You remember the red hair. Most people do. When Melissa Forde—better known to the world as simply Melissa or "Melyssa"—stepped onto the screen during the seventh season of Love & Hip Hop: New York, the atmosphere shifted. She wasn't just another aspiring rapper or a girlfriend looking for a come-up. She arrived with a pedigree that most of the cast could only dream of. She was Rihanna’s best friend. That’s a heavy mantle to carry in a reality TV landscape built on clout and proximity to greatness.
Honestly, the Melissa Love and Hip Hop era was a weird, fascinating collision of genuine industry royalty and the chaotic, often scripted world of VH1 drama. She didn't fit the mold. While others were screaming in restaurants, Melissa was trying to navigate a "peacekeeper" role that, frankly, rarely works in a show designed for conflict. It felt like she was playing a different game than everyone else.
The Rihanna Connection and the Weight of Expectations
Let's be real for a second. The only reason the cameras were so thirsty for Melissa was her 24/7 access to the Navy. Being the right-hand woman to one of the biggest pop stars on the planet creates a level of intrigue that is hard to sustain. Fans expected her to spill tea on Riri. They expected a glimpse into the billionaire lifestyle. Instead, Melissa gave us herself.
She was a professional photographer. A creative director. Someone who had traveled the globe before she ever signed a VH1 contract. This created an immediate tension. In the world of Love & Hip Hop, your value is often measured by who you’re fighting with or who you’re sleeping with. Melissa tried to make it about her brand. She wanted to step out of the shadow of her famous bestie and establish her own identity. It’s a classic "sidekick" pivot, but the transition is rarely smooth.
The show portrayed her as a bit of a mystery. One minute she’s hanging with Cardi B (back when Cardi was still the queen of the Bronx, pre-Grammy), and the next she’s caught in the crossfire of the messy Remy Ma and Papoose dynamic. She was the ultimate "insider" who somehow always felt like an outsider.
Why Her Storyline Felt Different
Most LHHNY cast members have a very specific trajectory. You start with a struggle, you have a massive blowout at a party involving a thrown drink, and you hope for a spin-off. Melissa didn't have that "reality TV hunger." She had a certain level of coolness that felt... detached? Maybe that's the word.
She was often seen as the bridge between different cliques. During her time on the show, specifically around 2016 and 2017, the New York franchise was going through a massive transition. The old guard was clashing with the new energy. Melissa found herself caught between the Yandy Smith-Harris orbit and the Rah Ali camp. It was messy. But while the others were playing for the cameras, Melissa’s drama often felt more internal. She was dealing with the reality of being "known for being known."
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There was that one specific arc with DJ Self and the "Gwinin" crew. It felt a bit forced, didn't it? Watching someone who has toured the world with Rihanna try to take a radio DJ's power plays seriously was a stretch for the audience. We knew she had bigger fish to fry. This is the danger of casting someone with actual industry status in a show that thrives on the "hustle." When you’ve already arrived, the hustle looks like a hobby.
The Photography Passion and the "Star Shaker" Era
If you look past the edited bickering, Melissa was actually trying to promote her work as a photographer. She’s incredibly talented behind the lens. This is something the show barely touched on because, let's face it, watching someone edit photos in Lightroom isn't "good TV" compared to a glass-shattering argument in a lounge.
She called herself a "Star Shaker." It was a brand built on her ability to move through elite circles and capture the essence of celebrity culture. She wasn't just a face in the background; she was a documentarian of a very specific, high-glitz lifestyle. People often forget that before the show, she had already established a career. She wasn't looking for a "break" in the traditional sense. She was looking for a platform.
But the platform of reality TV is a double-edged sword. It gives you visibility, but it also flattens your personality. To the average viewer, she became "Rihanna’s friend who does photography," rather than a professional creative. It’s a lesson in brand management. If you don't control the narrative, the editors at VH1 will do it for you. They’ll choose the 10 seconds where you look annoyed over the 10 hours you spent working.
Life After the Cameras: Where is She Now?
Melissa didn't stick around for the long haul. She wasn't a "lifer" like Karlie Redd or Yandy. After Season 7 and a few appearances in Season 8, she largely stepped back from the reality TV grind. And honestly? It was probably the smartest move she could have made.
The Melissa Love and Hip Hop experience served its purpose. It introduced her to a wider demographic that wasn't just Rihanna stans. But since leaving, she has leaned back into her roots. She’s still a mainstay in the fashion and music world. You’ll see her at the Met Gala. You’ll see her at Fenty launches. She’s still the person the stars trust to be in the room when the cameras are supposed to be off.
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Her Instagram is a masterclass in aesthetic. She’s managed to maintain that "cool girl" status without the baggage of reality TV tropes. She isn't doing "tea" videos or catching flights for club appearances in small towns. She’s back in the rooms where the real decisions are made.
The Real Impact of Her Stint on the Show
Did she change the show? Not really. Love & Hip Hop is a machine that eats and spits out personalities every year. But she did represent a specific moment in time where the show tried to bridge the gap between "street" and "elite."
Her presence forced the audience to acknowledge that there are layers to the industry. Not everyone is looking for a record deal. Some people just want to be seen as the professionals they are. Melissa was a reminder that even in the middle of a chaotic reality show, you can maintain a level of dignity. She rarely, if ever, went "below the belt." She kept it classy, even when the script probably called for her to go low.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Melissa/Rihanna Dynamic
There’s a common misconception that Melissa was just a "hanger-on." That’s such a lazy take. If you’ve followed their friendship for the last 15+ years, you know it’s a sisterhood. They grew up together in Barbados. That bond is forged in something way deeper than industry networking.
When Melissa joined the show, some fans thought it meant there was "trouble in paradise" with her and Riri. Like she needed the money or the fame because she was being pushed out. In reality, it was likely the opposite. Having your own platform and your own checks coming in makes a friendship more equitable. It allows you to be your own person.
The Takeaway for Aspiring Influencers
If you’re looking at Melissa’s trajectory as a blueprint, there are a few key things to note. First, she didn't burn bridges. Second, she used the show to highlight a skill (photography), even if the show didn't focus on it. Third, she knew when to leave.
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Many people overstay their welcome on reality TV until they become a caricature of themselves. Melissa exited while she still had her reputation intact. She didn't let the "VH1 curse" touch her professional life. That’s a rare feat.
How to Build a Brand Like a "Star Shaker"
If you're trying to leverage a high-profile connection or a reality TV stint into a long-term career, follow these insights:
- Audit Your Circle Regularly: Melissa's strength was her loyalty. She never traded secrets for screen time. In the long run, loyalty is worth more than a viral clip.
- Keep Your Day Job (Mentally): Even while filming, she identified as a photographer. Never let your "character" on a show replace your actual professional identity.
- Diversify Your Visibility: Don't rely on one platform. Melissa used the show to drive eyes to her creative work, which exists independently of VH1's streaming rights.
- Master the "Quiet Exit": You don't need a dramatic "I'm leaving" post. Sometimes, just moving on to bigger and better projects is the loudest statement you can make.
The legacy of Melissa on the show isn't a collection of fights or memes. It's the story of a woman who walked into a lion's den of drama and walked out with her hair still perfectly in place and her camera still in her hand. She proved you can be in the mix without being of the mix.
To truly follow her path, start by documenting your own world. Focus on the craft first. Whether it's photography, music, or business, the "clout" is only useful if you have something substantial to back it up when the cameras finally turn off. Melissa Forde did. And that’s why she’s still relevant long after her last episode aired.
Check her current portfolio. Look at the lighting. Look at the composition. That's the work of someone who was always a "Star Shaker," regardless of whether the VH1 cameras were rolling.
Next Steps for You:
Check out Melissa's official photography portfolio or her social media archives from 2017 to see how she balanced her personal brand with her professional work during her television peak. Compare her output then to her current creative direction with Fenty and other major labels to see the evolution of her visual style.