Washington Informer

Manigault-Stallworth grew up in Youngstown, four hours from Dayton and remains a welcomed-daughter of the state. Her appearances on “The Apprentice,” “The Celebrity Apprentice” and “The Surreal Life,” brought attention to the upwardly mobile African American woman, while also reinforcing some stereotypes of Black women as stern and non-emotional.

As for the transformation from reality television “bad girl” to God-driven, Hicks said that he has met with Manigault-Stallworth and felt confident about admitting her the program, because of it.

“She certainly has a heart for ministry. In fact, some of the good things and bad things we’ve done in our lives help us to actually relate and to be more widely accepted as ministers,” Hicks said.

Manigault-Stallworth was also featured on the Discovery Channel's new show, “Plastic Surgery: Before and After,” going under the knife alongside her mother, Theresa, 64, to have a breast enhancement surgery, a tummy tuck and liposuction. Her surgery took her from a “negative-A cup” to a small D.

The move toward God also came in the knick of time as Manigault-Stallworth has begun having more run-ins since the reality television gigs than when she was on them. Most recently, while a guest on the “Wendy Williams Show” to promote her new book, “The Bitch Switch: Knowing How to Turn it On and Off,” Manigault-Stallworth pitched insults at the host about her need for a nose job and a better wig, almost bringing the two to fisticuffs. Williams said of the incident, Manigault-Stallworth came out onto the set with an attitude and being invective, something Williams was only too happy to return.

“She came out and immediately started this diatribe about how she would not be disrespected. Honest to goodness, I had to look closely into her eyes to see if everything was ‘okay.’ I don’t know where that came from aside from her trying to create her media moment,” Williams said.

Williams later responded that Manigault-Stallworth was the embodiment of an “A.B.W. – angry, Black woman.”

But now, with a calling on her life and all of the high drama behind her, Manigault-Stallworth said she is happy to be returning home to Ohio and to school.

“I am looking forward to returning home to Ohio and beginning my studies at United Theological Seminary. It has been two years in the making. I made a very personal decision to enroll and study the word of God. I want to grow as a person and finally discover what God’s purpose for my life is,” said Manigault-Stallworth, who received an undergraduate degree from Central State University and a Masters Degree from Howard University.