Recently, I caught up with the one and only Betsey Johnson, who, with her daughter Lulu, has a reality show XOX, Betsey Johnson premiering on Sunday. As you can imagine, this fashion icon isn’t short on energy, hugs (she didn’t let go of me during our entire interview!) nor talent. She has helmed her own eponymous line for over forty years, and does her signature cartwheel at the end of every fashion show. Still the reality world was unfamiliar to her, until her daughter Lulu got the ball rolling. And the rest is reality show magic! She let me in on how she is feeling about the plunge into reality TV, as well as how she has maintained longevity in the otherwise crazy and sometimes-fickle fashion business.
RCR: How did you get into the reality TV world?
BJ: It seemed like a silly dream to think about doing a reality show. But my daughter, Lulu, got it started. She spoke to an agent and he said, “You two should do a show.” And then we spoke to some networks and Style loved us! And we said yes! And the last 8 months we have been filming. And it’s terrifying!
RCR: Why is it terrifying?
BJ: Because I don’t know that we are your typical reality show. I just do my work. Lulu does her life. So, I’m laughing and she’s basically crying!
RCR: How would you classify this type of show?
BJ: It is a dramedy!
RCR: To what do you credit your longevity in the fashion world?
BJ: Mother Nature, God and just being alive. I don’t know, I just love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I like the challenges. I like the monsters. You know, it’s always challenging, but that’s what keeps you going! I don’t know anyone in any type of field who can sit on that rocking chair and just rock away and relax.
RCR: It’s that fire in you.
BJ: Yes, and it’s also the fire in life. It’s all in the world!
XOX, Betsey Johnson premieres this Sunday, May 12th on the Style Network at 8/7c.
