10 minutes with Omarosa Manigault Stallworth

Omarosa Manigault Stallworth found infamy as the sassy silver-tongued contestant on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.” But the villainess of reality TV is channeling her softer side, moving from the boardroom to the pulpit. Manigault Stallworth, who’s often called simply “Omarosa,” enrolled at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she’s studying to become […]

(RNS) — Omarosa Manigault Stallworth found infamy as the sassy silver-tongued contestant on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.” But the villainess of reality TV is channeling her softer side, moving from the boardroom to the pulpit.

Manigault Stallworth, who’s often called simply “Omarosa,” enrolled at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where she’s studying to become a minister in the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America.

With a few minutes to spare between lectures, she discussed the challenge of balancing a notoriously nasty television persona with a personal calling to the ministry. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.


How did you decide to make the transition from reality television star to Rev. Omarosa?

I sat down with my pastor after I had my calling and shared with him what I felt and what my call was. The first thing he did was pray with me for discernment and obedience, and he thought it would be good for me to find the proper tools.

Are you planning to start form a congregation of your own?

My focus prior to enrolling has been missionary work. My ministry is through missionary work. In Los Angeles, we teach former juveniles, gang bangers how to fly planes, repair them — every aspect of aviation.

Your Web site depicts two sides of Omarosa — the “naughty” and “nice” sides. Does seminary mean you’ll have to shed the naughty persona?

That duality exists in all of us. Can you guess how many people click on the naughty side? Of the 1.5 million viewers last week, 87 percent clicked on the “naughty” side. The number is so high. There’s no need to change the site. If you’re looking to learn about the real Omarosa, click on the “nice” side. If you have an appetite for that (other side), you’ll click the “naughty.”

Other reality TV stars are suddenly “finding God,” including Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt from “The Hills.” Heidi’s even calling herself a modern-day Mother Teresa: Is it just a fad for reality stars with bad reputations to turn to religion?

I don’t know much about their walk with God, but I will tell you that we should all strive to be closer to God. Each one of us has a blessing, but in the public we have a burden. To be on television, the authenticity of our faith is questioned by millions of people who don’t know our heart or our intentions. But every day we’re all faced with the same struggle, the decision to know the truth, faith and obedience. It’s a struggle daily to live in the public eye and have people question authenticity of your faith.

Have you always been a religious person?

I grew up in a Missionary Baptist family, went to Bible study every Sunday, vacation Bible school every summer. There have been times where I feel like my faith has been questioned. My decision to go to seminary is to find out what God has planned for me, to have a platform to tell the world about a man — a carpenter — who died on the cross for us.

You went through a very public breast augmentation surgery. Are you dissatisfied with your God-given body?

A: I think that whole thing trivialized my relationship and declaration to God. If I decided to get hair extensions or put on high heels, does that make me less of a Christian? God really does examine our hearts, and I’ll feel comfortable when I meet my maker. I will not allow people to trivialize my relationship with God. These are all aesthetics, and they mean nothing when it comes to salvation.


You have degrees in journalism and telecommunications. You’ve worked under Al Gore and President Clinton. You’re a reality TV legend. Now you’re at seminary. What’s your next venture?

The most important title to me is being called a child of God.

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