VH1’s new reality show Sorority Sisters aired it’s drama-filled premiere episode last night (December 15, 2015).
[READ: Meet The Cast of ‘Sorority Sisters’ (PHOTOS + BIOS)]
Contrary to my initial post, the cast members were actually allowed to mention their sororities, however it was noted that in the opening credits that show had no greek affiliation.
In the first episode, titled ‘Sisterhood for Life,’ we meet several eccentric members of Atlanta’s African-American Greek community. Adrene Ashford and April McRae are two of the featured characters who happen to be rival sorority members as well as rival boutique owners. There’s also a new kid in town (a rare Caucasian member of the traditionally Black Delta Sigma Theta sorority) who meets with a fellow soror to get a makeover prior to meeting the others.
The show, which is billed as a show which ‘follows the lives of “sorors” from four different Atlanta sororities’ created quite a stir with it’s first episode, with many of the Divine 9 protesting the portrayal of it’s members.
There have are petitions circulating, letters being written and threats of boycotts but that didn’t stop the controversial new reality show from trending last night, with everyone (even the Greeks) tuned in to see just how far it would go!
Recap + watch the full episode below…
VH1 synopsis:
Unlike most white sororities, African-American sorors pledge for life and are expected to continue with community work long after graduation. With this fierce loyalty comes intense rivalry among the sisters of the different organizations. From long-awaited reunions and high teas, to managing the men in their lives, it’s homecoming all across the ATL! Our ladies have a lot at stake, from maintaining their image in the community to holding down the bonds and legacies of their sororities.
VIDEO: Sorority Sister Episode 1 ‘Sisterhood is Forever’
As episode 1 starts, we meet all of the ladies who each share their respective affiliations as well as their views on rival sororities.
I’m a Delta until the day I die, but like all sisters we have are problems. – Priyanka
Women of Alpha Kappa Alpha are known for being women of substance – April
Every icky AKA I know is a stuck up snob – MeToya
Delta’s are divas… bow down bitches. – Adrene
April McRae is an Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) who owns House of Couture boutique. She’s decided to expand her boutique to shoes and has been advertising the launch of her new ‘shoetique’ around town.
Somehow April’s flyers end up House of Adrene, a boutique across town run by Adrene Ashford who happens to be a Delta. When Adrene finds them on her counter, she immediately declares war on her rival soror.
[SIDEBAR: From what I can tell, there are way more Delta Sigma Theta’s associated with the program than any other sorority. There are about 9 official cast members and at least 5 of them are DSTs.]
Priyanka is in her late 20’s and she’s a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She says she was a pagent queen in college by now she’s on ‘the burlesque circuit’ in Atlanta (translation: stripper). Priyanka protects her fellow sisters and is also very protective of her sorority. When she meets Adrene, a fellow DST, Priyanka questions Adrene’s affiliation after she refuses to tell her her line date.
Adrene says she crossed ‘a few years ago’ but from what a know… a ‘few’ is more like 20. But we’ll address all that at a later date.
[Sidebar: I saw Adrene last night and she says to ‘check her credits… she ain’t gotta lie to kick it’ (WATCH) but I digress.]
Cat Harper is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho. She’s a dancer/photographer assistant for celebrity photographer Derek Blanks and is now taking a chance to step in front of the camera as a model. She graduated from college about 5 years ago and hopes that modeling can lead to a new career.
Veronica Hunt is a member Zeta Phi Beta and she was once an Atlanta Hawks Cheerleader. She is in a long distance relationship and recently got engaged. She’s hoping to audition for another cheerleading position but her fiance isn’t too happy about it.
Lydia Mitchell is a member of Delta Sigma Theta. She is a single mother who moved to Atlanta to become a ‘dancer’. She and Priyanka catch up on life, and Veronica admits that has been struggling financially since she hasn’t worked in a while.
‘Us sorors have to take care of each other, that’s why we joined the sisterhood…’
Shanna McCormick is a member of Delta Sigma Theta. She’s also a rare Caucasian member of a historically Black greek organization. Shanna recently moved to Atlanta from Arkansas and meets with Veronica for ‘image consulting’. She’s recently lost 70lbs and wants to make a good impression on her Atlanta sorors.
Shanna says she strives to be a mix between Michelle Obama and J-Lo and Veronica agrees to give Shanna a complete makeover.
The central conflict of the show seems to be between Adrene and April and the two ladies are often shown bumping heads throughout the show.
Adrene makes a visit to April’s shoetique opening, where she invites all of April’s guests to House of Adrene’s next event. In turn, April shows up at Adrene’s event, where she causes a scene as well. Yes… it’s all catty and no… it has nothing to do with Greeks. But whatever, let’s roll with it.
I can understand the ‘Divine 9’ being concerned with how their image is portrayed, but being that this show is more about women who just so happen to be members of sororities and not necessarily about the sororities themselves, it should do just fine.
But what do I know… I’m not Greek.