‘Central Ave’ Is Centralizing Women Of Color In Entertainment One Show At A Time
What happens when a four-time Olympic gold medalist champion and a veteran television host of BET's 106 & Park walk into a room? They get together, turn the cameras on and star as the co-hosts for Will Packer's Central Ave. Sanya Richards-Ross and Julissa Bermudez have made history as the first two women of color to host an entertainment magazine show - and this is only the beginning for these two ladies bringing us "the right show for right now," as said in their description.
xoNecole had the chance to speak with the ladies of Central Ave about their working chemistry with one another, how their backgrounds led them to where they are today and their hopes for the future of Central Ave in the realm of entertainment and media. Here's what Sanya and Julissa had to say.
On their individual career paths and how it led to co-hosting ‘Central Ave’:
Sanya Richards-Ross: It's so funny and Julissa has said this so often but it's the truth - you never know who's watching. I was on the track for the majority of my life. My dad would always tell me and make me really focus on my interviews as part of my job. When I transitioned out of sports, I kept saying that I'd love to commentate for track and field because that's my love, but I didn't want to get boxed into doing just sports. I was very prayerful about other opportunities coming. I literally couldn't believe when Will Packer and Monique Chenault asked my agent to ask me to audition for Central Ave because this is a dream job for me to contribute to pop culture. Talking about topics that I care about outside of sports feels like a real blessing so I have to say that it was a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck that Monique Chenault was a track fan, saw me on the track and appreciated my interviews, and allowed me to have this great opportunity.
Julissa Bermudez: Personally, it's just been leading up to this point in a sense. I've been sort of wishing for a show like Central Ave to come around and to be part of it is even more special. As a TV personality and host, you dream of a gig like this. That's why when I say, "I've been waiting for a gig like this to come around like this," I've never really had an opportunity. I've kind of co-hosted as a guest on different entertainment news shows, but to be the actual co-host of a show where I can lend my flavor, personality, who I am and represent where I'm from on a weekly basis is very special and different. The opportunity came when my agent called and said the same thing when Will Packer and Monique Chenault wanted me to audition. It snowballed from there.
"I've kind of co-hosted as a guest on different entertainment news shows, but to be the actual co-host of a show where I can lend my flavor, personality, who I am and represent where I'm from on a weekly basis is very special and different."
On the chemistry the two share on and off the set:
Julissa: Off set, we are FaceTiming each other, checking in with each other, encouraging each other as much as we can - a lot more relaxed obviously. On set, we try to have as much fun as possible and we've actually learned to figure out how we work. She can be very pumped up with music, ready for the day and as I would imagine getting ready to run a race. I could be a lot more moody, I can own that. There [are] some days where I'm the same way and other days I wake up super focused, I don't want to hear music and I'm in my own zone. That can be challenging when you have to work with someone, but I think we've managed to figure out our rhythm.
Sanya: I have to say that for me, especially coming into this space as a newbie, Julissa has completely taken me under her wing and I feel so supported and inspired every single day. We both understand that chemistry is something that grows and builds and I could say that every single day we get on set, we can feel it happening. I'm finishing her sentences, I can tell what she's gonna say and I can't wait to see where we go from here but the starting point has been really magical. I'm so excited to be working with someone who has so much experience, is willing to teach me and allows me to grow at the same time.
"We both understand that chemistry is something that grows and builds and I could say that every single day we get on set, we can feel it happening. I'm finishing her sentences, I can tell what she's gonna say and I can't wait to see where we go from here but the starting point has been really magical."
On being the first two women of color to host an entertainment magazine show:
Sanya: Many times when you're the first at something or you look and say, "It's 2020, how come this hasn't happened before?" It just reminds you of how important and significant this time is. Obviously, we couldn't orchestrate any of the things that are happening right now that really does make it feel like the right show for right now. I take this as a huge responsibility as a Black woman to represent us well, make the most of the opportunity and continue to open doors for other women of color. It's not until you hear this that you'll realize that opportunities are very limited, we're overqualified to have many of these opportunities and we don't get them. I feel so blessed and honored to have this opportunity. I pray Black girls and brown girls will look at their TVs and say, "That can be me one day," and then aspire to be even greater than we are.
"I take this as a huge responsibility as a Black woman to represent us well, make the most of the opportunity and continue to open doors for other women of color. It's not until you hear this that you'll realize that opportunities are very limited, we're overqualified to have many of these opportunities and we don't get them."
Julissa: The people have to watch! That's the only way it can happen and the only way that we're going to continue to have opportunities like this and for future generations, other women and anyone considered a minority. Numbers don't lie and at the end of the day we are an entertainment business with an emphasis on business. When shows like this are on the air and they're not supported, that business aspect of it kicks in big time. That's why it's so important to put out a show we can be proud of, where we can be seen, heard, and represented, and once you tune in, you stay locked in. At the end of the day, we can only do this as a collective.
For more information on Central Ave, check out their official website and Instagram page. Follow Julissa on her Instagram and follow Sanya on her Instagram.
*Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Featured Image Courtesy of Central Ave/Allied Moxy Marketing Group
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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After Decades-Long Career, Terri J. Vaughn Is Finally The Main Character: Exclusive
Terri J. Vaughn first captured our attention in the late ‘90s as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show. Decades later, she is starring in her very own series, She The People, which is now available to stream on Netflix.
The political sitcom, which she co-created with Niya Palmer and later teamed up with Tyler Perry Studios, is about a Black woman named Antoinette Dunkerson who runs for lieutenant governor of Mississippi. She wins and becomes the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. Now, she’s forced to balance working with a racist and sexist governor while also trying to keep her family from running amok.
According to the beloved actress, this project was a long time coming. “I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff,” she says in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“But just keep going, because this is what I do. This is what I love, and I know how important it is for us to continue to show up and make sure that we are seen, make sure that our voices are heard. For several reasons. I just never give up. So here I am, 20 years later, finally sold my show.”
She The People is inspired by the true story of London Breed, who became the first Black female mayor of San Francisco, Terri’s hometown. And to help make the show more authentic, the Cherish the Day actress tapped former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms to come on as a producer.'“I’ve been trying to get my own television series for like 20 years, pounding the pavement, meeting with people, getting clothes, being lied to, just a whole bunch of stuff."
After bringing the former mayor aboard, it was time to pitch again. And this time, the companies were pitching them. Ultimately, Terri decided to work with Tyler Perry on the series.
“We decided to do it with Tyler for several reasons. I love that. Well, most of the companies we met with were Black-owned companies, but he was the only studio,” she explains. “Tyler is like Walt Disney. That's literally what he is. He has the studio, he has the content. He operates just like Walt Disney.”
And thanks to the cast, the show is nothing short of laughs. The series also stars social media creator Jade Novah as Antoinette’s crazy cousin/ assistant, Shamika, Family Mattersstar Jo Marie Payton as Anotinette’s mom, Cleo, and Terri’s husband, Karon Riley, who plays Michael, her driver and love interest.
While we’ve watched Terri’s career blossom in various ways. From directing to producing, and playing diverse characters, the mom of two says her The Steve Harvey Show character will always be her favorite.
“Well, Lovita was definitely my favorite, especially for my time, the age and everything that I was. Now as a grown ass woman over 50, Antoinette Dunkerson is everything that I've wanted to play. She's everything. She's a mother of two teenagers. She's divorced, so she's co-parenting with her ex-husband. She has to wrangle in a very eclectic family,” she says.
“So I like playing characters that are really flawed and trying to figure it out and doing their best to try to figure it. And she's very flawed and she is trying to figure it out, and she fucks up sometimes. But her heart and what she's trying to do and what her vision is and purpose, it's all for the people. I mean, she the people. She’s for the people, she is the people.”
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