New York

New York in 2019

### Occupation

Singer • songwriter • rapper • tv personality • reporter • interviewer • label representative

## Musical career

### Labels

Atlantic Records

**Tiffany Pollard** (born January 6, 1982) is an American singer, rapper, television personality and former label representative. She came to public prominence for her participation on VH1's *Flavor of Love* (2006–2007) and *I Love New York* (2007–2008). Pollard was given the nickname "**New York**" by rapper Flavor Flav. She is also known colloquially by her self-proclaimed nickname "HBIC" ("Head Bitch in Charge"), which she exclaimed in the *Flavor of Love* series to taunt her competitors. In 2018, she was hired by music giant Billboard to become one of their reporters and interviewers. Later that year, she would sign to Atlantic Records alongside friend Karen Smith.

In 2016, New York took part in the 17th series of *Celebrity Big Brother UK*, finishing in fourth place. New York and her mother later that year were cast members on *Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn*. In 2017, she created *Brunch with Tiffany*, a talk show series on VH1's YouTube channel, which has since been picked up by VH1. She has appeared on the show *Botched* twice; in 2015 and in 2019. In 2021, New York would be cast in the first season of *The Real Housewives of Pop Industry*, returning to reality television once more. In 2022, New York would compete on the CBS reality show *Celebrity Big Brother: Pop Industry*, where she would once again finish in fourth place.

New York has not released any solo music at this time, but has been featured on many collaborative projects including the Billboard Hot Singles Chart number-one song "Wait for Me" by The Weeknd, and also featuring Lana Del Rey. She has won one award at the Billboard Music Awards (out of a total eight nominations). She has also won two Fox Reality Awards for her performance on *Flavor of Love*.

She has a fan base.

## Early Life

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

## Musical Career

In 2018, New York would sign to Atlantic Records as an official label representative. Later that year, she would feature on a remix of The Weeknd's song "Wait for Me", also featuring Lana Del Rey. "Wait for Me" would become New York's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart. New York would also feature on P!nk's "Like That" and Kesha's "Dancing in the Rain" and "Oui Oui". New York has not released any solo material of her own, but has often stated that she is available to sing or rap on any songs by other artists.

## Television Appearances

### *Flavor of Love*

In 2006, New York joined the cast of the first season of *Flavor of Love*, where she gained her nickname. New York (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 New York after the two had exchanged words. New York vowed to "whoop Pumkin's ass", and attempted to do so at the season one reunion. The moment was rated number one on various VH1 and MTV reality show specials, including *VH1's 20 Greatest Celebreality Fights*. The final two contestants journeyed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where Flavor Flav chose Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander over New York, to be his mate.

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

### *I Love New York*

*I Love New York* was New York first reality television series on VH1. The series is a spin-off of another relationship competition series, the *Flavor of Love*, which featured New York 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 New York. Before the season 2 *Flavor of Love* finale, New York 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. 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* premiered October 8, 2007 on VH1. In the finale of *I Love New York 2*, contestant "Tailor Made" (real name George Weisgerber) proposed to New York, 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 New York accepted. The reunion special earned 4.86 million viewers. 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, New York 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*.

### *New York* Spin-offs

*New York Goes to Hollywood* premiered August 4, 2008 on VH1. The eight-episode season follows New York as she tries to establish herself as an actress in Hollywood, California. *New York Goes to Work* premiered on May 4, 2009. The reality show followed New York as she searches for a regular job. The jobs were selected by fans (via text messaging) from a list of three possible jobs for each episode. New York 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. She 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.

### The Real Housewives of Pop Industry

New York would join the cast for the first season of *The Real Housewives of Pop Industry*, premiering on November 26, 2021. She would star in this new iteration of *The Real Housewives* franchise alongside *Atlanta* housewife Kandi, and newcomers Kesha, Gwen Stefani and Normani. Her role in the first season showcased her bringing the cast together for her job at Billboard, and then starting fights with the other cast members, including guest stars like Nene Leakes.

### Celebrity Big Brother

In 2016, New York 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 she believed that David Gest had died of cancer inside the house; it subsequently turned out the deceased was David Bowie, the ex-husband of New York's fellow housemate Angie Bowie. Throughout her time on the show, New York proved 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, New York made the final and came in fourth place, ranking higher than any other American female who had been on the show.

Six years later, in April 2022, New York would compete in the first season of Celebrity Big Brother: Pop Industry. She has been heralded as an important character and the main villain of the season. New York would leave the show after being evicted by Rihanna at the final four.

### Other Appearances

On April 14, 2015, New York appeared on an episode of the E! Network's series, *Botched*, where she detailed her botched surgeries that have left her breasts sagging with extra skin. She appeared on the show in hopes of getting them corrected, so she could resume her reality TV career. New York was also a cast member on the first season of *Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn*. In 2017, Pollard's VH1 digital series *Brunch with Tiffany* premiered. The series follows New York as she informally interviews a celebrity guest over brunch. The pilot featured *The Real Housewives of New York* star Sonja Morgan. In 2020, the show was picked up by VH1 to be aired on television. The pilot episode premiered September 7 and featured Cyn Santana and Fizz. In September 2022, it was announced that New York would have her own series titled *The Real Hottie*, along with Megan Thee Stallion, set to air at Daydream TV. On October 17, 2022, it was revealed that New York had been cast of one of the students in the first season of *Southern Charm School* - fifteen years after making a guest appearance on the original *Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School*. In 2023, New York signed a deal with Pissney+ for her own talk show titled *New York: Live From New York*.

## Other Ventures

### Billboard

In 2018, New York was hired by music giant Billboard. There, she would take on a role as a reporter and interviewer. She has occasionally also filled in for the editors, writing specific charticles.

### Atlantic Records

New York would sign to Atlantic Records as an official label representative in 2018, alongside friend Karen Smith. Her role involves representing the label and also being available for contact from media sources or artists within the label. At the end of 2021, New York would retire from her position as a label representative, no longer signed to a record label moving forward.

## Personal Life

### Marriage and Children

New York 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. She was also engaged to George "Tailor Made" Weisgerber, the winner of *I Love New York 2*. On September 8, 2008, she announced on episode 6 of her show, *New York Goes to Hollywood*, that she had officially separated from Weisgerber. On November 23, 2020, during the *I Love New York: Reunited* special, New Yorkannounced her third engagement since she's been in the public eye. As of 2021, New York fiancé remains a mystery. Although, she stated on *I Love New York: Reunited* that she picked out her own engagement ring.

In 2016, New York suffered a miscarriage of her child. She had dealt with significant stress from her mother who was strongly chastised by psychologist Jenn Mann on *Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn* after she refused to believe New York was pregnant.

### Health

In an episode of *Brunch with Tiffany*, New York revealed that she has bipolar disorder. In 2019, she decided to have her breast implants removed. The procedure was documented on the reality television series *Botched*.

## Legacy

Doreen St. Félix of *The New Yorker* referred to New York's *Flavor of Love* season one performance as "one of the most memorable [...] on reality television." 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 New York mistakenly told the house that fellow castmate David Gest had died, and the chaos that ensued when she told other housemates the news.

New York has been referred to as the "queen of reaction memes" due to the high number of gifs used of her across social media. Notable examples are New York sitting on a bed with sunglasses on, which has become an iconic gif and Pollard being in disbelief after fellow contestant on the *Flavor of Love*, Hottie, comparing herself to Beyoncé.

## Awards and Achievements

*Main article: New York/Awards*
Throughout her musical career, New York has received eight nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, including a win for Best Influencer in 2019. New York has also received awards for her television appearances, including Favorite Fight and Favorite Villain at the Fox Reality Awards in 2006.

## Filmography

### Television

* *Flavor of Love* (2006)
* *Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School* (2007)
* *I Love New York* (2007 - 2008, 2020)
* *New York Goes to Hollywood* (2008)
* *New York Goes to Work* (2009)
* *Botched* (2015, 2019)
* *Celebrity Big Brother UK* (2016)
* *Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn* (2016)
* *Brunch with Tiffany* (2020)
* *The Real Housewives of Pop Industry* (2021 - Present)
* *Celebrity Big Brother: Pop Industry* (2022)
* *The Real Hottie* (2022)
* *Southern Charm School* (Season 1) (2022)
* *Death On My Spaceship* (Season 2) (2023)
* *New York: Live From New York* (2023)

## Galleries

### Artwork Gallery

**Singles**

WAIT FOR ME (SOLO VERSE EXTENDED)