HOT COKO w/ Cheryl Clemons of SWV

Cheryl Clemons is also known as the world renowned ‘Coko’ from the Grammy nominated and 2017 Lady of Soul Award winning R&B group Sisters With Voices (SWV). SWV has sold more than 25 million records, making them one of the best selling girl groups of all time.

Coko is notably known for her lead vocals, but she is also known as a woman with great fashion sense and makeup style. She is no stranger to being a businesswoman. Coko’s newest venture is her blog HOTCOKO (hotcoko.com). The blog is about her fashion sense, people in her life, mental health, and travels. People are getting to know Coko from different perspectives.

Coko’s other passion for makeup has landed her into her newest venture. On January 8th, 2018, Coko launched her own lipstick line in partnership with LipSynk Cosmetics (www.lipsynkcosmetics.com) called The Coko Collection. The line consists of 5 high-pigmented, 18 hour wear in a matte finish. Each color was handpicked by Coko to compliment all skin tones and shades. We got a chance to sit down with the legend herself and here’s what she said.

Elle Clarke: Coko, you had a fantastic journey with one of the best girl groups of all timeSWV. How was that experience?

Coko: That was an awesome experience. It’s been 25 years, and we’re still on the road doing it. It’s just a blessing to be able to do what you love to do after all these years. You know, we do these concerts, and people sing our songs like they just came out yesterday. It’s a great feeling.

Elle Clarke: That’s amazing. Now my favorite song from you Queens is Weak! Do you guys have any new albums in the works or a Biopic perhaps?

Coko: Right now, we’re just touring all over the world. A biopic is in the works. We’ve been talking about it trying to get it together because everybody’s been asking for it. We’ve been talking about making some new music but nothing concrete, yet.

Elle Clarke: That’s excellent news. Now I love the evolution of Coko from singing, and now you’re in the beauty industry-congratulations on the release of “The Coko Collection.” Tell us a little bit more about how that all began.

Coko: I love makeup! A lot of people know that when I go out, or when you see me on TV or perform with SWV, nine times out of 10 I do my make-up. I’m like this undercover make-up artist. That’s what I say.

Elle Clarke: Hold on, so, Coko, you do your make-up?

Coko: Yes, ma’am. I do.

Elle Clarke: What!!!!

Coko: For the photos, we did for the Coko Collection, I did my make-up for those.

Elle Clarke: Wow!

Coko: I just love make-up. Someone took notice -actually, my business partner Tanya Davis said, “You should do your own lipstick line” and she made the deal happen for me. That’s how we came up with the lipstick line the “The Coko Collection.”

Elle Clarke: That’s awesome.

Coko: I’m 47, and the colors in my line you can wear every day. It’s just a beautiful collection.

Elle Clarke: Coko, you look so good, I can’t believe that you are 47. I was watching “Always on my mind” video, and I saw those long nails. Coko, how did you do it? How did you make it work with those nails?

Coko: I don’t know how I made it work -I really don’t. When you’re young, sometimes, you just do whatever you want, and you make it happen; because I did it without thought. Once, I had my children I had to calm down. Now they’re not as long because I know I wouldn’t be able to function with those long nails, now.

Elle Clarke: LOL! Coko, as a woman who as seen so many sides of the business, the good, the bad, the ugly. What advice would you give to women who are trying to do their own thing, but are facing obstacles on every side?

Coko: There will always be obstacles in life, but you have to get up and keep fighting. As long as you get up and fight, you’ll succeed. It’s when you lay down, and you give up that you are defeated. As long as you have breath in your body, keep getting up, keep fighting. You’ll make it happen. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t achieve your goals. If you want it, go for it!

Elle Clarke: As a mother how do you balance it all with, the business, the touring, the singing? How do you keep the family together?

Coko: It gets hard but, I’ve been doing this for so long. My mother helps me out a lot. There are times when my kids are with me at events, but I make sure before I leave my home, my family is straight, and everything is taken care of. I do not go anywhere unless I know that everybody is okay. My family comes first!