An Authentic Chat With the Southern Belle Behind Heart & Hustle: Houston
By Kirby CarrollSept. 2 2025, Published 2:00 p.m. ET
Oprah Winfrey has said she loves her story. Her hometown and alma mater have praised her. She’s an award-winning publicist. Even Beyoncé knows her name. But if you ask entrepreneur La’Torria Lemon how she wanted to celebrate being cast in OWN’s new series Heart and Hustle: Texas, her answer is refreshingly simple: “Honestly, I just wanted to sit at home with my dog and watch it.”
I’ve known La’Torria for more than a decade, and I can honestly say she’s helped countless people—myself included—both behind the scenes and publicly. She’s a hard worker with a fun personality, and it’s been inspiring to watch her journey unfold. When she first filmed the pilot, she did so alongside her father, who quickly became a producer favorite. Neither of them knew that just eight months later, he would pass away and change her path completely.
In this exclusive conversation with Bleu Magazine, La’Torria reflects on her personal leap into reality TV, her career in PR, her father’s guidance, and what she hopes viewers take away from the show.
BLEU: I’ve seen you as a friend and a mentor that I can be open and honest with for years. But because of that, I have to say this really surprises me. Since college, you’ve always seemed to value privacy. Doing this series seems so opposite of that. What has that process been like for you?
La’Torria: Yeah, I’ve been that way my whole life. I’m an open book, yet I value privacy. So maintaining it and taking this leap feels like night and day. For example, the show has me listed as the “hopeless romantic.” That’s a lot for me. I mean, I’m hopeful, but it’s never been hopeless. I’m just single. There are people interested; I just value alignment.
Plus, I’m in a new season of life. I’m 36 and trying to explore options of what motherhood and being a wife looks like for me. My goal and hope is to help somebody else, someone who can also resonate with this chapter. And I said I wasn’t going to take this journey if I couldn’t be transparent about everything.
BLEU: Yes, I feel like this is your moment, which is powerful because you’ve done so much to lift other people up. Talk to me a little bit about your PR life and some of your most memorable moments.
La’Torria: Well, I got into PR by accident. When I moved to Atlanta, my dream was to be a syndicated radio personality with ties to TV. But at the end of my freshman year, I got a chance to work with Essence, and my advisor was like, “Oh, we’re changing your major to PR.” That launched my PR career. I worked with 135 Agency and Old Behaviour on some major clients. In fact, OWN was one of my accounts back in the day. They had no idea, but it was full circle for me.
And my biggest wow moment? I think I have a few, but probably the biggest is doing all the PR and coordinating for George Floyd. That was life-changing. Also, I got the call to do the PR for Drake and Chris Brown’s “No Guidance” song and video. At the time, nobody even knew that they had reconciled, so that was super cool.
BLEU: There’s a lot of reality TV shows on right now. Who would you say this show is for? And what are some of the themes it explores?
La’Torria: If I had to name it, I’d say it’s more of a docuseries than a reality show. We are not throwing drinks, sleeping with each other’s men, and no wigs are in the pool. This is a group of women who exude excellence in their careers, who have been through things. I think people will feel like this is what TV needs. We go through things with friends, spouses, and trying to find a spouse; it’s relatable. I really feel like OWN and Jesse Collins have figured it out. I’ve told all my clients how to treat their brands for years, so I’m not about to sign up for some ratchet stuff.
BLEU: I’ve heard you had some help deciding to do the show: your father. If you feel comfortable, walk me through how he helped you make the decision.
La’Torria: My dad raised me as a single father. We talked a lot and were very close. He knew how I felt, and I knew how he felt. I feel blessed about that.
When they reached out to me, I told him all about it. Well, first I had to break down what a DM was [laughs]. He said, I don’t want you out there doing anything foolish; that compromises who you are or where you have to defend yourself in a way that’s not lady-like. Then he took some time to pray. And he came back and said, “I know you’re not gonna bring me anything that you didn’t research, and baby, I think it’s time.” He said, “You’ve made it happen for everybody else, and you have done it with a certain level of excellence that I have not seen. I’m not just saying this because you’re my child but because it’s the truth.” After that, I messaged the team back and said yes.
BLEU: You have such a great role model of a man. But dating in today’s time feels so different, especially with all the gender wars. Does it ever get to you? How do you remain hopeful?
La’Torria: Honestly, I don’t always have that hope. Even recently, I had an expectation with a guy, and he didn’t meet it. You can’t be in my space and not have a certain level of concern and care. I feel like matching energy is only talked about in a bad space. When you see someone treating you right, we should match that, too.
BLEU: That actually kinda brings me to my next question. Because to that point, a typical day for La’Torria can be filled with unforgettable moments and people. Unfortunately, some men aren’t secure enough for that lifestyle. What are some of the misconceptions about dating a successful woman?
La’Torria: There’s a lot of misconceptions. But I’m myself wherever, and I don’t come in listing my resumé. If we’re going to talk, we’re going to talk about general stuff that matters to us. God has been so good to me. I’ve always been able to do the things that I love and enjoy. And it’s provided me with a space where people have recognized. So I can’t run away from what God’s gifts and talents are to me. It’s so simple. It’s not something to be intimidated by. Get to know me for me. Because there’s a whole heart here. With or without the hustle, I’m going to always have a heart.
BLEU: Finally, I’ll close with this: What do you hope people gain from you specifically and the show as a whole?
La’Torria: From me, I want people to know and understand that standing on business is great, but so is standing on boundaries, and you’ll see why I say that when you watch the show. There are times I had to speak on that, especially now. Because when you have someone in your life [her father] for 35 years and they’re the strongest person you know, and then you don’t have them, you have to relearn things on your own. Also, I want viewers to see why I feel like success can be a gift and a curse, especially in dating. I often meet men with motives or in competition with me. And it’s like, if you really know me, you know I’ll help you before I compete.
As far as Heart and Hustle: Texas, I want people to know and understand Houston is a special place. We have some really good women that are excelling and have made it happen. But I also want people to see the value of friendships. Friendships aren’t going to always be squeaky clean. It’s not all about Louis bags and birthdays. It’s about caring for their soul and mind. And sometimes, it’s about checking them, too. We had our tearjerkers this season. But it’s real, and I can’t wait for audiences to see it.
