
Journalist Shaun Robinson Shares The Real Reason She Left 'Access Hollywood' After 16 Years

After 16 seasons on NBC's, Access Hollywood, working countless red carpets, and interviewing hundreds of A-List celebrities, Emmy-award-winning journalist Shaun Robinson has proven that she is the G.O.A.T.
With this being said, you can only imagine the excitement (and nerves) I experienced when the opportunity arose for me to speak with the Detroit native who has interviewed legends including the late Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, and countless others.
Eager to uncover the beautiful woman behind the microphone that has mastered using her charm to woo celebrities into opening the window to their glamorous lifestyles, we started our conversation from the beginning.
For her, it all started when she was a young girl in her grandma's living room watching the evening news, and a Black anchor, Beverly Payne, appeared on the screen. "I was mesmerized. She was the only woman of color [on the news] and I knew she was different because she looked like me," Shaun shared with xoNecole exclusively. "She set me on the path towards journalism."
While studying at Spelman, Shaun lucked up and landed her first big break, a television job as a host on a cable station talk show. While recapping her first experience, she made one thing clear: it wasn't all glamour.
"Now, this wasn't cable like today's cable, this was like Wayne's World cable," she remembers. "This was a local-local cable show."
Filled with the jitters, she remembers thinking, Is this something I can do? Trusting the process, it proved to be the right decision.
"I was working at a local, Black-owned channel in Detroit and I was so glad to be in my hometown because it meant that my parents would see me on TV. It was a wonderful and tremendous training ground for me because I gained experience in how to write, report, edit, and anchor a show. Eventually, I got a talk show there and that opportunity prepared me for my future."
Using her on-air talent, she found herself dubbed "Detroit's Oprah" in a local newspaper feature, making her a true hometown success.
Venturing out, Shaun later moved on and began working in Milwaukee, WI as a medical reporter, but in 1999, she found herself gracing international TV screens when she landed her position with Access Hollywood. With 16 seasons and thousands of interviews under her belt, there is one interview that she remembers like yesterday. Speaking one-on-one with singing legend Whitney Houston, right before her passing in February of 2012.
"It was at the Fox Theater in Detroit and I had my parents with me," she explains. "She seemed so happy and ready to get her life back on track. I was thriving off her good energy because she was so excited to be doing movies and her future was so brilliant."
Shaun still has fond memories of that day with Whitney taking a picture with her parents and treating them like family. "I'm just glad I had that opportunity to speak with her."
After gracing our screens every day for years with the celebrity tea, in 2015, Shaun saw fit to pass over her mic and give the opportunity to the next person in line. While many people were shocked to see her leave, she felt it was time to flex her many other talents.
"With me, that box has been checked. I had aspirations of being on a national entertainment show during a time when there was no cable or internet. It was at a time when it was too hard for a Black woman to get a job in the media profession. I was thinking too big but I was on one entertainment show longer than anyone except Mary Hart," she points out about her major life's accomplishment.
"I had aspirations of being on a national entertainment show during a time when there was no cable or internet. It was at a time when it was too hard for a Black woman to get a job in the media profession."
As a living legend in the world of entertainment news, she humbly accepts being considered a Black woman that broke the mold.
"After I left Access Hollywood, young Black women would tell me how much of an impact I had on them and their careers, and how I inspired them to pursue careers in journalism."
Just as she was inspired by Beverly Payne, Shaun takes her position as a role model very seriously. "The role of inspiring young women to pursue their dreams is something I take to heart. Like my grandmother said to me, 'If God gives you a platform, use it to help others.'"
Shaun took her grandmother's word to heart and began to work on making a difference in the lives of others in a major way. The 56-year-old Motor City native launched the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls, that now creates grants and opportunities for young women that have an interest in these five key areas: STEM, Health, Art, Unity, and Neighborhood.
"If there is a non-profit doing work in one of these five key areas, we could possibly be a resource for them," Shaun explains. "I want to help little girls and young women of color by leveling the playing field for them and supporting them in order to compete in a world that is not always receptive to women being, let's say, engineers. We help organizations that deal directly with girls and young women so that they can have an impact on their communities and then the world."
Besides being a philanthropist and the author of Exactly As I Am, Shaun has been flexing her production skills and creating movies that are soon to be released. "My lawyer said, 'Shaun, don't be just talent,'" she shared.
And to prove that she is more than just a pretty face interviewing on the red carpet, she signed a deal along with pastor and filmmaker, T.D. Jakes, to bring movies to our at-home screens via the Lifetime Network. "We will be producing a series of books by Victoria Christopher Murray called, The Seven Deadly Sins."
Although she was not able to share all the juicy details with me, she can share that she is thrilled beyond measure to be doing this with a Black cast and crew. "This world and this business have a way of trying to tear people down and tell them that they're not good enough," she says, speaking from the heart. "I was on AH during its heyday, when it was one of the only games in town, and I was the only Black face working media on the red carpet. The entertainment industry business has changed a lot."
Shaun recalls an interview she did with Oprah Winfrey for her book, "She gave a wonderful quote, 'You're valuable because you were born.' I always thought that was a powerful quote because you don't need outside validation, you don't need social media validation or anything like that. Just know you're valuable because you were born and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to."
"Just know you're valuable because you were born and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to."
To catch up with Shaun Robinson and her latest ventures, follow her on Instagram (@msshaunrobinson) and to learn more about her organization, visit shaunfoundationforgirls.org.
Featured image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Luxury Hairstylist On Viral 'Hey Boo' Texts & Professionalism In The Hair Industry
As Black women, our hair is our crowning glory - whether we paid for it or not. We take pride in how we wear and take care of our hair. As with everything, hair care and hair styling have evolved over the years. Long gone are the days of Blue Magic (although I hear it’s making a comeback).
Now, we have a plethora of creams, oils, conditioners, shampoos, and stylists to choose from. Beyond wearing our natural curls, we have a range of options, from wigs and sew-ins to tape-ins, I-tips, and K-tips. So much choice! But you know what they say about too much of a good thing...
The Black hair industry has definitely blossomed in the last decade with a wave of new stylists and salons popping up all over the place. As much as I love that for us, many of these stylists have become the subjects of viral TikTok and Instagram tirades because of their alleged questionable behavior and bizarre rules.
Excessive policies, strange fees, long wait times, poor performance, and the infamous “Hey boo” texts. Beauty is pain, they say… xoNecole got to the root of these issues with luxury hair extensionist Dee Michelle, who’s been in the hair game for 20 years and runs a seven-figure business - all while being a mom of four.
Antonio Livingston
“I started my business with my career in the hair industry [at] very, very young age when I was maybe like eight...So, over the years, I've just built a very successful seven-figure business very quickly just by offering high-end services and creating great experiences for my clients, many of whom are high-profile professionals,” she said. “I'm also a mother of four, including a set of triplets, which inspires me daily to show what's possible with my hard work and focus.”
Dee’s business has gone viral on social media because of what many call outrageous prices for her invisible K-Tip installs.
“When I developed my invisible K-tip extensions technique, I made sure that it wasn't just about the hair or the style, but about providing a high-end experience from start to finish. So, my clients just aren't paying for the extensions or just the style itself, but they're investing into my meticulous, seamless craft and premium hair sourced from the best suppliers…I've spent so many hours mastering my craft, creating this seamless method that gives my clients long-lasting natural results, and my pricing just reflects that - the value of my expertise and the exclusivity of the service.”
The K-tip specialist stands on business when it comes to catering to her clients and giving them an experience worth the cost.
“And it's just important for me to also say that my clients are high-profile individuals who value quality, their privacy, and their time. They want a service that fits into their lifestyle and their time. They want things that deliver perfection. And I deliver that every single time.”
I’m sure we’ve all seen the various TikTok rants about people’s nightmare experiences with stylists and uttered a silent “FELT!” We asked Dee her opinion on a few nightmare scenarios that beg the response, “please be so forreal."
On stylists charging extra to wash clients’ hair:
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
On ‘deposits’ that don’t go towards the cost of the service:
“I think that's kind of weird, too, for deposits to not be like a part of the service. I've seen people have booking fees and I just don't understand it, to be honest. I disagree with that kind of policy…By all means, people should do what works for them, but to me, it doesn't make sense. Why does somebody have to pay a fee just to book an appointment with you? I don't get it. It feels like exploitation.”
On stylists charging extra to style (straighten/curl) wigs, sew-ins etc., after installing:
“I don't get it. Clients come to us to get their hair done, to get it styled. So why is it extra for you to style it? If you're going to charge extra, just increase your price. I feel like it could be just a lack of confidence in those stylists, feeling like people won't pay a certain price for certain things, or just their lack of professionalism as well, because people are coming to us to get styled.”
On the infamous “Hey boo” text stylists send to clients when they need to cancel/reschedule:
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
We know all too well what kinds of things will keep us from ever gracing certain hairstylists’ chairs with our butts again. So, what should hairstylists do to provide a good service to their clients? What is good hairstylist etiquette?
“For one, being on time is an important rule for stylist etiquette. It's just not okay to require your clients to be on time, and you're not on time. Also, communication. Being able to communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally, whether that's in person, via text, or on social media. Style is etiquette. Appearance matters. So just maintaining a clean, polished, and professional look. Clients respect you more whenever your appearance reflects your work. There's just so many things, but another thing I would say is active listening. So, being able to pay close attention to what your client wants and also clarifying any questions that they might have. Just to ensure that they feel heard and to minimize any misunderstandings.”
Dee also shared some red flags to look out for when considering a new stylist.
“Even me as a client, if I'm booking somebody and they have a long list of rules, I don't even book with them. That's, for one, just such a huge turn-off. Also, stylists who have inconsistent or unclear pricing, that's a red flag. People who change their rates too much without an explanation. Poor communication. So, if a stylist is responding very slow or responding unprofessionally, or giving vague answers to questions, that can make clients question whether or not they are respecting their time and their needs.
Another red flag - an inconsistent or low quality portfolio. And I feel like, I see this a lot with stylists stealing other people's work, and their portfolio on social media is just very inconsistent.”
We couldn’t let Dee go without getting the tea on what styles she predicts will trend in 2025.
“I feel like people are going back to natural-looking styles. So, a lot of people are ditching the wigs, the lace fronts, things like that. People are still wearing them, of course, but it is becoming more of a trend to embrace your natural hair and something that's not looking too fake. That’s one thing that we're going to be seeing a lot. I would say a lot of layers are coming back, heavy layers. Those are becoming really, really trendy. And people are leaning more towards platinum-colored hair. I've been seeing lots of like blondes coming out. Also, jet black is always going to be a trend. But I would say more like natural colors, but natural colors that are still making a statement.”
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Feature image by Antonio Livingston.
Successful Black Women Share Real Networking Tips That Actually Work
Networking can be enjoyable or a total cringe-fest, especially in a post-pandemic world of hybrid-remote confusion. It can seem challenging to really connect with people when they've either opted to work from home for good or they're reluctantly dragging themselves into the office two days a week wishing they could work from home.
Also, virtual networking has its own awkward and sometimes downright unappealing moments. I mean, how do you really get to know someone who's probably multitasking five other things while on the call with you, had little desire to turn their camera on, and is possibly not even wearing pants? It seems like everyone is juggling a lot and simply trying to survive, not focused on making new friends, work besties, or business partners.
Well, don't let the pessimism set in just yet. There are still many people out there who are open to new connections (or at least continuing to cultivate and build on old ones). And there is still value in authentic networking where you're able to not only find kindred industry spirits to chat about everyday issues you face at work, but destiny helpers who are divinely placed in your life for the most positive and fabulous life advancement you've ever seen.
Get inspired by these real-life stories of women professionals and entrepreneurs who have witnessed, firsthand, the power of true connection through networking:
Dr. Amber L. Wright, Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach, Words Well Said
DFinney Photo
On the true key to networking that actually works: "Focusing on building relationships versus transactions is also important for creating meaningful connections and expanding your network."
On a networking experience that led to results: "While attending a conference, I met a woman who did a fantastic job as a panel moderator. She had a great stage presence and was dressed impeccably. After the panel, I approached her to say hello and offer my compliments on how well she did. She thanked me for the kind words and we struck up a conversation, ending with the proverbial promise to keep in touch."
"We both kept that promise and stayed in touch via social media. That eventually led to offline conversations, resulting in us sharing opportunities to advance both of our businesses."
"She is now the CEO of a leadership development firm and in partnering with her, I have experienced significant financial growth in my business as a keynote speaker and executive coach. That one interaction all of those years ago has resulted in one of my most rewarding personal and professional relationships!"
On a one-on-one networking experience that built impact: "I had a virtual co-working session with someone I didn’t know (via a co-working app), that resulted in us sharing a bit about what we do and connecting on LinkedIn. Months later, she randomly tagged me in a call for speakers, which led to me being hired as the opening keynote speaker for that conference."
Dontaira Terrell, Journalist & Publisher, The Buckeye Review
Courtesy, DontairaTerrell.com
On proactivity despite rejection: “My initial story pitches were unsuccessful, but I maintained a strong relationship with my former colleague. I consistently shared updates and offered support, cultivating a valuable connection."
This proactive approach unexpectedly led to an opportunity when a legacy brand needed management assistance for its annual premiere event.
On dynamic results: "She immediately recommended me for the position, and within a week, I was collaborating with their executive team, successfully bringing their high-profile event to life.”
How To Make Real Connections Through Networking In 2025
Today's networking, especially in an environment where millions of professionals are working remote or hybrid, it's all about authenticity, collaboration, and service. Oftentimes, opportunities come through people who simply like one another and have things in common. People like to work with people who are not only performers but who are a joy to know and work with.
Posting consistently on LinkedIn, actively engaging by sharing relevant information and opportunities, and responding to comments are great ways to break the ice and meet new high-achieving professionals. Also, practicing networking with smaller groups via meet-ups, happy hours and brunches is still valuable versus only focusing your time and money on larger conferences or work-mandated experiences.
And don't wait until you need something (like a new job after a sudden job loss or a source of investment for a new project). Be proactive and get into the practice of cultivating relationships whether you see an immediate return on investment or not.
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Featured image by LaylaBird/Getty Images