Meet Danielle Crawley, “Candy Girls” Star and Manager Extraordinaire

It’s hard out there for a… manager. Just ask Danielle Crawley, the owner of Bella, the red hot L.A. modeling agency for young and beautiful girls you see dancing in the background of hip-hop videos. Now, thanks to the sharp-eyed development executives at E!, they’re moving to the forefront in Candy Girls, a sexy new reality series about the ins and outs of Danielle’s business.

But there’s more to a Candy Girl than just sex, parties, and rap stars. Trying to keep 13 strong, independent women with killer bods in check is a job in and of itself. Fancast spoke with Danielle about some of the misconceptions about these video vixens and why she wants everyone to know that they’re not all like their sexy on-screen personas. (Candy Girls debuts Sunday night at 10:30 pm.)

Why was it important for you to make this show?

To be 100 percent honest with you, I was very excited because E! picked it up. I don’t want this do sound too cliché, but me being a young African American woman, getting a show on that network was pretty big for me. Second, it’s really sad in this industry how young urban women in this industry are looked down upon. I wanted to show the world that it’s not what people think, it’s just a lot of hard work. All you see in a Jay-Z video are these girls standing next to him. Well, just like it’s a job for him, it’s a job for her. I just want the world to see that not every girl goes home with a rapper. Most of these girls are just using their beauty to help them get by, and it’s something they can do while they’re in school or have another job.

What did you do when you found out that E! was interested in making this a show?

When I heard E! was interested I think I did a couple cart wheels and a back flip… and probably drank a lot of wine (laughs). It was probably one of the best days ever.

Is it hard to avoid some of the stereotypes that follow people in this industry?

I think for women in this world, it’s hard for anyone to avoid a stereotype. If you look back in the music industry, the world thought JLo was a ho and Mariah was a ho. Why? Because they’re women and they’re powerful? It didn’t stop them. People are going to talk, but it’s up to us as individuals to prove different. And that’s what this show is going to do. Do we argue? Yes. Do I get frustrated at times? Of course. Does one of them have a child? Of course. What does that mean? It’s part of life. I just hate the fact that because they’re young black women and they’re doing music videos that they’re automatically considered whores.

What is your policy on the girls dating the rappers?

Any model that works with me knows that if she dates or talks to anyone and I find out about it, they’re fired. Period.

Would you do a second season?

You know what, I’m not sure. I have so much going on within my company and with what I’m doing. Only time will tell.

Do we don’t get to see all of your girls on the show?

We get to see all of them here and there, but it’s mainly focused on these four [Olivia, Terricka, Blanca, and Brooke] because these are the four I’ve been working with since the beginning. Before I started the company a couple years ago, I would hire them for different things for the boss that I worked for.

How did you first become interested in managing this type of model?

One of my idols is Tyra Banks… her show is America’s Next Top Model. Most of the models I know and meet in LA aren’t tall enough to do that show. There’s a lane for models that aren’t exactly supermodels and aren’t exactly Lane Bryant models. There’s a spot in between… those are the models I love working with. If a Victoria’s Secret model puts on a two piece and walks down a runway, she’s selling a brand. If one of my girls in a video is wearing a designer bikini, she’s [considered] a whore and the Victoria’s Secret model is special. I want to show the world that no, it’s just different levels. That was my drive to start it. I saw so many girls trying to be thin and diet and be in the gym five times a day to be 90 pounds. No, you don’t have to. You can be who you are.

Is this job a launching pad for other careers?

Of course, most of the girls are in acting classes and they’re taking the right steps. It’s a stepping stone right now. It’s just a way for them to make money and go to school and do what they’re going to do in the future.

Will they be seen as role models?

I don’t just have models that do videos. A young lady who was in Miss Universe last year, I represent. I represent all different people. So yeah, I think a lot of them will be role models. Do you know how many young, beautiful black girls that might be sitting at home that want to do a video? Or a girl who is going to community college and wants to make $1500 a day? It’s not about what they world sees of them. It’s about what they see of themselves. People are going to judge regardless. It’s about proving those people wrong.

Candy Girls debuts Sunday night on E! at 10:30 pm.

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