Lateasha Lunceford Spills the Tea on Married 2 Medicine, New Business Ventures, and Age Gap Relationships
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN -- Episode 22029 -- Pictured: Lateasha Lunceford -- (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)
Lateasha “Sweet Tea” Lunceford, the fresh face-shaking things up on Married to Medicine, sat down with us, and she brought all the tea. This woman is busy. From navigating the sometimes-frosty reception of the veteran ladies (talk about a trial by fire!) to boldly owning her age-gap relationship, Lateasha is making her mark on the TV screens and in real life. We talked about her journey on the show, how she's building genuine connections with some of the women (Phaedra and Contessa, we see you!), and how she uses the support on her platform to remain motivated and inspired.
But that's not all, honey. Sweet Tea is also a serious entrepreneur! We got the exclusive on her new venture, Sweet Tea and Co., which is basically an empire in the making. From nonprofits to makeup lines to, yes, even her own tea brand (because duh!), this woman is doing it all. And because we're all about keeping it transparent, we talked about the real struggle of work-life balance, especially as a wife and with dreams of becoming a mother. Her honesty about leaning on her support system is something every Black woman can relate to. So, grab your cups and get ready to spill some tea with Sweet Tea herself!
Nuee Johnson: Thank you for taking the time to talk to the Black Excellence Society today. I'm excited to talk to you. I just finished the last episode and got a lot of questions, so I hope you can spill the tea. Our platform is about positive pop culture. There's a lot of negative stuff going around, and I feel like reality TV can be connotated with negativity. How has being on Married to Medicine influenced your decisions in your personal life or career in a positive way?
Lateasha Lunceford: I would say that whenever I get DMs from fans, it reminds me to keep going. Some people said they see themselves in me and can relate to me, so that keeps me motivated. Before, not that I was living my life off... I wasn't. But I feel like I have a lot more motivation. I think many newbies in this group have struggled, and I think I bring a lot to the table. Finally, to see a fresh face within this group, people see the progression that could possibly be within me being on the show. I think I bring a lot to the table, and my fans keep me motivated.
Nuee Johnson: I love that. Speaking of being a newbie, I remember when you first came in, they were saying you were the only one who didn't fit in. How do you feel that has grown since then, and who would you say has given you the most grace, or who have you built the best relationship with?
Lateasha Lunceford: What was the first question again?
Nuee Johnson: When you first came in, you were the youngest in the group. I remember when Heavenly said, "You're the only one that didn't fit in." How has the relationship with the women grown, and who have you become close to?
Lateasha Lunceford: Although they say I don't fit in, I'm still here. I may be the awkward puzzle piece, but I'm in there. They made me fit. Some of the OGs may try to say that to scare me away. But I don't run from conflict. I'm a Gemini, so I run toward conflict. I'm fitting in. I'm closest to Phaedra and Contessa. They make me feel comfortable and provide a safe space.
Nuee Johnson: Okay. So your speed dating event went really well. Congratulations. It's cool what you're doing, spreading awareness about dating and age gaps. Do you plan to continue doing more events like that? And what do you have to say to people who say when you're looking for older men, you're automatically looking for security and not love?
Lateasha Lunceford: Yes, I plan on doing more speed dating events here in Atlanta. I'm working on it and teaming up with people who have a huge network of older, established men. To the people who have something to say about me and age gap relationships and have preconceived notions, I say forget what they say. My relationship is real. We need to get back to the basics of what our mothers or grandmothers taught us. As Black women, we deserve to be taken care of. We deserve to be provided for. As Black women, I feel like they don't feel we deserve that type of treatment, and we do. I decided to date older because I want a man who is well established and ready to love. Young women are looking to get back to those places. They're looking for established men. Most women, I think that's what cultures teach you: go with the man who has things together, who's well established, ready to love, been through life, and can secure you. I don't feel bad about it. I'm here to encourage it.
Nuee Johnson: I agree. I think a lot of women are in denial that we really do want security, and it's kind of shunned for some reason. But it's like, no, please come with something to the table. Thank you. Tell me about Sweet Tea and Co. I'm excited to hear about it. How did it come about?
Lateasha Lunceford: I decided to start Sweet Tea and Co. last year when I was doing the show. I always liked the name Tiffany and Co., so I thought Sweet Tea and Co. because I want to do so many things. I started a nonprofit called No Mo: The National Outreach for Menstrual Optimism. Eventually, I want my own makeup line. I'm working on my teas right now because I'm the tea that's sweet, and everybody wants a sip! I also had the Sweet and Savory Collective, which is my age gap relationship group and the speed dating I'm doing. The name really fit me. It's the umbrella of things that will go under it.
Nuee Johnson: I love that. Do you have a special connection with tea, or is it just your name? What kind of tea is it going to be? Tell me something.
Lateasha Lunceford: The type of sweet tea I want to do... the name Sweet Tea came from my Instagram name back in college. My name is Leteasha, and a lot of people were spelling it wrong. I said, "It's Leteasha, tea that you drink." So I put "Sweet Tea" as my Instagram name. My husband sometimes called me Sweet Tea, and I slid into his DMs, so that's why he was calling me Sweet Tea. Everybody has always seen me as sweet. My sister moved to Taiwan, and when I visited her, I loved the tea culture there. Being from Texas, I've never actually liked sweet tea in Texas. When I went to Taiwan, I found out that you can make tea your own. You can have different fruit teas; it doesn't have to be all sugar. I thought this was a good avenue for me because I love tea.
Nuee Johnson: I hate the sweet tea that comes from churches in Miami. I love other types of teas. It looks like we have to wrap it up. My last question: you have so much going on. You said you have an umbrella of things you are about to launch. How do you plan to keep your work-life balance? You're working, you want to be a mother, a wife, a business owner. What is the tea with the work-life balance?
Lateasha Lunceford: I'm trying to figure it out. I'm running around trying to be Whitney Houston, "I'm every woman," and I'm trying to balance it all. I've delegated things to friends to help me. You have to lean on the people who support you and want to see you be successful. Then you give back, whether that's treating them to dinner or spending time with them. I'm trying to learn how to balance it all. I have a successful husband, so when we have that baby, I'll be calling on him. I might need a nanny. I've hired people to help me around the house, and it's amazing. I don't ever want to go back.
Nuee Johnson: That's good. It sounds like you have everything straight. Sometimes Black women find it hard to ask for and accept help, but it sounds like you're leaning on your support system and have a good group of people around you. Congratulations on everything. I can't wait to see what else you do. Thank you for stopping and chatting with me.
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