Tiffany Pollard
Pollard in 2019
Born (1982-01-06) January 6, 1982 (age 42)
Other names"New York"
Occupations
  • Television personality
  • actress
Years active2005–present
Parent

Tiffany Pollard (born January 6, 1982)[1] is an American television personality. She came to public prominence for her participation on the first two seasons of VH1's Flavor of Love (2006–2007). Pollard was given the nickname "New York" by rapper Flavor Flav. She is also known colloquially by her self-proclaimed nickname "HBIC" – an acronym for "Head Bitch in Charge" – which she exclaimed in the Flavor of Love series to taunt her competitors.[2] Her temperamental and outspoken nature often led to tension with the other women on the show but made her an instant fan favorite.

After Flavor of Love, Pollard starred in the show's spin-off I Love New York from 2007 to 2008. In later years, Pollard took part in 17th series of the British edition of Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, where she eventually finished in fourth place. In 2017, Pollard began starring in Brunch with Tiffany, a talk show series featured on VH1's YouTube channel, which was later picked up debuting on the VH1 television network during late 2020. In 2022, Pollard began hosting Hot Haus, a queer sex reality competition on the OutTV television and streaming network.[3] In 2023, Pollard became a main cast member on College Hill: Celebrity Edition alongside Joseline Hernandez, Amber Rose, and Ray J. She has also previously hosted the Fenty Beauty holiday gift guide twice.[4][5]

Television appearances

Pollard first achieved public prominence for starring on hit shows with among the largest audiences seen on basic television, VH1's Flavor of Love (2006–2007) and I Love New York (2007–2008).[6] Over 7.5 million people watched Pollard during the Flavor of Love season 2 finale.[6]

2006: Breakout with Flavor of Love

Flavor of Love

Pollard (then age 23) clashed with virtually all the other contestants. Although these feuds were, in general, nothing more than screaming matches, an incident in the penultimate episode of season one led to violence. After her elimination, an outraged Brooke "Pumkin" Thompson spat on Pollard after the two had exchanged words.[7] Of all the women on the show Pollard had the most tension with Thompson all throughout the show. Pollard vowed to "whoop Pumkin's ass", and attempted to do so at the season one reunion.[8] The moment was rated number one on various VH1 and MTV reality show specials, including VH1's 20 Greatest Celebreality Fights.[citation needed] The final two contestants journeyed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where Flavor Flav chose Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander over Pollard, to be his mate.[9]

Flavor of Love 2

After his relationship did not work out with Alexander, Flavor Flav chose to do a second season of his dating show and invited Pollard (then age 24) to help him eliminate contestants halfway through the season. She agreed and was later added as a participant.[10] In the finale, Flav chose Deelishis over Pollard.[11] Pollard verbally fought with Flav in the season finale, asking why he had brought her back only to be ultimately eliminated.[12]

VH1 spinoffs

I Love New York

I Love New York was Pollard's first reality television series on VH1. The series is a spin-off of another relationship competition series, the Flavor of Love, which featured Pollard as a finalist in two consecutive seasons. In July 2006, VH1 published a casting call for contestants for a new series tentatively titled The Flavorette. Various blogs speculated that the star of this program could be Flavor of Love season 1 contestant Rain, Hoopz (Nicole Alexander) or Pollard. Before the season 2 Flavor of Love finale, Pollard denied having her own show but after the finale aired, she confirmed she was the "Flavorette" and that she was already down to the final three contestants. The show premiered on Monday, January 8, 2007, and was the most-watched series debut in VH1 history with 4.426 million viewers.[13] Its season 1 finale brought in 4.8M million viewers and its reunion show ratings held 5.01 million viewers. Spin-offs from the series include I Love Money, New York Goes to Hollywood, Real Chance of Love, New York Goes to Work, and Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair.

I Love New York 2

I Love New York 2 premiered October 8, 2007 on VH1.[14] In the finale of I Love New York 2, contestant "Tailor Made" (real name George Weisgerber) proposed to Pollard, but was turned down. The finale earned 5.4 million viewers. During the I Love New York 2 reunion special, Tailor Made proposed a second time and Pollard accepted. The reunion special earned 4.86 million viewers.[15][16]

New York Goes to Hollywood

New York Goes to Hollywood premiered August 4, 2008 on VH1. The eight-episode season follows Pollard as she tries to establish herself as an actress in Hollywood, California.

New York Goes to Work

New York Goes to Work premiered on May 4, 2009. The reality show followed Pollard as she searches for a regular job.[17] The jobs were selected by fans (via text messaging) from a list of three possible jobs for each episode. Pollard would receive a $10,000 bonus each week if she were able to impress her employer. However, if she quit, failed, or was fired, she would not receive a bonus for the week. Pollard won $45,000 over the series, and earned bonuses in four jobs (in episodes 1, 2, 5, and 6); she lost, failed in, or quit four jobs (in episodes 3, 4, 7, and 8); and come to a draw in the season finale. At the end of the series, a mobile poll was presented giving three choices for New York's next task, and the most votes were cast for I Love New York 3.

I Love New York 3

Production for I Love New York 3 was set to kick off sometime in the first quarter of 2010; however, prior to that time frame, VH1 requested immediate cancellation of the "celebreality" franchise and shelved plans for I Love New York 3. In the summer of 2011, Pollard hinted that I Love New York 3 was cancelled due to the murder-suicide case of Ryan Jenkins, who was a former contestant of Megan Wants a Millionaire.[18]

Brunch with Tiffany

In 2020, Pollard's VH1 digital series Brunch with Tiffany, was picked up by the VH1 television network. The show was previously in production since 2017. The series "follows Pollard as she gathers around the tables of the hottest restaurants with her famous friends for free-flowing conversations and cocktails." The pilot episode premiered September 7 and featured Cyn Santana and Fizz.[19][20]

Other appearances

On April 14, 2015, Pollard had a special guest starring role on the E! Network series, Botched, where she detailed her botched surgeries that have left her breasts sagging with extra skin. Before going under the knife, Pollard had also thrown herself a party at a historic hotel hideaway in Beverly Hills to celebrate her impending transformation.[21][22][23] In 2016, Pollard entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in the United Kingdom to participate in the show's 17th season. She was involved in an infamous misunderstanding in which Pollard believed that David Gest had died of cancer inside the house; it subsequently turned out the deceased was David Bowie, the ex-husband of Pollard's fellow housemate Angie Bowie.[24] Throughout her time on the show, Pollard proved very popular with the British public and achieved the most votes to save her over her fellow contestants on at least one occasion. On February 5, Pollard made the final and came in fourth place, ranking higher than any other American female who had ever been on the show before.[25] Due to her newfound public prominence, Pollard appeared in many UK publications including New! magazine. She also became a regular fixture on the Big Brother spin off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side, during Big Brother 17 (UK). Later on during 2016, Pollard had signed on to become a main cast member for The Next :15.[26] Later on that same year, Pollard also became a main cast member on Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn.

In 2017, Pollard began starring in Brunch with Tiffany, a talk show series featured on VH1's YouTube channel, which was later picked up debuting on the VH1 television network during late 2020. The series follows Pollard as she informally interviews a celebrity guest over brunch. The pilot featured The Real Housewives of New York star Sonja Morgan.[27] Later on during 2017, Pollard became a main cast member on VH1's Scared Famous.[28] Later on that same year, she became a main cast member on the E! Network reality series Famously Single. In 2018, Pollard starred in a guest capacity on Braxton Family Values, where she was reunited with Flavor Flav one more time. Later on, that same year, she had a participating role on Hip Hop Squares. In 2019, Pollard became a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race season 11.[29] That same year, she returned to Botched again because of complications from a breast implant surgery.[30] Later on, that same year, she was the starring guest of an episode of Action Bronson's comedy series Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens. In 2020, she took part in the eleventh season of Celebrity Ex on the Beach, as the ex of David McIntosh.[31] In 2021, Pollard began co-starring alongside Ts Madison in The Ts Madison Experience. In 2022, Pollard began hosting Hot Haus, a queer sex reality competition on the OutTV television and streaming network. In 2023, Pollard became a main cast member on College Hill: Celebrity Edition alongside Joseline Hernandez, Amber Rose, and Ray J. Later on in 2023, she also starred in E!'s reality competition series House of Villains.[32] In 2024, she is set to return to E!'s House of Villains as a lead castmate.[33]

Acting roles

Pollard's first film role was in the comedy First Sunday (2008). She appeared in a supporting role, acting alongside Ice Cube, Regina Hall, and C. J. Sanders.

Pollard participated in a 2009 national tour of the Vagina Monologues with an all-black cast, most of whom are reality show contestants.[34] Pollard also appeared in a play called The Clean Up Woman in 2009, and in The Trial of the Chicago 7 in 2010.

Business ventures

In November 2021, Pollard launched the limited edition nail polish lacquer line HBIC Ink.[35]

Impact and legacy

Pollard has been referred to as the "queen of reaction memes" due to the predominant number of gifs used of her across social media.[36][37][38] A notable example is of Pollard exclaiming "Beyoncé!?".[39]

Doreen St. Félix of The New Yorker referred to Pollard's Flavor of Love season one performance as "one of the most memorable [...] on reality television."[40] In May 2018, a Brooklyn museum called THINK 1994 hosted an exhibit called "David's Dead: A Celebration of Tiffany Pollard" focused on an incident on Big Brother UK when Pollard mistakenly told the house that fellow housemate David Gest had died, and the chaos that ensued when she told other housemates the news.[41]

Personal life

Pollard was born in Utica, New York to Michelle Rothschild-Patterson (also known as "Sister Patterson") and Alex Pollard.[42] Pollard has used the surnames of both her parents, despite them being unmarried.[43] She attended John F. Kennedy Middle School and graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School.[44]

Pollard was engaged to the I Love New York season 1 winner Patrick "Tango" Hunter for a six-month period until Hunter called off the engagement on the reunion show.[45] She was also engaged to George "Tailor Made" Weisgerber, the winner of I Love New York 2. She announced on episode 6 of her show, New York Goes to Hollywood, that she had officially separated from Weisgerber.[46]

Pollard suffered a miscarriage of her child after she dealt with significant stress from her mother who was strongly chastised by psychologist Jenn Mann on Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn for refusing to believe Pollard was pregnant.[47]

In an episode of Brunch with Tiffany, Pollard revealed that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[48]

In 2019, Pollard decided to remove her breast implants. The procedure was documented on the reality television series Botched.[49]

On November 23, 2020, during the I Love New York: Reunited special, Pollard announced her third engagement, later revealed to be to a man named Jimmy Stewart.[50][51]

On March 27, 2023, Pollard advocated for queer people in a TikTok video on OutTV's page. She ended the video with her coming out as queer as well.[52]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 First Sunday Omunique's Client
2014 The Shop Kiana

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Flavor of Love Herself Season 1, Runner-up (11 episodes)
Season 2, Runner-up (6 episodes)
2007 I Love New York Herself Season 1, Suitress (12 episodes)
2008 Season 2, Suitress (13 episodes)
2020 Reunion episode (1 episode)
2007 Jimmy Kimmel Live Herself Guest, January 9 (1 episode)
The Tyra Banks Show Herself Guest, February 7 (1 episode)
Maury Herself Guest, February 21 (1 episode)
Say What? Karaoke Herself Guest
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School Herself (1 episode)[53]
Chelsea Lately Herself Guest, September 28 (1 episode)
Nip/Tuck Herself Guest star, December 4 (1 episode)[54]
What Perez Sez Herself Guest, December 13 (1 episode)
2008 VH1: All Access Herself Guest, June 2 (1 episode)
New York Goes to Hollywood Herself 10 episodes
Up Close with Carrie Keagan Herself Guest, September 8 (1 episode)
2009 New York Goes to Work Herself 9 episodes
2010 20/20 Herself March 15 (1 episode)
2011 Reality Obsessed Herself
Baggage Herself Season 3 Episode 71
2012 Shadow Love Pastor Mann 1 episode
DTLA Reesie 2 episodes
2013 That Sex Show Herself
2014 E! True Hollywood Story Profile Documentary
2015 Botched Herself Guest, April 14 (1 episode: Season 2 Episode 1)
Good Work Herself Guest, April 14 (1 episode: Season 1 Episode 1)
Candidly Nicole Herself Guest, September 16 (1 episode: Season 2 Episode 8)
Steve Harvey Herself Guest
2016 Celebrity Big Brother Housemate Season 17, 4th place (36 episodes)
The Saturday Show Herself Guest interviewee, February 6 (1 episode)
This Morning Herself Guest interviewee, February 8 (1 episode)
Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn Herself Main cast (10 episodes)
The Next :15 Herself Main cast (10 episodes)
The Doctors Herself
Up Late with Rylan Herself Guest interviewee
Big Brother's Bit on the Side Herself Guest panellist
Steve Harvey Herself Guest
2017 Famously Single Herself (8 episodes)
Sharknado 5 Vega
Scared Famous Herself (6 episodes)
2018 The Ex Herself Season 1, Host
Hip Hop Squares Herself
Bossip Herself Guest interviewee
Braxton Family Values Herself
2019 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself Season 11, Guest judge (1 episode: "Trump: The Rusical")
Action Bronson Watches Ancient Aliens Herself Guest, August 7 (1 episode)
Botched Herself Season 6: Episode 1
2020 The Real Herself Guest, February 4 (1 episode)
Celebrity Ex on the Beach Herself Ex of David McIntosh (5 episodes)
Brunch with Tiffany Herself Picked up and launched on the VH1 television network, debuted September 7 (8 episodes)
One Mo' Chance Herself Season 1
The Eric Andre Show Herself Guest, November 8 (1 episode)
2021 The TS Madison Experience Herself (6 episodes)
2022–2023 Hot Haus Herself Seasons 1-2, Host, first premiered January 27, 2022
2023 College Hill: Celebrity Edition Herself Season 2, Main cast member
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Herself Season 20: Episode 172
2023-2024 House of Villains Herself Seasons 1-2

Theater

Year Title Notes
2009 The Clean Up Woman
2010 The Trial of the Chicago 7

Web

Year Title Notes
2017–2020 Brunch with Tiffany Only on VH1's YouTube channel for three seasons before being picked up by VH1 later in 2020. [1]
October 16, 2019 People TV "Tiffany Pollard Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Her Greatest 'HBIC' Moments"

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Recipient
2006 Won Fox Reality Awards Favorite Fight Flavor of Love
2006 Won Fox Reality Awards Favorite Villain Flavor of Love
2007 Nominated Fox Reality Awards Most Memorable Reality Performer Flavor of Love, Flavor of Love 2, and I Love New York
2020 Nominated 12th Annual Shorty Awards Video Brunch with Tiffany[55]
2022 Won 9th American Reality Television Awards Hall of Fame Recipient Herself[56]

References

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  2. ^ "Flavor of Love: Boxin Each Other Out". TV.com. September 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  3. ^ "Watch the trailer for chaotic new LGBTQ+ reality show Hot Haus". January 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Tiffany Pollard Hosting Rihanna's Fenty Beauty Holiday Gift Guide Video Is Everything". W Magazine | Women's Fashion & Celebrity News. December 17, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
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  29. ^ Moen, Matt (February 20, 2019). "Tiffany Pollard, Troye Sivan to Guest Judge 'Drag Race'". Paper Mag. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
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  32. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 15, 2023). "'House Of Villains': E! Reveals Cast, Premiere Date & Trailer For Show Mixing Stars From 'Vanderpump Rules,' '90 Day Fiancé,' 'The Apprentice' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  33. ^ https://ew.com/house-of-villains-season-2-cast-contestants-revealed-exclusive-8620820
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  45. ^ De Leon, Kris (April 17, 2007). "I Love New York Star Rejected By Her Chosen Suitor". BuddyTV. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  46. ^ "New York Goes to Hollywood: Episode 6 Extras". VH1. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  47. ^ "Tiffany Pollard Opens up About Miscarriage to Steve Harvey, He Goes off on Sister Patterson". Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
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  49. ^ West, Rachel (November 5, 2019). "Tiffany 'New York' Pollard Gets Her Breast Implants Removed On 'Botched' Season Premiere". ET Canada. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
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  51. ^ "Tiffany Pollard Spills on Mystery Fiancé: 'He Respects All the Glorious New York Moments' (Exclusive)". TooFab. April 9, 2021.
  52. ^ "Tiffany Pollard did not stutter". tiktok.com. March 27, 2023.
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  56. ^ "The "Best in Class" In Unscripted Television Recognized at the 9th Annual American Reality Television Awards (ARTAS), Hosted by Vivica A. Fox", news-journal, retrieved November 27, 2022

External links