She's back
Cindi & Erica Rose become Dr. Phil's fantastic duo, ignore Kelly Cutrone'sHooters advice
Erica in her promo pic of "You're Cut Off"
Cindi Rose and Erica Rose (sans crown)Photo by Daniel Ortiz
Princess of Fitness
Dr. Phil
"You're Cut Off" follow-up photo of Erica Rose
Houston reality star Erica Rose is coming back to the tube, but it's not for a new reality series. Whereas her experiences on The Bachelor and this summer's You're Cut Off have showcased her signature princess personality in a reality show setting, on Thursday Erica appears with mother Cindi on an episode of Dr. Phil, titled "Spoiled and Entitled."
The talk show appearance included a one-day internship with New York fashion PR powerhouse Kelly Cutrone in an effort to give T. Erica a taste of the working world.
"I went back and forth," the 27-year-old Erica tells CultureMap about the decision to be featured on Dr. Phil, which has a reputation as an emotional rollercoaster for show participants.
"I thought, maybe I can be more in control of my image," she says, adding that she was wary of speaking on the tired topic of entitlement, but knew that the TV appearance would be "good exposure."
In an e-mail to CultureMap, mother Cindi Rose wrote of the experience:
He [Dr. Phil] had his Emmy-award crew film in her apt., and both of us in my 10,000 square foot Hunter's Creek Tucson Med mansion."
Erica reports that she hit it off with Cutrone in New York, even though she has no interest in pursuing a career in the world of fashion. "Of course they wanted me to act a little more incompetent than I would normally," she says.
Sounds like the second year law student is ready for a shift in her public persona.
"People want me to be this little silly stereotype of myself. Yes, my parents support me, but I work hard at school and my career," Erica says.
"We'll see if Dr. Phil has any actual advice," she adds. During her stint in New York, Erica brushed off Cutrone's recommendation that she dismiss her TV legal personality ambitions.
"She told me to drop out of law school, and go to LA and be a waitress at Hooters," Erica says. "That wouldn't make me happy. A lot of reality stars drop out of law school."
Once framed as a high-maintenance monster, it seems that the reality star is getting, well, real.
"Everyone has different paths," Erica says. "Mine is a long road, and it's hard."
When Erica spoke with CultureMap, she was en route to Los Angeles for another TV obligation, and will return next week to film a second Dr. Phil special.
"Between this and that and law school, I'm very overextended," she admits. "I don't even know how I'm going to be able to watch tomorrow's episode. It's getting hard for me to do everything, and I don't know what to do about it."
Erica hopes to delve back into her pastime of yoga to maintain her sense of balance as she focuses on a December 2011 graduation. "Sometimes I miss being cut off and not having my BlackBerry with me," she says.
Erica describes her initial engagement with Dr. Phil as enjoyable and steered clear of intense emotions.
"I was pleasantly surprised and I'm excited to go back," she says, but maintains that the media is cornering her into the role of permabrat: "I feel like people won't get an accurate view of me. I would definitely like the opportunity to be more real."
Those in Houston who want to see Dr. Phil's take on Erica Rose will have to watch it on the show's website as the Bayou City is one of the few cities in the country that doesn't have a station that regularly airs Dr. Phil.
