Karlie Redd photographed by Catherine Harper.
Catherine Harper
When VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta debuted almost 10 years ago, viewers across the globe instantly became obsessed with cast member Karlie Redd. Quickly clawing her way up to become a fan-favorite of the franchise, she has managed to steal the hearts of spectators. She achieves this acclaim through well intentioned tension-resolution yet radically transparent conversations, tapping into her inner mogul and showcasing what it means to be a woman of color with an entrepreneurial spirit.
“Well this season, I’m focused on building an empire,” Redd said. “Something that I can leave for my child and the world to pass down. I’m focused on building an empire through a chain of restaurants. I have one right now in College Park on Main Street in Atlanta. We’re building the second one as we speak in Midtown Atlanta. The goal is to build this empire where I leave this legacy down to my daughter. My business partner in the restaurant is Ne-Yo. I built the idea during Covid and it was literally a shell. I was like, ‘I want to build something for the culture.’”
Since her blazing introduction to most of us on the reality television show, Redd has gone on to trek her way into entrepreneurship, solidifying her reputation as an astute businesswoman with an extensive portfolio of reputable establishments. Additionally, she has found herself in the world of prime time television in a recurring role on Bounce TV’s Saints & Sinners.
“It’s such a great feeling to be on a show for five years and I’m actually doing what I love. I love acting. I’ve been acting since I was a kid,” Redd said. “It’s so cool to actually be able to be on a show where I’m a co-star and bonding with some of the top actors. I mean come on, Clifton Powell, Vanessa Bell Calloway, it just feels good.”
Redd’s latest business venture, Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles, an eatery specializing in breakfast, in collaboration with award-winning singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, arrived at the top of the year. It has since expanded upon the starlet’s budding empire that is quickly growing in quantity and quality. Redd said that her goal in establishing the restaurant is to use the lessons she’s learned to encourage other women to open up brick and mortar stores.
“During the process and learning everything on my own, by myself, not a husband to help, not a boyfriend to help at the time, I was just like, ‘wow I’m really going to learn how to do this. I’m going to teach myself how to do this so I can help other women across the country,’” Redd said. “I want to just teach women who want to open up a brick and mortar, whether it be a restaurant or beauty supply store. Anything that they want to do, I want to teach them how to do it because I know how to do it with my eyes closed now.”
For Redd, success not only represents what she’s been able to do for herself, but it’s also about retaining a sense of humility and a willingness to help those around her.
“What success means to me is being able to not just be successful but to still be humble and still being able to share the wealth,” Redd said. “I’m successful because I can now help other people. I also have a foundation where I mentor children so to hear, ‘I did this because Karlie helped me’ is what success means to me.”
