Alicia Keys recently sat for a revealing interview with British import Amanda de Cadenet for "The Conversation." Get the deets on her views about natural childbirth, breastfeeding and trying new things in bed inside….

On "The Conversation," executive produced by Demi Moore and hosted by Amanda de Cadenet,  Alicia Keys spoke candidly about giving birth to Egypt naturally, sex, her body image and a host of other intimate subjects.

Here are the highlights:

On her body image
Well, I think that we as females are like the most beautiful, gorgeous creatures on the world and I think that we’re gorgeous no matter what size that we are. In fact, I personally think that we are more beautiful when we are a bit thicker, bigger and more robust. I just think it’s gorgeous. Even seeing older sculptures from past centuries and you see the women very thick and very beautiful and I personally, think it’s really, really gorgeous. I’m grateful that I actually feel like that because I think that a lot of us feel as though we have to be some little, tiny size in order to be beautiful. It’s like, we’re beautiful not because of what size we are, we’re beautiful because of how your mind works and you’re beautiful because you have this gorgeous heart and that comes from way more than you fitting in some size two dress. And we’re beautiful because of all these things that come up and tumble out of us and that’s beautiful because I just always feel like I love being a woman. I really love it.

Then there’s the other side of being body consciousness, age consciousness, which I think is another one ridiculously pressed upon women, whereas men can become old, refined and gray and they are suddenly so handsome. But a woman becomes gray and she’s old and that’s so not true.

What I’ve noticed is that I find almost an obsession with older women because there’s like a confidence level there I really look forward to achieving.

On how her body has changed after she had her son
I think that it’s changed in so many ways. I was thinking about this the other day; we were just saying that your body does things that it would have never done before. It’s a miracle and incredible; bones and structures of your body move to new places! It’s like how?

Then I also breastfed; I don’t know if it’s a total myth but when you breast feed you kind of lose weight quicker.

On breastfeeding
I loved it. Well, there were a couple of things no one told you. I took this whole class too which I thought was really good because I think a lot of people think you’re just supposed to have this natural instinct that’s suppose to happen out of thin air. There’s a technique to learn and if you don’t know it, it’s not your fault. I was glad I did that because I felt kind of prepared a little bit. The whole engorgement thing, no one mentioned that part.

I remember I was in the bed and I couldn’t move because it hurts and there is no way around it. I delivered naturally and I kept asking myself, “What is wrong with you”? You spent hours and hours in labor and delivered naturally but you can’t take some [milk coming in.] They skipped that part; they didn’t tell me about that one.

On how she chose her son’s name Egypt
Well, Egypt was a really big important trip for me in my life. It came at a certain point where I had been working just endlessly and I really had no idea what it was to take a true vacation and it came to a place where I just really needed it or be on the verge of a break down. So when I went, it was such an uplifting, eye opening, historic, powerful and re-genitive experience that I hold a very fond place for Egypt. So when it came to naming our baby, I fell in love with it, we both loved it and decided like months before he was born.

On her decision to go to Egypt alone

At that time I just wanted to get away so badly that I was excited to be by myself. I think it’s something important because I think when you go places with people, you’re concerned about if they are having a good time or do they like the food I like or are they happy with this restaurant?

I would read my book in the little café that I went and the guy would come up to me and be like, “Are you waiting for someone?” and I’m like, “No, we’re here.” It was really liberating.

On her favorite position [random question]
Any and all sex positions. I happen to be a traditional kind of girl. I’m also experimental; we can have fun.

What would you tell your 14-year-old self?
Reel it in. Come back. Don’t go so fast. Honestly, you don’t want to get there that fast. You think you want to get there that fast; you do, we all do but you don’t because once you’re there you’re like, “Damn, now I got to be here and I can’t be back here.”

Interesting show indeed…..no mad at being extra open with your husband. *snaps*

Watch Alicia spit wisdom about finances & sex positions here:

The controversial stars of "BBW" taped their reunion special recently and we have pics inside.  Also, find out what Shaunie O’Neal said as she apologized for the past season and promised more balance.

The "BBW" reunion went down recently and over course the weaves and shoes were fab.  Jennifer Williams, shown above, looked gorgeous in an alluring red gown.

Her enemy, Evelyn Lozada went with a teal skirt and and black top that showed off her ample bosom.

And newly single Royce Reed got chummy with castmate Kesha Nichols.

But where was Tami Roman?  In a tweet posted a few days ago, it seemed as though Tami might not be coming back next year.  It has not been confirmed….but we know missing a reunion taping is a big "contract" no-no.

And perhaps the most shocking moment was Shaunie O’Neal coming clean and basically apologizing for the way the women were portrayed on the show. She owned up to the "bad" outweighing the "good" but did highlight that there were some positive things shown this year. But the question is…..do you buy it?

Watch Shaunie express her disappointment here:

Also, Shed Media and VH1 both released statements about the negative feedback the show has gotten.  

Shed Media said, 

“Shed Media US is fully committed to telling the compelling stories of the Basketball Wives in a balanced way. Our producing partner Shaunie O’Neal feels strongly about this, and we fully agree with this stance. We support her as she encourages the cast members to work out issues in a non-violent fashion. We look forward to working with her and the rest of the cast on conveying more balance in the next season.”

And VH1 said,

“Our viewers opinions always matter a great deal to us at VH1. Lately, there has been a lot of conversation about Basketball Wives, a series featuring strong, intelligent women with very passionate viewpoints, which can sometimes escalate.

We at VH1 agree with and support Shaunie and the show producers’ “no excessive physical confrontations” policy on the series moving forward. We are all committed to balancing the candid, bold excitement that the viewers have come to love in the series with storylines and representations they can be proud of. Shaunie has been a strong advocate for a more balanced approach to the show and we, along with our producing partners at Shed Media, are all in agreement about moving forward with that goal.”

Do you think "BBW" will survive without the fighting and drinking tossing so many have come to love or loathe?

SPEAK ON IT

Hamming it up for the cameras, Kim & Kanye put on for the cameras this weekend while kicking it courtside at the Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Western Conference Quarterfinals game.  And then the two headed to a video shoot–featuring Kim–together. 

Check the pics, plus Will, Jada & Willow chillin’ in Madrid & Paris, Beyonce‘s letter to her mama, plus Nicki Minaj performing at Wango Tango…

With the constant ear whispers and eye gazes and strategically placed hands on full display, Kanye seemed proud as pie to have Kimmy on his arm at the Laker game:

She rocked a fitted leather dress and heels that Mr. Ye seemed to love:

The two held hands and had some fun looking at the cameras. 

Sighs.

And that wasn’t it for the day.  The two were also spotted on the set of Kim’s video shoot/photoshoot:

And in a short haired wig (which scarily makes her look like her mother’s identical twin), the reality chick shot a video with Kanye on set.  Are they shooting a vid for "Way Too Cold"…with her in it?  Hmmm…. That would have been interesting.  But she was actually shooting for VOGUE Italia.  How convenient that Kanye is close friends with the head honchos at the mag, who were also on set, Rushka Bergman and Francesco Carrozz.

The twosome just came back from Toronto where Kim was pubbing her jewelry line. 

And the chick Kim would give her left arm to be besties with, Beyonce, posted a sweet Mother’s Day note on her site today:

Check it.

Speaking of fab moms, Jada Pinkett Smith hit up the Madrid Open today with hubby Will Smith to watch Serena Williams play:

Sweet!  And before rolling into Spain, she was spotted shopping with daughter Willow and mama Adrienne:

These Spice Girlsesque shoes…

Loving Jada’s look though.

And over at Wango Tango at The Home Depot in Carson, CA this weekend:

Nicki Minaj did her best angelic impression in an all white dress and blonde wiggery:

Actually her tamest look yet.

Pics: Splash/Bauer Griffin/FAME

R&B diva Brandy talked exclusively with TheYBF.com about the women in the music industry who she’s called Mom, how she uses her past relationship controversies as teaching tools for her own daughter, and also shared nuggets of wisdom about motherhood.  Get the deets inside…..

On the heels of a much-talked about VH1 “Behind The Music” special and her single “Put It Down” featuring Chris Brown climbing the charts, singer/actress Brandy talked exclusively with TheYBF.com about her most important role in life….mother.

As the mother of Sy’rai, whom she says is obsessed with Justin Bieber and Beyonce, Brandy shared what she thinks are the best things about being a mother. And, based on her own controversial experiences, what advice she offers her daughter about love.

On motherhood
I love being a mother because having a child inspires you to be a better “you.”

On maternal hardships
The hardest thing about being a mother is that you realize you aren’t perfect and you’ll make mistakes. But you do the best you can.

On what she tells Sy’rai about relationships
I teach Sy’rai to always be who you are. Sometimes you can loose yourself if you don’t have a strong foundation so I talk to her about knowing who she is.

On handling heartbreak and first loves
When I was dating Wanya Morris, my mom was afraid of me getting my heartbroken, so she was cautious. But with Sy’rai, when it comes to relationships, I’m going to be a little more open and allow her to make her own choices.

On her “industry mothers”
I’ve had so many women who have been good to me. Whitney Houston was my everything and she opened so many doors for me and also offered good advice. Also, Oprah Winfrey has been over to the house and we were able to talk without cameras and she’s been a huge inspiration. And Kesha Epps (formerly of Total and wife of actor Omar Epps) is a dear friend and like the big sister I never had.

What’s next for Brandy? She’s going to make a huge splash in the next few weeks as she drops her highly-anticipated Two-Eleven album. Though she doesn’t have a release date, she promises it will drop this summer.
 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE FABULOUS YBF MOMS!

TV personality Emily B chatted exclusively with TheYBF.com about navigating motherhood (and her new clothing line) while being a reality star…just in time for Mother’s Day.  You might say she’s inadvertently teaching her daughter some sketchy things about self respect as it relates to relationships with men…but Emily has a different take.

Get her nuggets of wisdom about how she keeps her teen daughter from doing foolish activities on social networks, why she will never fight on TV & what she teaches her kids about relationships…

Stylist Emily Bustamante, the mother of fourteen-year old Taina (pictured above as a baby) and four-year-old son Johan, quickly rose to reality stardom as the girlfriend of rapper Fabolous on two seasons of VH1′s "Love & Hip Hop".  Now, as she juggles fame, career and motherhood, she offered nuggets of wisdom to TheYBF.com about what she’s learned along the way. 

On what she tells her teen daughter about fame and social networking

"You know what, I think she has learned so much from me and my experience that I don’t have to tell her anything.  I would let her judge for herself and make her own decisions, she’s a smart girl.  She’s not even famous and she’s already felt the sting.  I allowed her to get a on social networking site with Instagram and already she has 10,000 followers.  She already feels judged and there are people stealing her pictures. She told me, ‘Mommy, I don’t know how you do it….I want to delete my Instagram because I don’t like people in my business.’  I just teach her to not let other people’s opinions determine who she is or can be."

On how women should carry themselves as an example to their daughters

"There are a lot of women who fight on television and I promised myself that I would never do that.  My advice to women who are put in bad situations in front of their kids is to shut down!  You don’t have to participate in the madness."

On how she gets her children’s respect

"One thing I teach my daughter is to have patience.  I’m always calm and I speak to my kids in a calm tone.  I never raise my voice to my daughter.  Once you raise your voice, kids stop listening.  If I ever need to raise my voice, my kids know I mean business."

On what she loves most about being a mother

"It’s my motivation, my kids are everything.  I don’t know what I would do without them.  I wake up every morning and take my kids to school and try to remain normal.  I love being a part of their life.  I don’t need anything else but my kids."

On the hardest part about being a mother

"The hardest thing for me is always thinking that my daughter will make the same mistakes as me.  I got pregnant at 16 and sometimes I’m always comparing her life to mine.  I had to realize that she’s not me.  She’s a different girl and I have to know just because I did it, doesn’t mean she will do it.  I tell her, don’t be like me…..be better than me."

On instilling faith in the kids

"As a parent, you should have a foundation in your home and that includes the fear of God." 

On handling peer pressure 

"When it comes to peer pressure, teach your kids to be leaders not followers and don’t let them fall into the trap of comparing themselves to other kids."

On navigating the hard task of communication with teen daughters

"I always tell my daughter that if she needs anyone to talk to that she should come to me.  There is nothing you’re going through that I haven’t experienced because I have been through it all!" 

Emily told us that it’s ironic that she sees herself evolving into her own mother.

"Everything I hated growing up that I heard my mom say…now I understand.  My mother would always say, ‘I’m not your friend I’m your mother.’  And that’s one thing I tell my daughter all the time."  

So what’s next for Emily B? She previously confirmed she is not returning to "Love & Hip Hop."  But she’s got her own clothing line project in the works.

"Right now I’m working on a womenswear line call Emily B.  It’s gonna be fun and affordable and trendy.  At the same time, it’s going to be sexy and classy.  It’s my baby right now.  I’m also looking at doing a menswear line as well because men’s fashion is my passion.  Really….I love to style men." 

Looking forward to seeing it Em!

The rumor mill is buzzing that Kenya Moore is heading to the "RHOA" and if so…..her "audition" is not making her any friends at The Bailey Agency.  In fact, word on the street is that she showed her a$ $ and true colors.  Get the deets inside and find out about NeNe Leakes’ NBC pilot being picked up.

Kenya Moore’s latest encounter wtih possible "RHOA" castmate Cynthia Bailey isn’t winning her any fans over at Cynthia’s company, The Baily Agency.

Kenya attended an event at The Bailey Agency where she judged a JET Beauty Of The Week Contest and apparently….she showed her true colors to a few contestants AND some Bailey Agency employees.  Usually, the real Housewives just fight with each other, but Kenya seems to take the diva attitude out on everyone in the room!

One of the "Bailey Boys" Carlton Morton tweeted about the incident and his disappointment with Kenya’s attitude and behavior.  And I’m sure it was captured on film, because there’s no reason to act a fool unless it ends up on reality tv.  

Read the tweets:

And in other "RHOA" news………………

NeNe Leakes has confirmed that the pilot she shot for NBC "The New Normal" has been picked up.  She tweeted, “BIG NEWS!!! THE NEW NORMAL HAS BEEN PICKED UP #NBC I’M SO EXCITED.”

Congrats NeNe!

BONUS:

Look who got an upgrade and a new weave!  Looking good Miss Sweetie Hughes!

The Randomness:

1.  Tyson Beckford sex tape being shopped around industry.  Story.

Jada Pinkett Smith sat down with her daughter Willow and mother Adrienne Banfield Jones for a very emotional and open conversation about family, failing as a mother, Willow regretting fame and more in the Red Table Talks.  Watch the conversation inside….

In a new web series, which she hopes other families will participate in, Jada Pinkett Smith invited her family to sit at a red table and have an open conversation about their lives together (no topic was off limits).  Just in time for Mother’s Day, Jada hopes other families across the country will sit and have "talks" to build better relationships and stronger families.  Here are the highlights (and Willow complaining yet again about how "hard" and tormented her life is as an extremely privileged 11-year-old because…she has to take 10 extra minutes to go somewhere.  Yes, we know fame can be relatively hard and 11-year-old have a limited sense of reality, but someone needs a reality check about what TRUE hardship is and before this gets out of hand to the point she can’t handle actual hard situations when she gets older):

Willow Smith on fame:

“If I had to change one thing about my life, it would probably be, I wouldn’t be famous,” the 11-year-old singer admitted. “Because when you’re famous it’s so hard. Let’s say if a regular girl is going to the book store, it’s ten times harder to go everywhere [when you're famous]. But some people are like, ‘Oh, it’s so easy,’ and I’m like, ‘As fast as you can get there, it’s going to take me ten more minutes to get there.’ Because I have to call security.”

Jada on "Red Table Talks"

"My belief is that communication is the best way to create strong relationships.  Just for people to be able to sit down together and have a conversation, that’s the power of love. Love is what sometimes holds us and binds us when we’re not so happy. If we concentrate on how much we can love one another, we can get through all the other stuff.”

Adrienne Banfield Jones talking to Willow about her mothering:

"Jada did not have the kind of life that you have now.  And I was not a good mother.  And I know that your Mom believes that all experiences good and bad help make you the person that you are today.  But I feel like during those times, the bad outweighed the good.  I was on drugs until your Mom was 17 or 18 years old.  I have been clean for 22 years and I went into therapy.  But I felt like things that needed to be said that she needed to get off her chest.  I have been so caught up in my own guilt for years."

Watch the full Red Table Talks video below:

Well this ought to be interesting.  The family of the late Whitney Houston has nabbed a reality docu-series through Lifetime to showcase how families heal themselves through major loss and tough times.  And it’s starring Pat & Gary Houston, Cissy Houston & even Bobbi Kristina.

Deets inside…

According to Deadline.com, Lifetime’s Exec. VP announced today that the network has picked up The Houston Family Chronicles (working title), an all-new docu-series that will follow the lives of the late Whitney Houston’s family, led by Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and manager, and including Pat’s daughter Rayah, Whitney’s brother Gary, daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother, Cissy Houston.

The network ordered 10 hour long episodes premiering later this year.  Not sure how I feel about this, but here’s the synopsis:

The Houston Family Chronicles follows those closest to the pop music icon as they try to pick up the pieces after her untimely death. Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, manager and most trusted confidant, manages the business and estate of the beloved singer and her most prized possession, her daughter Bobbi Kristina. The series will follow Pat and her husband, Gary, Whitney Houston’s brother, as they take on their greatest challenge, supporting and guiding Bobbi Kristina as she faces the world alone, without the one person she relied on the most, her Mother.

A mother to her own teenage daughter, Rayah, Pat understands the difficulty of raising a young woman in a world where social media and peer pressure are the norm. As she tries to guide her own daughter into womanhood, Pat also has the responsibility of raising Bobbi Kristina, who, while trying to move forward with life and make decisions about her future, must also learn to cope with such a devastating loss. With the certainty of a microscopic lens focused on this young woman and her every move, Pat, Gary and their tight-knit group of family and friends are committed to seeing that Bobbi Kristina can grow and experience life unscathed. A true believer in the bond that women share called sisterhood, and a self proclaimed “woman’s woman,” Pat enlists the help of her and Whitney’s inner circle, including Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick and Gospel legend CeCe Winans, to assist her in such difficult times.

And Pat says she’s doing this to help other families heal themselves:

“I have been working with Simmons Shelley over the past few years developing a project suitable for myself and our family. The unexpected passing of Whitney certainly affects the direction of the show. However, it is my hope that others will be enlightened as they watch our family heal and move forward.”

Really?  Working on this for years?  I guess.  Will you be watching?

TV personality Emily B chatted exclusively with TheYBF.com about navigating motherhood (and her new clothing line) while being a reality star…just in time for Mother’s Day.  You might say she’s inadvertently teaching her daughter some sketchy things about self respect as it relates to relationships with men…but Emily has a different take.

Get her nuggets of wisdom about how she keeps her teen daughter from doing foolish activities on social networks, why she will never fight on TV & what she teaches her kids about relationships…

Stylist Emily Bustamante, the mother of fourteen-year old Taina (pictured above as a baby) and four-year-old son Johan, quickly rose to reality stardom as the girlfriend of rapper Fabolous on two seasons of VH1′s "Love & Hip Hop".  Now, as she juggles fame, career and motherhood, she offered nuggets of wisdom to TheYBF.com about what she’s learned along the way. 

On what she tells her teen daughter about fame and social networking

"You know what, I think she has learned so much from me and my experience that I don’t have to tell her anything.  I would let her judge for herself and make her own decisions, she’s a smart girl.  She’s not even famous and she’s already felt the sting.  I allowed her to get a on social networking site with Instagram and already she has 10,000 followers.  She already feels judged and there are people stealing her pictures. She told me, ‘Mommy, I don’t know how you do it….I want to delete my Instagram because I don’t like people in my business.’  I just teach her to not let other people’s opinions determine who she is or can be."

On how women should carry themselves as an example to their daughters

"There are a lot of women who fight on television and I promised myself that I would never do that.  My advice to women who are put in bad situations in front of their kids is to shut down!  You don’t have to participate in the madness."

On how she gets her children’s respect

"One thing I teach my daughter is to have patience.  I’m always calm and I speak to my kids in a calm tone.  I never raise my voice to my daughter.  Once you raise your voice, kids stop listening.  If I ever need to raise my voice, my kids know I mean business."

On what she loves most about being a mother

"It’s my motivation, my kids are everything.  I don’t know what I would do without them.  I wake up every morning and take my kids to school and try to remain normal.  I love being a part of their life.  I don’t need anything else but my kids."

On the hardest part about being a mother

"The hardest thing for me is always thinking that my daughter will make the same mistakes as me.  I got pregnant at 16 and sometimes I’m always comparing her life to mine.  I had to realize that she’s not me.  She’s a different girl and I have to know just because I did it, doesn’t mean she will do it.  I tell her, don’t be like me…..be better than me."

On instilling faith in the kids

"As a parent, you should have a foundation in your home and that includes the fear of God." 

On handling peer pressure 

"When it comes to peer pressure, teach your kids to be leaders not followers and don’t let them fall into the trap of comparing themselves to other kids."

On navigating the hard task of communication with teen daughters

"I always tell my daughter that if she needs anyone to talk to that she should come to me.  There is nothing you’re going through that I haven’t experienced because I have been through it all!" 

Emily told us that it’s ironic that she sees herself evolving into her own mother.

"Everything I hated growing up that I heard my mom say…now I understand.  My mother would always say, ‘I’m not your friend I’m your mother.’  And that’s one thing I tell my daughter all the time."  

So what’s next for Emily B? She previously confirmed she is not returning to "Love & Hip Hop."  But she’s got her own clothing line project in the works.

"Right now I’m working on a womenswear line call Emily B.  It’s gonna be fun and affordable and trendy.  At the same time, it’s going to be sexy and classy.  It’s my baby right now.  I’m also looking at doing a menswear line as well because men’s fashion is my passion.  Really….I love to style men." 

Looking forward to seeing it Em!

Royce and her dramatics.  Last night, the "Basketball Wives" star got pissy with her followers and pulled a Nicki Minaj drama queen stunt and deleted her Twitter.  But then she came back…of course.  But has seemingly left again.  And it sounds like she is pretty over the show, as we all are.

Deets inside…

After the foolywangery that was her public breakup with her cheatin’ ass boyfriend Dez Briscoe, and the epic fight with her daddy where he was reading her like a a prude mama and her Fifty Shades of Grey book, Royce has taken another dramatic twitter action.

Apparently she was over the "toxicity" of people, so last night the reality chick up and deleted her Twitter (and Facebook page) all together.  And said this beforehand:

@Roycelr: Toxic people make for a toxic life… Remove them even if it’s hard. U will feel better & be better in the end!

@Roycelr: Deleting my twitter in 3days!!! I appreciate all of u! Thk u for all ur love & support

@Roycelr: Actually deleting it now!!! ) Bye Tweeps! xoxoxo

Meanhile, her ex Dez was busy tweeting Lil Boosie lyrics as the rapper had just gotten freed from jail (and the lyrics were a simultaneous swipe at Royce too we’re sure–y’all know how youngins like to play games):

@DezBriscoe89 "Mama told me when I was yung that ima break hearts because I’m too cute for just one" Boosie

Anyways, hours later, Royce’s page popped back up and she insinuated that the VH1 gods forced her hand in returning:

I’m am back. Not by choice. I’ll be gone again after the reunion. #MovingAlong @VH1 #BBW #BasketballWives #RoyceReed #ThisShitIsCrazy!

Oddly enough, her page is back to M.I.A. today.  And the reunion show is being filmed today as well.

Maybe it’s about that time to leave the reality drama…and weekly boyfriends…and focus on your kiddie.  Just maybe.