Eva Marcille is the latest guest to take a seat on the ‘The Jason Lee Show,’ where she is addressing longtime rumors, reality TV culture, and staying authentic.
Eva Marcille Sits With Jason Lee To Address Rumors, Talk Reality TV, And More
Eva Marcille has spent more than two decades in the spotlight, but somehow she still feels exactly like the girl who walked into the room before anyone knew her name. While sitting down with host Jason Lee, she reflects on the journey from winning ‘America’s Next Top Model‘ to becoming a successful actress, entrepreneur, and reality television fan favorite.
Along the way, she shares stories that are hilarious, surprising, and sometimes hard to believe. From growing up in South Central, Los Angeles to navigating fame before social media even existed, Marcille reflects on the moments that changed her life and the lessons she learned from an industry that never stops evolving.
She speaks candidly about modeling, reality television, cannabis, motherhood, and what it takes to stay grounded when the world keeps trying to reinvent you. The conversation also revisits some of the biggest chapters of her career, including her roles on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta‘ and ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ Marcille shares her perspective on longtime rumors, reality TV culture, and why she believes authenticity matters more now than ever.
What makes Marcille’s conversation with Lee stand out isn’t the headlines. It’s the way she sees the world. Funny, thoughtful, and completely comfortable in her own skin, she talks about purpose, confidence, faith, and why chasing validation from other people is a losing game.
For Marcille, success has never been about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about knowing exactly who you are when the noise dies down. Honest, reflective, and full of unforgettable stories, this is Eva Marcille at her most open.
Eva Marcille On Smoking Marijuana At 12 And Now Fighting To Fully Decriminalize It
As the interview opens, Eva Marcille and Jason Lee reminisce on how they first met. They speak on their zodiac signs, and then get into how Marcille became interested in cannabis culture. Marcille explains how she first started smoking marijuana at age 12 and how she is now fighting to fully destigmatize and decriminalize it.
Eva Marcille Talks ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ And Fellow Co-Stars
Marcille then speaks on her time on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ She recalls her rough introduction to Kenya Moore and later becoming friends. She says she was already friends with Cynthia Bailey when Moore tried to defend her from newcomer Marcille.
Marcille shares that she loves Porsha Williams as she then fires subtle shots at Marlo Hampton. Marcille also gives Nene Leakes her flowers, saying she is that girl and a forever OG who made the franchise. Marcille also reveals if she would ever go back to ‘RHOA.’ She says she roots for the girls and the franchise, but doesn’t play with relationships and drama.
Eva Marcille Talks Tyra Banks, $5 Million Ironclad NDA, And Winning ‘America’s Next Top Model’
Marcille then talks about meeting her idol Tyra Banks and being casted for ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ She recalls driving from Atlanta, Georgia to Memphis, Tennessee with her friend. She says she walked into the casting call with no expectations, and didn’t care too much about whether or not she won. She shares that she made it, but her friend did not.
Marcille also reveals how after winning the show, she couldn’t tell anyone for months. She says everyone, including her mother, were trying to pry the answer out of her. She reveals Tyra Banks, Ken Mok, and Top Model had an ironclad NDA (non-disclosure agreement). She says the NDA “ran for too many years for too much money,” $5 million to be exact.
Eva Marcille Talks Controversial Documentary On Tyra Banks And ‘America’s Next Top Model’ And Tiffany Richardson’s ‘Rooting For You’ Moment
Marcille then addresses the controversial documentary recently released and following Tyra Banks and ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ She says she was “gagged” when she, herself, saw the doc. She says Banks was absolutely used as a “scapegoat” and sacrificed by producers. She also says Banks’ co-judges (Jay Manuel and J. Alexander) also made Banks out to be the biggest monster, and it’s not true.
Marcille also talks about her relationship with Banks on ‘America’s Next Top Model‘ and how they are close friends now. When Lee says social media believes she was Banks’ favorite on her season, she was shocked. She says she didn’t feel that way while filming and not that Banks was mean, but that she showed no favoritism to her, or any of the other girls.
Marcille also addresses Banks’ viral “We were all rooting for you! How dare you!” moment with contestant Tiffany Richardson. While Marcille labels Richardson a very beautiful girl, Lee says, “She seemed ungrateful, though. She came off ungrateful.” Marcille acknowledges the take and adds, “Seems ungrateful and coming off ungrateful versus what she truly is are different things.” She also says that editing played a role in that and that Richardson should’ve been given more grace and handled with a little bit more care.
Eva Marcille Reveals Her Love For Cardi B
Eva Marcille then talks about her love for Cardi B after Lee compares their personalities and hustle mentalities. Marcille says:
“Oh my God. Okay, I love Cardi. I haven’t said it publicly. I don’t do a lot of these kind of forums and stuffs. But when I tell you I f***ing love Cardi since she used to do her, like, [the Instagram]. Oh my goodness. I love the way she read Peter Gunz for Tara Wallace. And now when I tell you I love Cardi B in this current moment she is [in], ‘Miss Little Miss Drama.’ I live for her. I live for her resilience. The way that she is taking on social media. She’s so dope.”
Eva Marcille Talks Nearly Drowning On ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’
Marcille then speaks on her scary medical emergency on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.’ She recalls nearly drowning after Jussie Smollett picked her to do a challenge with him. She recalls how the whole scary moment happened. She says despite the safety measures, things went awry.
She reveals her brother is a 20-year plus Marine Corps gun sergeant. So, because of his courage and her own badass qualities in real life, she wanted to see if she could “play badass on TV.” Marcille says she successfully completed the challenge, but after she came up from the water, she lost oxygen, and nearly died in the water.
Eva Marcille Talks Love Life, Relationships With Lance Gross, Michael Sterling, And More
Marcille then talks about her relationship with Lance Gross and him wanting children when she didn’t vision them in her future at the time. Marcille has since changed her views and ended up have a few children, as did Gross.
Marcille also talks about her marriage and divorce from Michael Sterling. She talks about divorcing him and them trying to rekindle things again after splitting. She talks about her three kids and how getting married was something she wanted to do and last forever. She says it took her a long time to choose herself and do what’s best for her happiness and peace.
RELATED: Eva Marcille’s Estranged Husband Reportedly Hires Divorce Lawyer Days After Vowing To Win Her Back
Eva Marcille Tearfully Reflects On Kevin McCall Relationship And Surviving Abuse
Marcille later opens up about her ex Kevin McCall, who is also the father of her daughter, Marley Rae Sterling. When asked about their co-parenting relationship, Marcille says it’s non-existent. She says McCall is her daughter’s biological father, but her dad is Michael Sterling. He was there since she was 1-and-a-half-years-old.
When asked what she learned from her relationship with McCall, Marcille says, “What abuse looks like. How to identify it, psychological, emotional, and then obviously, physical. Which is one that I think is the most identifiable one.” She says it was even more difficult because people were around watching her experience abuse, even while pregnant. Marcille ends up in tears as she reflects on escaping and surviving McCall.
Later in the interview, Marcille talks about Tyler Perry and appearing on his show, ‘All The Queen’s Men.’ She also talks about Christian Keyes and the lawsuit and other claims he’s brought against Perry.
By the end of the interview, Eva Marcille plays a game of “Erase The Shade,” and “Name Drop.” During the latter segment, she mentions: Tyra Banks, Tyler Perry, Janice Dickinson, Nicki Minaj, K. Michelle, Zeus Network Baddies (Janeisha John, Natalie Nunn, Rollie, Biggie, Ahna Mac), Sukihana, and more.
#Socialites, be sure to check out the full episode below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!