From Lawyer To Reality Star: Kendra Robinson Shares How She Built Her Business Portfolio

Reality TV has radically altered the landscapes of celebrity, politics and fame. This entertainment sector has created stars from Kim Khardasian to Jennifer Hudson to Cardi B. For many reality television stars, filming a show is a way to land a potential sponsorship deal.

For others like Kendra Robinson, it’s an opportunity for brand exposure and expansion. Known for her role on Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta and Yung Joc’s wife, Robinson made a name for herself off camera before joining the cast in 2019. As a successful criminal defense attorney and real estate lawyer, she is breaking the stigma around reality television stars.

“One of my reservations for not wanting to join the show was because I didn’t want people criticizing me or being in my world,” Robinson states. “The way that I deal with the critics now, and I guess this is going to be a big part and a basis for some of the other projects Jasiel [Yung Joc] and I are going to be a part of, is learning to tune them [critics] out... Basically, what I have to do in real-time, is to tune them out and continue to work.”

Robinson attended law school, intending to become a criminal lawyer. While a student, she interned for a criminal defense attorney, who offered her a job once she graduated. Simultaneously, she conducted title work in south Georgia.

Growing up, she witnessed social disparities, racism and injustice. Through her work, Robinson wanted to make a difference. Part of working on the criminal defense side is having empathy for people and understanding why they acted in a certain way.

“I’ve seen instances where people have the perfect life, or what we think the perfect life is,” Robinson shares. “They have a bad five minutes in a day; the worst five minutes they’ve ever had, something that maybe changes their lives, so I’ve learned it’s so mandatory to have grace on people. We are all just one bad day away from doing something in our lives that changes it for the better or worse... I meet so many people from so many different walks of life. Some of them are rich, some are poor, and some are in between. The one thing we all have in common is that we’re human.”

Additionally, she immersed herself in contract work to build up her reputation, which led Robinson to open two firms, Kendra Robinson & Associates, a criminal defense and real estate firm, and Sanders Robinson & Scott, a title company. A unique aspect of her business is that she pooled some of her clients; they all worked together and relied on one another for specific projects to form a real estate firm that dissolved the middleman.

Robinson met Joc while he was filming Love & Hip-Hop. For any couple, entering a new relationship in the public eye can be difficult. Initially, when Joc asked her to join the cast, Robinson declined; she wanted to continue building her practice behind the scenes. However, she agreed that her being on the show would help the two of them drive the narrative of their relationship.

The couple just celebrated their first wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month. Robinson states, “We learned to stick together, regardless of what the media puts out. We learn to tune it out and relish the moments we have here... But, we also know that we have to deal with the decision we made to let the cameraman or the rest of the world in.”

The entrepreneur turned reality TV star is now filming a new show and expanding her real estate portfolio. Also, Robinson is starting to produce music. Although it is in the early stages, she is working with other industry producers to learn the landscape while mixing beats.

As Robinson continues to evolve in her career, she focuses on the following essential steps:

• Plan as much as possible. Write out what you’re trying to accomplish. The more detailed you are, the better the execution strategy you’ll create.
• Understand your financial situation and whether or not you need to secure funding. In addition, building up your credit will help with larger institutions and establish your reputation.
• Market not only your business but yourself. Marketing is sometimes overlooked; however, it’s one of the most critical elements to succeeding.

“I can’t judge somebody because I think they have it all, or I can’t judge somebody because I feel like what they’re doing is beneath me,” Robinson concludes. “You can easily be a lawyer and be in front of a judge with a criminal case, or you can be a doctor in front of a judge, or you can be any old body. So you have to just treat people with respect.”