Melyssa Savannah Ford (born November 7, 1976) is a Canadian media personality, actress, and former video vixen. Since 2022, she has co-hosted The Joe Budden Podcast alongside broadcaster and former rapper Joe Budden.[2][1][3]
Melyssa Ford | |
|---|---|
 Ford in March 2005 | |
| Born | Melyssa Savannah Ford November 7, 1976 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1] |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Light brown |
| Website | www |
Early life
editMelyssa Savannah Ford was born on November 7, 1976, in Toronto, Ontario.[4] Ford is of mixed-race, with her father having roots in Barbados, and her mother of Norwegian and Russian descent.[5]
She attended York University, majoring in the field of forensic psychology.[4][1]
Career
editIn the late 1990s, music video director Little X discovered Ford, who was in her early 20s, while she was working as a bartender at a Toronto nightclub and helped launch her modelling career.[4] She has appeared in music videos, men's magazines, television programs and films.[1] Ford was an on-air personality for Sirius Satellite Radio's Hot Jamz channel.[6] She formerly sold a line of calendars and a DVD.[7]
In a 2008 CNN interview, Ford explained that when making music videos she often asked herself whether she was "perpetuating a negative stereotype" about black women. When she was asked whether music videos, overall, are "demeaning to women", Ford replied, "Yes, I definitely have to say that".[2]
From June 2014 to January 2015, Ford participated in the Bravo Network television series Blood, Sweat & Heels, documenting her social life against the background of her struggles of becoming a realtor in New York.[8]
In 2016, Ford became a co-host of Hollywood Unlocked, a Los Angeles-based hip-hop and pop culture radio show. Ford returned to the show in April 2019 following her car accident in June 2018. In November 2019, Ford launched a podcast on YouTube called I'm Here for the Food.[9] The podcast featured a host of guests and covered a range of topics, including colourism, human trafficking, and forgiveness. The podcast last aired in November 2020. On August 24, 2020, Ford announced she would no longer be co-hosting Hollywood Unlocked.[10]
After several years in Los Angeles, Ford moved back to the New York Metropolitan area in 2022, becoming a co-host on The Joe Budden Podcast. On November 1, 2024, Ford premiered a new podcast called Hot and Bothered with Melyssa Ford focused on wellness and lifestyle practices for women over 40. [11]
Personal life
editIn June 2018, Ford was seriously injured in a car crash involving an 18-wheeler truck. She suffered a skull fracture and concussion.[12]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Turn It Up | Deborah | |
| 2004 | Psyche | Kenya | Short film |
| 2007 | God's Prayer | Dr. Jasmine Gray | |
| Three Can Play That Game | Candy | ||
| 2008 | Love for Sale | Katherine | |
| Days of Wrath | Lisa | ||
| 2011 | The Slap | Puma | Short film |
| Video Girl | Lala | ||
| 2012 | Think like a Man | Sleepy Girl | |
| Redemption of a Dog | Sheila | ||
| 2013 | Playin' for Love | Bella | |
| 2018 | The Stuff | Denise Washington | |
| 2023 | Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas | Letitia | TV movie |
| 2024 | Hunting Housewives | Sharell Bouvier | TV movie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Soul Food | Hoochie Mama | 2 episodes |
| 2004-2006 | BET Style | Herself/Host | Main Host |
| 2005 | VH1 News Presents | Herself | Episode: "Hip Hop Videos: Sexploitation on the Set" |
| 2007 | Entourage | Flight Attendant | Episode: "No Cannes Do" |
| 2008 | The Black Poker Stars Invitational | Herself | Main Guest |
| 2009 | Played by Fame | Herself | Episode: "Sexy, Sensual and Stalker" |
| 2014-2015 | Blood, Sweat & Heels | Herself | Main cast |
| 2018 | Vixen | Herself | Main Guest |
| 2019 | Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Pretty Petty" & "Sound Off" |
| 2020-2021 | Tough Love: Los Angeles | Dena Howard | Recurring cast |
Documentary
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Good Hair | |
| 2011 | Bowl of Dreams |
Music videos
edit| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "The Thing to Do" | Glenn Lewis |
| 1998 | "Anywhere" | 112 featuring Lil' Zane |
| "Northern Touch" | Rascalz featuring Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust, and Choclair | |
| "Tommy's Theme" | Made Men featuring The LOX | |
| 1999 | "Let's Ride" | Choclair |
| "This Luv" | Donell Jones | |
| 2000 | "Big Pimpin'" | Jay-Z featuring UGK |
| "Thong Song Remix" | Sisqó | |
| "Cherchez LaGhost" | Ghostface Killah featuring U-God | |
| "Shake Ya Ass" | Mystikal | |
| 2001 | "Knock Yourself Out" | Jadakiss |
| 2003 | "You Don't Know My Name" | Alicia Keys |
| 2004 | "Happy People" | R. Kelly |
| "Yeah!" | Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Def Jam Icon" | Herself (voice) | Voice role and likeness |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Century, Douglas (May 2, 2004). "How to Succeed in Videos Without Really Dancing". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b American Morning (July 24, 2008). "Black in America: Video Vixens Too Revealing?". CNN. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Ogunnaike, Lola (August 31, 2004). "New Magazines for Black Men Proudly Redefine the Pinup". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Melyssa Ford". Vibe. September 2008. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "Melyssa Ford Biography". IMDb. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "SIRIUS Satellite Radio – Hot Jamz". Sirius Satellite Radio. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
Hot Jamz is about to get a lot hotter: Melyssa Ford has joined our squad!
- ^ Ford. "Calendar Girl". Naked. pp. 219–220.
- ^ Settembre, Jeanette (December 31, 2013). "'Blood, Sweat and Heels' follows six black New York City women on the rise". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "I'm Here For The Food". YouTube. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Alyssa (August 24, 2020). "Melyssa Ford Returns & Discusses Grief & Goodbye on Hollywood Unlocked [UNCENSORED]". Hollywood Unlocked. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "Melyssa Ford To Remove The Shame, Bring The Sexy To Menopause Conversation With 'Hot And Bothered' Podcast". Essence. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ Fernández, Alexia (July 3, 2018). "Former Bravo Star Melyssa Ford Seriously Injured in Horrific Crash with 18-Wheeler Truck". People. Retrieved June 28, 2024.