The Valley's A.K
The Valleys has had a controversial start to life.
MTV’s new reality show has been a hit with audiences, becoming the channel’s highest rated show yet attracted flak from a number of places from the media.
We spoke to the show's mentors Jordan and A.K on why they think the show doesn’t deserve the criticism it’s taken, their life experiences and what they think makes a good mentor.
So, how did you get involved in the show?
A.K - The producers found me and they knew a lot about me, they knew my reputation and they thought I was the best girl for the job, which I am. We met, they talked about the show and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I loved the show’s ideas and what they were trying to do.
You’ve got a really interesting backstory, being in the Navy and then becoming a bouncer before going into glamour modelling. Has that colourful past helped you at all?
A.K - Well, being ex-forces and being a bouncer you become disciplined and strong minded and that’s made me the person I am now. All that makes me a good mentor because I’ve been there, I’ve lived my life and I’m very disciplined, which is crucial in helping these kids achieve the goals that they want to.
You’ve said that you want to throw away the stereotype that glamour models are bimbos too.
A.K - Yeah, I just get fed up with glamour models being labelled as WAG wannabes, so I’m just here to prove that we do have brains, we are intelligent. I’m proof of that so I’m here to guide these kids and get them to show off their brains and intelligence, because that’s what’s going to help them.
So, what made you stop modelling?
A.K - I actually fell pregnant and I’d achieved everything I wanted to do. I’d had lots of front covers and spreads in magazines and I thought it was time to bow out gracefully and they ideal time seemed to be when I got pregnant.
How have you two found your dealings with the cast then?
Jordan - Well, I think it was important to try and understand what makes all of them tick as individuals and not treat them as a group, which would have been quite easy to do. Understand each of their backgrounds and stories and get to know them on a personal level than just boss them with discipline.
A.K - I agree with that. They’re all individuals, they’ve got their own ways and it’s all about learning to work with that and adapt to help them become the characters they can become.
Do you think you’ll be working with them in the future?
A.K - All of them have prospects of working along me or else we wouldn’t have picked them. Lots of people auditioned to be a part of the show and we’re only working with kids who really believe have got the ability and the passion to make it. I fully believe I’ll be working with every one of them at some point. Some quicker than others, but they’ve all got the ability. And with me as their mentor, they’ll all definitely make it, I’m passionate about that.
What do you both think makes being a good mentor?
A.K – Being a mentor is not just about being there as their boss or even being a sister figure at moments, it’s about understanding them, guiding in them and believing in them. That we do believe in them I think is a real strength and a help to them.
Jordan – I think it’s about being able to lead by example and being a master of the trade that your mentoring in. For example, with me teaching Liam how to DJ, he believes in me because he can see me DJing. Carley wanted to be a promoter, she believes in me because she can see me promoting events. It’s very easy to sit in an office and delegate, but when you’re mentoring, you have to be seen mentoring yourself. I think that’s key.
A.K – We’ve both got proven backgrounds in our industries.
So, Jordan, what made you get into the world of promotions?
Jordan - Well, I just started out just as a DJ and realised I had my own little niche following from the area I come from. Luckily, I’ve always been the leader rather than a follower. So if I said a party was good and went to it, 50 people would come with me. So I just thought of combining the two and doing my own events. I was working abroad and met a lot of DJs from London, Manchester and Birmingham and started booking them to come to Cardiff and play new music that hadn’t been heard there yet. So it just grew from there.
What’s the most important thing in promotions then?
Jordan - It’s about trust. People now trust that I put on a good night. If I say it’s going to be a good party they’ll come because they know they’re going to have a good time. It’s about networking, having good social groups and remembering everybody’s name that you speak to so people want to come out and party with you.
Finally, the show’s been criticised for showing Wales in a bad light. What are your responses to that then?
A.K - We’re helping kids follow their dreams, I can’t see how people can put that in a negative way. We’ve taken them out of area where there’s not many prospects, and put them in Cardiff where me and Jordan are helping them get a career. So, I really don’t see how there’s a negative. Yes, the party and yes, they get drunk but what young adult doesn’t?
Jordan - We knew the show was going to be controversial, just like any other reality show is in the area that it’s based. I think the difference with this show is that me and A.K actually singed up because we genuinely wanted to touch someone’s lives and make a difference. Ultimately, there are the outrageous antics and behaviour, but you actually see their careers progressing and their dreams and aspirations coming to life, whereas other shows don’t.
A.K - Me and Jordan believe in them 100%, or we wouldn’t have done the show. We really have faith in this and we’re backing it all the way.
The Valleys concludes next Tuesday, October 30th at 10pm on MTV.
FemaleFirst Cameron Smith
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