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Melyssa Ford

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Melyssa Ford
Ford in March 2005
Born
Melyssa Savannah Ford

(1976-11-07) November 7, 1976 (age 48)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Media personality
  • actress
  • video vixen
Years active1997–present
Modeling information
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1]
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorLight brown
Websitewww.melyssaford.com

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]

Early life

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Melyssa 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

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In 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

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In June 2018, Ford was seriously injured in a car crash involving an 18-wheeler truck. She suffered a skull fracture and concussion.[12]

Filmography

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Film

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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

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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

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Year Title Notes
2009 Good Hair
2011 Bowl of Dreams

Music videos

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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

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 "Def Jam Icon" Herself (voice) Voice role and likeness

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b American Morning (July 24, 2008). "Black in America: Video Vixens Too Revealing?". CNN. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  3. ^ Ogunnaike, Lola (August 31, 2004). "New Magazines for Black Men Proudly Redefine the Pinup". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Melyssa Ford". Vibe. September 2008. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Melyssa Ford Biography". IMDb. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "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!
  7. ^ Ford. "Calendar Girl". Naked. pp. 219–220.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "I'm Here For The Food". YouTube. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Lee, Alyssa (August 24, 2020). "Melyssa Ford Returns & Discusses Grief & Goodbye on Hollywood Unlocked [UNCENSORED]". Hollywood Unlocked. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Fernández, Alexia (July 3, 2018). "Former Bravo Star Melyssa Ford Seriously Injured in Horrific Crash with 18-Wheeler Truck". People. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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