Teresa Caldwell [Momager Turned Mogul]: Redemption

What actually prompted your decision to re-release your 2020 memoir, I Once Was Her?

The frequency of change in my personal life was happening at a pace I didn’t expect. Mostly positive things were taking place.

Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?

That I am looking in the rearview mirror, now. I no longer feel threatened by the girl, the woman, I once was in life. I don’t bully myself about returning to such a life. I freed myself from all of those threatening mental thoughts, anguish and conditions.

Without giving away or revealing too much, what all can be expected within the pages of this tome?

Without giving much away, I want to truly and proudly introduce the public to who and what I am becoming.

That being said, why did you even opt to write a book in the first place?

For the first time, I was able to see me, and though I had swept much of the old me under the rug, there was still that peace missing. My authentic self, stood up! When it is time for your change, you just know it and you move on that feeling.

How important is it to and for you for others to hear and understand how you survived being a victim of domestic violence?

It is very important to stand up and take control of your life. With God, I was able to do that. I meditated and stayed in prayer for the direction I should take. Simply stated, I walked with God. Everything turned around for me because I wanted to do better for myself and have a better life for me and my son.

What advice would you give other women who are in similar harrowing situations?

First, you have to acknowledge that you are in a bad space. No one can help pull you through until you are honest with yourself. It is most important to decide that you want a change that is better for you. Seek help! Seek out someone that you can trust, someone who wants to see you doing better for yourself. Bring out the God inside of YOU!

Let’s talk about your whole inception into the music industry — known as the (former) OG “momager” to / for your then child rap star, Shad ‘Lil’ Bow Wow’ Moss — How did this journey first begin for you?

I have been asked that question so many times. And that story has its own journey to tell. And I will share that story. Although, I feel I should partner up with Bow and together we will tell that story! I want to get it right, so that light can shine on any part of the story told. I was young and Bow was a child, it wasn’t all roses when we were on that journey. We got hurt some, and we got lifted up some. It was show business. Yet, I enjoyed the business sense I got from being manager of a star. It is quite different, when that child star is your very own. When Bow and I do tell the beginning of that story, we want to tell the story to you. So, stay-tuned!

Now you are a native of Columbus, Ohio, correct? So coming up, who all exactly were your personal influences?

I was born in Georgia, and I moved to Columbus when I was a child. To be honest, I didn’t have many positive personal influences. I lived a very dark life there. It is a past that I am not very proud of, but, nevertheless, my past sprung the book, I Once Was Her. And in the book, I tell the story. I always loved my friends. But the one thing I knew I could always count on were my sisters, one of my aunts and my cousin, Kecia. My mom’s boyfriend was abusive to my mom. And I picked the worst boyfriends to have relationships with, I just didn’t feel value in myself. I felt I only had me to influence me. People often asked, how did you get out of the hole, the messy abusive relationship you were in? I had to look outside of my environment to find role models. Sometimes, I pretended to be someone else so that I could see a better life for myself and for my son.

Longevity, what do you attribute yours to?

Therapy. You know, there are many ways to seek therapy and indulge in what fits for your healing. I try and stay physically fit, and I eat well to live well. I am always becoming…the better part of myself.

You also co-own Taste Interior Design, with biz partner Michael Elliot — What are your immediate and / or future plans / goals for / with this venture?

Michael and I are actually partners in two businesses, Taste Interior Design and The Taste Boutique. With our interior design business, we have multiple, high-end residential projects that’ll keep us busy through next summer, but our next goal is to take on some commercial projects. With The Taste Boutique, which is a lifestyle store in West Midtown Atlanta, we plan to open a second location within the next 12 months. But what I’m most excited about is our entry into the subscription box business. Fashion is my calling. I have an eye for clothing that makes women stand out, look beautiful and feel great about themselves. Now I’ll get to style women — that can’t make it into our store — with what we’ll call ‘The Taste Box by Teresa.’ Beginning in January or February, clients will be able to visit our site and choose a monthly subscription level that works for them, and then receive a curated box each month of items that I’ve personally selected for them.

Lastly, what’s next for you, ma’am?

I want to do more interior designing on even a bigger scale. I love that part of my life so much! It is so fulfilling.

Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?

Well, we covered a lot about my life. There are always things happening every day, you just have to stay- tuned!

Any parting messages for our readers?

Learn to be your authentic-self. And remember, self-preservation. Please yourself from within first, and when you look in the mirror, all is well.