Wednesday, 2 April, 2008 11:26 PM

Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth talks adversity at Wayne State University

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Television star Omarosa Marnigault-Stallworth addressed students at the Community Arts building on the campus of Wayne State University Wednesday.

DETROIT -- Reality TV star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth came to Wayne State University Wednesday to speak about adversity and how she has faced the challenges in her life head on. Manigault-Stallworth is best known for being a contestant recently on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice.

The 34-year-old was born in Youngstown, Ohio. Manigault-Stallworth earned a bachelor's degree from Central State University in broadcast journalism and is currently finishing up her Ph.D. at Howard University. She is active politically and calls herself a democrat.

Omarosa's life was anything but perfect. Her father was murdered at the age of seven. Her brother turned to violence and gangs. She grew up in the housing projects.

"I have lived through the nightmare of public housing," said the reality star. "I took adversity and used it as a motivating factor.

"My first job out of college was in the White House. Boy, did I choose the best three years. I decided to go on the campaign trail for Al Gore. I had an opportunity to work with Bill and Camille Cosby. It was amazing to work with the Cosby's."

Omarosa worked for the Clinton administration and answered phone calls. "You have to give up a whole lot of yourself when you work in the administration."

Manigault-Stallworth has appeared on many reality television shows. In 2005, she was a contestant on a reality all-star episode of NBC's Fear Factor. She had conflicts with Nikki McKibbi, another contestant on the show. Then, she appeared on the VH1 series The Surreal Life where she had issues with costar Janice Dickinson.

Later that year, Manigault-Stallworth was a sideline reporter on Bravo's Battle of the Network Reality Stars show. In 2007, she was a guest on the TV series I Love New York. Manigault-Stallworth appeared as a mob member on the game show 1 vs. 100 later that year.

However, she is best known for being a contestant on NBC's reality series The Apprentice twice. Her first time on the show was during the first season. Manigault-Stallworth was fired after the ninth episode.

The reality star explains how she became a contestant on the show: "Friends of mine told me they were applying for this reality show. Five years ago, I applied out of a dare. I went for my interviews. They do a background on you. I remember walking in the room for my final interview. I was sassy."

Manigault-Stallworth never forgot the cameras were there during the taping. She admitted there were cameras placed in unique locations. "Three cameras in the stall. One in the refrigerator. Microphones in my pillow."

Omarosa realized that she had done something amazing. "From the projects to Trump Tower, I'm here," the reality star said. "After my TV Guide cover, it changes things. People who I hadn't talked to in years were calling."

In 2008, she was a participant on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Manigault-Stallworth remembers what Donald Trump said when he called to get her on the celebrity edition of the show. She recalls, "He said: 'I need you for Celebrity Apprentice.' He said: 'The money will go to my charity.'"

Omarosa had issues with fellow contestants Carol Alt and Piers Morgan. She was fired on March 6 after her third loss as project manager.

"I was too busy arguing with Piers," the reality star said. "We raised a million and a half for charity."

Omarosa offers advice to students at Wayne State

Manigault-Stallworth has faced a lot of challenges in her life. "Things are not always going to go your way," she said. "I lived with grief my entire life. A setback is a set up for a comeback. Having someone that believes in you is amazing. Networking is a powerful tool.

"I didn't win at Fear Factor either. The snakes bit me 27 times on the arm. I lost by six seconds. One day I'm going to get the ultimate victory."

In terms of politics, Omarosa is a Democrat. She volunteered for the Democratic party while she was going to college. "My role is to make sure the Democrats regain the White House."

The reality star admitted that our country is in a recession. She has made some financial changes herself. "I have scaled back on so many things. Online trading is one of the best gifts your generation has. A money market account works for me. I make my living off reality TV."

A lot of people ask her about reality TV and wonder how "real" it is. Manigault-Stallworth explained: "It is TV. Lights. Camera. Producers."

Omarosa was a journalism major at her university. "Journalism has changed so much. Now, it's like hurry up and get it on. When did blogs become sources?"

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Robert Pearson from the Gamma Theta chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity welcomes Omarosa to Wayne State University.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth spoke to students at Wayne State University.