In the latest episode of Lip Service with Angela Yee, DiamondtheBody and Cortez Smith get real about their rise to fame, personal evolution, and the unfiltered truths behind their camera-ready personas.
DiamondtheBody, best known for her role on Baddies, and Cortez Smith, a Big Spawn alum from Chicago’s West Side (on the show since 2019), both agree — reality TV changed everything. From fans recognizing them in random places to people treating them like the characters they play, the fame is both a blessing and a curse.
“You walk into a grocery store and somebody’s quoting your fight from a reunion episode,” Cortez laughed, before revealing he uses the platform to push his music. For Diamond, it’s been about finding the balance. “This is a job. I don’t take the drama home,” she says — despite having suffered real injuries on set, including getting teeth knocked out.
Both admit that the drama fans obsess over is more curated than they think. They receive scripts one to two weeks before filming, but the emotions are real — especially when social media keeps the fire burning long after the cameras stop rolling.
When asked about her viral “2,000 bodies” comment, Diamond admits it was exaggerated for clout. “It was marketing, really,” she confesses. “But people took it and ran.”
Cortez, on the other hand, is focused on healing. After a health scare in Mexico, he’s now sober and celibate since March — a journey he says has transformed his energy, drive, and spiritual focus.
The conversation takes a turn as the hosts dig into dating. Cortez recounts an old flame — a wealthy South Korean girlfriend who showered him with Rolexes and designer drip during college. “But culture clashed, and her family wasn’t having it,” he shrugs.
Both guests share stories about being “the side piece,” sliding into DMs, and navigating the fine line between being wanted and being used. Diamond reflects on men flying her out for dates, while Cortez dishes on charging people to take them to prom back in the day. “It was all finesse,” he grins.
Outside of TV, Diamond’s keeping it real behind the bar at V12 in Atlanta, while Cortez promotes his indie film A Perfect Murder, now streaming on Tubby. The two even tease future collaborations in the film space.
