Title: The Vixen DiariesAuthor: Karrine Steffans
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publishing Date: September 2007
Price: $24.99
ISBN-10: 0-446-58226-3
Pages: 182
When Karrine Steffans released her first book “Confessions of a Video Vixen”, I didn’t 
get it. Like others I assumed that the book was written to expose the lifestyle of some of the African Americans elite in the entertainment industry. To a degree I still feel that way.
The idea served as harmful to families of these famous people and surely caused a lot of heartache and disappointment (especially towards the author).
On several occasions because of the international controversy within the pages of her confession, Karrine appeared on several media outlets explaining her reasoning behind her book. She has stated that she had concern for young women who thought that the lifestyle of rappers, videos, and bling wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Being a video (ho) was costly and could put you in danger, not to mention that it could also ruin your reputation causing doors to close to your future. I thought that listening to her explanation (especially when she appeared on Oprah) and experience made since. What we do is for a reason—be it good or bad, but you can always bet that the cause and effect will always follow.
On September 25, 2007 Karrine Steffans followed up her story with The Vixen Diaries which is much different than her first release. This book shows the change of a young girl who made foolish and costly mistakes to a woman who has learned from her past and is moving forward into a better day. She touches on how she felt that she was attacked by many journalists, including Tyra Banks about her past lifestyle while forgetting to understand the message in her book. When it came to Tyra, Karrine was annoyed by her hypocritical comments as she has stated that Tyra mingled in the same circles of men naming her “Hollywood Bounce”.
Karrine goes on to talk about the love of her life Bill Maher who she separated from but she still seeks his guidance and wisdom. According to Karrine he is the one who helped her greatly in her transition from vixen to business woman.
She has also cleared up the many rumors about some of the people that she was said to be linked with intimately and some of the new friendships that were founded after the release of her book.
The most interesting story was that of her and Bobby Brown. She gives us information on a man that is good at heart and troubled in sprit. One must wonder what will happen to this fallen artist after so many blows. Will he ever be the star that he once was? Will he change his ways? Will he get over the divorce between him and Whitney in a healthy way? We could only hope and pray, but according to this book, prayers are in vain.
At some points I understand Karrine and felt her frustration behind being truthful because when people ask for the truth they usually want it sugarcoated. At other times I felt like, what did she expect? When you are known as a person of betrayal because they trusted you enough to confide in you the details of their life and you put it on paper, people are going to be pissed and you are going to wear labels.
One must ask, in the book that was previously written, did she not think of the families of these men? According to Vixen Diaries, she was making a point and that is definitely understood but to whose expense? Was there another way that she could have taught the lessons without naming names?
Overall, The Vixen Diaries is a very good journaling of life after “Confession of Video Vixen”. She is not exposing anyone, but she does share life lessons in a different manner which includes naming names. She has lived with the Scarlet let A on her chest (or, V, W) for now and she hopes that one day it will finally fade and she is seen as the new woman (not the young girl) that she once was. Everyone deserves a second chance. Karrine has used her success and made changes to help other and create a better life for her and her son.
My question is this: if we are able to forgive others beyond their sins, isn’t she too worthy of forgiveness?
I would love to hear your opinion on the book.
Heather Elitou-Reviewer
get it. Like others I assumed that the book was written to expose the lifestyle of some of the African Americans elite in the entertainment industry. To a degree I still feel that way.The idea served as harmful to families of these famous people and surely caused a lot of heartache and disappointment (especially towards the author).
On several occasions because of the international controversy within the pages of her confession, Karrine appeared on several media outlets explaining her reasoning behind her book. She has stated that she had concern for young women who thought that the lifestyle of rappers, videos, and bling wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Being a video (ho) was costly and could put you in danger, not to mention that it could also ruin your reputation causing doors to close to your future. I thought that listening to her explanation (especially when she appeared on Oprah) and experience made since. What we do is for a reason—be it good or bad, but you can always bet that the cause and effect will always follow.
On September 25, 2007 Karrine Steffans followed up her story with The Vixen Diaries which is much different than her first release. This book shows the change of a young girl who made foolish and costly mistakes to a woman who has learned from her past and is moving forward into a better day. She touches on how she felt that she was attacked by many journalists, including Tyra Banks about her past lifestyle while forgetting to understand the message in her book. When it came to Tyra, Karrine was annoyed by her hypocritical comments as she has stated that Tyra mingled in the same circles of men naming her “Hollywood Bounce”.
Karrine goes on to talk about the love of her life Bill Maher who she separated from but she still seeks his guidance and wisdom. According to Karrine he is the one who helped her greatly in her transition from vixen to business woman.
She has also cleared up the many rumors about some of the people that she was said to be linked with intimately and some of the new friendships that were founded after the release of her book.
The most interesting story was that of her and Bobby Brown. She gives us information on a man that is good at heart and troubled in sprit. One must wonder what will happen to this fallen artist after so many blows. Will he ever be the star that he once was? Will he change his ways? Will he get over the divorce between him and Whitney in a healthy way? We could only hope and pray, but according to this book, prayers are in vain.
At some points I understand Karrine and felt her frustration behind being truthful because when people ask for the truth they usually want it sugarcoated. At other times I felt like, what did she expect? When you are known as a person of betrayal because they trusted you enough to confide in you the details of their life and you put it on paper, people are going to be pissed and you are going to wear labels.
One must ask, in the book that was previously written, did she not think of the families of these men? According to Vixen Diaries, she was making a point and that is definitely understood but to whose expense? Was there another way that she could have taught the lessons without naming names?
Overall, The Vixen Diaries is a very good journaling of life after “Confession of Video Vixen”. She is not exposing anyone, but she does share life lessons in a different manner which includes naming names. She has lived with the Scarlet let A on her chest (or, V, W) for now and she hopes that one day it will finally fade and she is seen as the new woman (not the young girl) that she once was. Everyone deserves a second chance. Karrine has used her success and made changes to help other and create a better life for her and her son.
My question is this: if we are able to forgive others beyond their sins, isn’t she too worthy of forgiveness?
I would love to hear your opinion on the book.
Heather Elitou-Reviewer
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