Erica Mena 101: Love, Hustle, and Headlines

Erica Mena is the ultimate reality TV firecracker who went from hip-hop video vixen to one of the most talked-about stars on Love & Hip Hop: New York and Atlanta, and social media platforms such as OnlyFans . With her bold attitude, headline-grabbing drama, and fierce style, she kept fans glued to their screens. But Erica didn’t stop at TV, she built her empire with acting gigs, bestselling memoirs, her own fashion and beauty lines, and a seriously successful OnlyFans career that’s been way more profitable than her reality show days. She’s basically the queen of turning every opportunity (and every plot twist) into a power move.

Off-camera, Erica’s life has been just as eventful. She’s a proud Afro-Latina, an openly bisexual woman, and a super hands-on mom to three kids. From whirlwind romances (hello, Safaree Samuels!) to a very public breakup, Erica has never shied away from sharing her real life with the world. She’s also been candid about her childhood struggles, postpartum challenges, and her journey with mental health. Sure, she’s faced her share of controversy, like getting fired from "Love & Hip Hop", but Erica always bounces back, unfiltered and unapologetically herself. Love her or hate her, she knows how to keep life (and TV) interesting!

Born to Rise

Erica Mena’s story isn’t your typical “girl-next-door” tale. It’s a full-on survival and glow-up saga. Born on November 8, 1987, in Newburgh, New York, Erica’s life started with serious challenges. She was actually born while her mom was in prison, spent her early years in foster care, and faced some pretty heartbreaking struggles as a kid. But instead of letting life break her, Erica flipped the script and came back stronger, tougher, and louder than ever.

Erica grew up in the Bronx and started chasing her dreams at a young age, around 14, already in the modeling game! She’s always been about turning pain into power and has since become a fierce advocate for mental health, therapy, and self-love. Whether she’s writing her life story, building her empire, or lighting up reality TV, Erica Mena is all about keeping it real, owning her past, and showing the world what resilience really looks like.

When Keeping It Real Goes Way Too Far

When it comes to stirring the pot, Erica Mena might just have a gold medal. In 2023, she took reality TV drama to a whole new level when she got into a heated showdown with Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta co-star Spice and dropped the now-infamous "blue monkey" insult. Social media went "nuclear", fans were outraged, and VH1 wasted no time showing her the door. Erica tried to save face with an apology, but most people weren’t buying it; they said her "oops, my bad" felt more like damage control than real remorse. Oh, and this wasn’t her first time caught in the middle of racially charged drama, let’s just say, the receipts go way back.

But wait, because Erica’s 2023 was just getting warmed up. In August, she made headlines again after getting into a wild scuffle with security at an Atlanta lounge. The reports? Oh, just a little bit of kicking, biting, and even faking a pregnancy to dodge getting arrested. Yes, that happened. Her legal team claimed it wasn’t that deep, but the public was already side-eyeing her hard. Add all this to her history of fiery, off-the-rails moments, and you’ve got Erica Mena: the reality TV queen who doesn’t just push the envelope, she sets it on fire.

From Reality TV to Real Big Checks

Erica Mena wasted no time jumping on the OnlyFans wave in early 2020, teaming up with her then-hubby Safaree Samuels when the pandemic hit pause on their Love & Hip Hop gigs. And guess what? They struck gold! Safaree reportedly bagged a cool $95K in just two weeks, while Erica cashed in around $42K just as fast. Talk about a quick flex! When haters tried to drag them, calling the move "broke behavior," Erica clapped back in true boss fashion: “If y’all could, you would.”

Fast forward to late 2024, and Erica wasn’t just dabbling; she was dominating. Reports claimed she was raking in a jaw-dropping $4.49 million per month on OnlyFans, charging about $26 a pop for her exclusive content. And for those whispering that her Love & Hip Hop checks dried up? Erica set the record straight, VH1 was still paying her, thank you very much. OnlyFans was just one of her many money moves, not a lifeline. Period.

New Show, New Season, Same Savage Energy

Erica Mena is back doing what she does best, bringing the drama and keeping us glued to our screens! She’s now front and center on her own Zeus Network show, “Two Ways With Erica Mena,” where her signature fiery energy is in full effect. Some fans are living for the chaos, while others think she’s turning the dial all the way up, but love her or not, people can’t stop watching. When she’s not shaking things up on TV, Erica’s out here slaying photo shoots, dropping fashion collabs, and leveling up her brand like the boss she is. The grind? Still going strong.

On the personal side, Erica’s been riding a bit of a rollercoaster. She officially finalized her divorce from Safaree Samuels and secured primary custody of their two kids, a big win! But plot twist, she found out Safaree won’t be paying child support, and she didn’t hold back her feelings, sharing her raw, emotional reaction with fans online. Oh, and she’s been calling him out publicly for ghosting on parenting duties, because, of course, Erica’s not one to stay quiet. Between the mom life, the TV life, and the always-buzzing social media life, Erica Mena is still serving unfiltered, unapologetic, headline-making realness.