashian family. However, unlike others who have capitalized on their Kardashian connections, Erica's path has been unique.

Erica Mena Worked DASH on ‘Kourtney and Kim Take Miami’

Image via VH1

During the height of Kardashian fever, the show spinoff Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami gained tremendous popularity on E! Entertainment television. The spinoff centered around the two sisters as they focused on successfully launching and managing their Miami clothing boutique.

Erica, who happened to have mutual friends with Kourtney Kardashian, was hired as a DASH doll, also known as a sales associate. Interestingly, Erica's then-boyfriend had a close friendship with Scott Disick, Kourtney's boyfriend at the time. This connection allowed Erica to secure a spot on the show. Her time on the series brought a fair share of drama, as highlighted in a VH1 article.

Erica's tumultuous journey in the workplace was spotlighted in episode 5 of season 1. The episode revolved around the persistent issue of her bosses threatening to terminate her employment due to her use of foul language, a rebellious attitude, and consistently arriving late to work. It became evident early on that Erica was determined to follow her own set of rules, disregarding any established guidelines - even the Kardashians couldn't escape this behavior. Despite all the challenges, there were instances where Erica displayed a more positive side. Despite her attitude, she managed to maintain a relatively healthy relationship with her colleagues, often assisting them whenever there was a need for someone fluent in Spanish. However, her conduct eventually reached a breaking point, resulting in her dismissal from the store later on in the season.

In a recent interview with Carlos King, Erica expressed her desire to become a respected actress. She believed that working with the Kardashians could have been her breakthrough, enabling her to climb the ranks and easily secure auditions. Unfortunately, Erica's attitude became a hindrance to her own success. During her conversation with Carlos, she admitted to approaching Love & Hip Hop as if it were a scripted wrestling show. This intentional exaggeration of her reactions was done because she believed it was expected on a reality show. Whether Erica has been acting all along or not, her name has become synonymous with drama, leaving little opportunity for her to transition into a serious performer.