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ESSENCE.COM: Many balked at your whirlwind romance and marriage and accused you of being an opportunist. How do you feel about that assessment of your character?
LISARAYE: First of all, I'm a fan of love and partnership. I would say this to my critics: If a man comes to you there obviously has to be a connection. I had a man who's smart and powerful and who I fell in love with. He's embracing my family. Add the fact that I have an opportunity to bring tourism to his country and be involved in something historical. Who in the hell would say no? But what scared me was the idea of being First Lady?

ESSENCE.COM: What frightened you about assuming that role?
LISARAYE: I knew nothing about being a First Lady or politics. I'm thinking, What am I going to have to change? I'm on a successful sitcom, my daughter is in high school and I'm the breadwinner. What am I going to do? Then Prince Charming comes my way and I'm saying, "God, did You send this man to me to take me away like Calgon?"

ESSENCE.COM: Was it difficult making the transition from Hollywood to a small island?
LISARAYE: I have a responsibility to LisaRaye the actress, the host, the motivating speaker, the mother, the model. That woman is still me. However, I understood that I had taken on this other responsibility to the countrymen and women of Turks and Caicos. I stepped into this position as the country's First Lady, and I will admit I was scared, because I'm an American girl, a city girl who is used to the lights, camera, and action. I knew nothing about being a politician's wife or First Lady. In Hollywood, we don't sell sugar and coffee; we sell the sand, the sea and the stars. Everything in Turks and Caicos is different—culturally, geographically and even the style of dress. It wasn't easy leaving my family and friends behind to come to a country where I know no one except my husband. There was no protocol person or committee to teach me what my role should be nor did anyone tell me, "This is what we expect of you."

ESSENCE.COM: In retrospect, do you think you sacrificed too much as the First Lady of Turks and Caicos?
LISARAYE: I feel like I gave up too much of myself and compromised a bit too much. I felt like I wasn't involved enough. I went to the country and wanted to handle those things that I knew, like helping to increase tourism, because I know a lot of people, creating the film festival—those kinds of things. Perhaps I could have been more proactive, more vocal or maybe I should have had him talk to me more about his political stand. A lot of times I was learning about my husband's political stance while I'm sitting in an audience listening with everyone else.

ESSENCE.COM: Bloggers have often said that you're too "ghetto" to be a First Lady. How does that make you feel?
LISARAYE: I am not and never grew up in the ghetto. People need to get it right. I grew up on the Southside of Chicago. What people don't realize is that my father was a multimillionaire who owned 12 hotels, motels, a steel mill, a radio station, a club, nursing home, and a law office. So I think it's safe to say I'm a little above middle class and I'm a daddy's girl. I make no apologies for loving the finer things in life or the men I choose to date. I don't feel bad about the person I am. Now, I do have an edge, rawness and realness, and I can tell you I'm going to keep that. I'm one of those women who's not to be messed with. I'm very opinionated and boisterous at times. I'm also kind and humble. I know when to fold and when to hold and that's important. If my edge scares you, then you have a choice to remove yourself. Other than that, I'm very approachable, and when people meet me they always say, "You are so down to earth and nothing like I thought you were."

ESSENCE.COM: Some people will wonder why you chose to speak out now.
LISARAYE: I could have talked a long time ago and been pouring salt on my husband, but that's not my style. He has enough he's dealing with. I was trying to bow out gracefully, but I couldn't take it any more. I want to let my people who care about me know what's going on. I have never been that type of celebrity where folks are following me and care what's going on in my personal life. Again, I'm doing fine and I'm going to get through this.

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