# Melyssa Ford

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{{Short description|Canadian-American hip-hop model, actress, and television personality (born 1976)}}
{{Infobox model
| name         = Melyssa Ford
| image        = MelyssaFordMar05.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption      = Ford in March 2005
| birth_name   = Melyssa Savannah Ford
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1976|11|7}}
| birth_place  = [Toronto](/source/Toronto), Ontario, Canada
| nationality  = 
| other_names  = 
| citizenship  = 
| alma_mater   = 
| occupation   = {{hlist|Media personality|actress|video vixen}}
| years_active = 1997–present
| height       = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}<ref name="nyt-05-04"/>
| hair_color   = Brown
| eye_color    = Light brown
| website      = {{url|https://www.melyssaford.com}}
}}

'''Melyssa Savannah Ford''' (born November 7, 1976) is a Canadian media personality, actress, and former [video vixen](/source/video_vixen).<ref name="CNN">{{cite web |author1=[American Morning](/source/American_Morning) |title=Black in America: Video Vixens Too Revealing? |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ltm/date/2008-07-24/segment/02 |website=[CNN](/source/CNN) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=July 24, 2008}}</ref><ref name="nyt-05-04">{{cite web |last1=Century |first1=Douglas |title=How to Succeed in Videos Without Really Dancing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/style/how-to-succeed-in-videos-without-really-dancing.html |website=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=May 2, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ogunnaike |first1=Lola |title=New Magazines for Black Men Proudly Redefine the Pinup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/arts/new-magazines-for-black-men-proudly-redefine-the-pinup.html |website=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=August 31, 2004}}</ref>

==Early life==
Melyssa Savannah Ford was born on November 7, 1976, in [Toronto](/source/Toronto), Ontario.<ref name="vibe-09-08">{{cite web |title=Melyssa Ford |url=http://www.vibe.com/celebs/vixens/feature.html?id=211 |website=[Vibe](/source/Vibe_(magazine)) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204021153/http://www.vibe.com/celebs/vixens/feature.html?id=211 |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ford is mixed race, with her father having roots in Barbados, and her mother having Norwegian and Russian ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melyssa Ford Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0285783/bio/ |website=[IMDb](/source/IMDb) |access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>

She attended [York University](/source/York_University), majoring in the field of [forensic psychology](/source/forensic_psychology).<ref name="vibe-09-08"/><ref name="nyt-05-04"/>

==Career==
In 1997, music video director [Little X](/source/Little_X) discovered Ford, who was 20, while she was working as a bartender at a Toronto nightclub and helped launch her modelling career.<ref name="vibe-09-08"/> She has appeared in [music video](/source/music_video)s, [men's magazines](/source/List_of_men's_magazines), television programs and films.<ref name="nyt-05-04"/> Ford was an on-air personality for [Sirius Satellite Radio](/source/Sirius_Satellite_Radio)'s [Hot Jamz](/source/Hot_Jamz) channel.<ref>{{cite web |title=SIRIUS Satellite Radio – Hot Jamz |url=http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Channel&cid=1104779639899&flash=noflash |website=[Sirius Satellite Radio](/source/Sirius_Satellite_Radio) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807190505/http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/CachedPage&c=Channel&cid=1104779639899&flash=noflash |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |quote=Hot Jamz is about to get a lot hotter: Melyssa Ford has joined our squad! |url-status=dead}}</ref> She formerly sold a line of calendars and a DVD.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ford |title=Naked |pages=219–220 |chapter=Calendar Girl}}</ref>

In a 2008 [CNN](/source/CNN) interview, Ford explained that when making music videos she often asked herself whether she was "perpetuating a negative stereotype" about black women. When she was asked whether music videos, overall, are "demeaning to women", Ford replied, "Yes, I definitely have to say that".<ref name="CNN"/>

From June 2014 to January 2015, Ford participated in the [Bravo Network](/source/Bravo_(U.S._TV_channel)) television series ''[Blood, Sweat & Heels](/source/Blood%2C_Sweat_%26_Heels)'', documenting her social life against the background of her struggles of becoming a realtor in New York.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Settembre |first1=Jeanette |title='Blood, Sweat and Heels' follows six black New York City women on the rise |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/blood-sweat-heels-black-new-york-city-women-rise-article-1.1561676 |website=[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=December 31, 2013}}</ref>

In 2016, Ford became a co-host of ''Hollywood Unlocked'', a Los Angeles-based hip-hop and pop culture radio show. Ford returned to the show in April 2019 following her car accident in June 2018. In November 2019, Ford launched a podcast on YouTube called ''I'm Here for the Food''.<ref>{{cite web |title=I'm Here For The Food |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ImHereForTheFood |website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The podcast featured a host of guests and covered a range of topics, including colourism, human trafficking, and forgiveness. The podcast last aired in November 2020. On August 24, 2020, Ford announced she would no longer be co-hosting ''Hollywood Unlocked''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Alyssa |title=Melyssa Ford Returns & Discusses Grief & Goodbye on Hollywood Unlocked [UNCENSORED] |url=https://hollywoodunlocked.com/melyssa-ford-returns-discusses-grief-goodbye-on-hollywood-unlocked-uncensored/ |website=Hollywood Unlocked |access-date=June 28, 2024 |date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>

In 2022, after several years in Los Angeles, Ford moved back to the [New York metropolitan area](/source/New_York_metropolitan_area), and from December 2022 to September 2025, she co-hosted ''[The Joe Budden Podcast](/source/The_Joe_Budden_Podcast)'' alongside broadcaster and former rapper [Joe Budden](/source/Joe_Budden). On November 1, 2024, Ford premiered a new podcast called ''Hot and Bothered with Melyssa Ford'' focused on wellness and lifestyle practices for women over 40.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-04 |title=Melyssa Ford To Remove The Shame, Bring The Sexy To Menopause Conversation With 'Hot And Bothered' Podcast |url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/melyssa-ford-menopause/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Essence |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2025, Ford was mentioned in the song '[Gimme a Hug](/source/Gimme_a_Hug)' by [Drake](/source/Drake_(musician)), featured on his album ''[Some Sexy Songs 4 U](/source/Some_Sexy_Songs_4_U)''. <ref>{{Citation |title=Drake – GIMME A HUG |url=https://genius.com/Drake-gimme-a-hug-lyrics |access-date=2025-03-25}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In June 2018, Ford was seriously injured in a car crash involving an 18-wheeler truck. She suffered a skull fracture and concussion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fernández |first1=Alexia |title=Former Bravo Star Melyssa Ford Seriously Injured in Horrific Crash with 18-Wheeler Truck |url=https://people.com/tv/melyssa-ford-survived-crash-18-wheeler-truck/ |website=[People](/source/People_(magazine)) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |language=en |date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[Turn It Up](/source/Turn_It_Up_(film))''
| Deborah
| 
|-
| 2004
| ''Psyche''
| Kenya
| Short film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| ''God's Prayer''
| Dr. Jasmine Gray
| 
|-
| ''[Three Can Play That Game](/source/Three_Can_Play_That_Game)''
| Candy
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2008
| ''[Love for Sale](/source/Love_for_Sale_(2008_film))''
| Katherine
| 
|-
| ''[Days of Wrath](/source/Days_of_Wrath_(2008_film))''
| Lisa
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011
| data-sort-value="Slap, The" | ''The Slap''
| Puma
| Short film
|-
| ''Video Girl''
| Lala
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2012
| ''[Think like a Man](/source/Think_like_a_Man)''
| Sleepy Girl
| 
|-
| ''Redemption of a Dog''
| Sheila
| 
|-
| 2013
| ''[Playin' for Love](/source/Playin'_for_Love)''
| Bella
| 
|-
| 2018
| ''The Stuff''
| Denise Washington
| 
|-
| 2023
| ''Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas''
| Letitia
| TV movie
|-
| 2024
| ''Hunting Housewives''
| Sharell Bouvier
| TV movie
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[Soul Food](/source/Soul_Food_(TV_series))''
| Hoochie Mama
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2004–2006
| ''[BET Style](/source/BET_Style)''
| Herself/Host
| Main Host
|-
| 2005
| ''VH1 News Presents''
| Herself
| Episode: "Hip Hop Videos: Sexploitation on the Set"
|-
| 2007
| ''[Entourage](/source/Entourage_(U.S._TV_series))''
| Flight Attendant
| Episode: "No Cannes Do"
|-
| 2008
| data-sort-value="Black Poker Stars Invitational, The" | ''The Black Poker Stars Invitational''
| Herself
| Main Guest
|-
| 2009
| ''Played by Fame''
| Herself
| Episode: "Sexy, Sensual and Stalker"
|-
| 2014–2015
| ''[Blood, Sweat & Heels](/source/Blood%2C_Sweat_%26_Heels)''
| Herself
| Main cast
|-
| 2018
| ''Vixen''
| Herself
| Main Guest
|-
| 2019
| ''[Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood](/source/Love_%26_Hip_Hop%3A_Hollywood)''
| Herself
| Episode: "Pretty Petty" & "Sound Off"
|-
| 2020–2021
| ''Tough Love: Los Angeles''
| Dena Howard
| Recurring cast
|}

===Documentary===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2009
| ''[Good Hair](/source/Good_Hair_(film))''
| 
|-
| 2011
| ''Bowl of Dreams''
| 
|}

===Music videos===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Song
! Artist
|-
| 1997
| data-sort-value="Thing to Do, The" | "[The Thing to Do](/source/The_Thing_to_Do_(song))"
| [Glenn Lewis](/source/Glenn_Lewis)
|-
|rowspan=3| 1998
| "Anywhere"
| [112](/source/112_(band)) featuring [Lil' Zane](/source/Lil'_Zane)
|-
| "[Northern Touch](/source/Northern_Touch)"
| [Rascalz](/source/Rascalz) featuring Checkmate, [Kardinal Offishall](/source/Kardinal_Offishall), [Thrust](/source/Thrust_(rapper)), and [Choclair](/source/Choclair)
|-
| "Tommy's Theme"
| [Made Men](/source/Made_Men) featuring [The LOX](/source/The_LOX)
|-
|rowspan=2| 1999
| "[Let's Ride](/source/Let's_Ride_(Choclair_song))"
| [Choclair](/source/Choclair)
|-
| "This Luv"
| [Donell Jones](/source/Donell_Jones)
|-
|rowspan=4| 2000
| "[Big Pimpin'](/source/Big_Pimpin')"
| [Jay-Z](/source/Jay-Z) featuring [UGK](/source/UGK)
|-
| "[Thong Song Remix](/source/Thong_Song)"
| [Sisqó](/source/Sisq%C3%B3)
|-
| "[Cherchez LaGhost](/source/Cherchez_LaGhost)"
| [Ghostface Killah](/source/Ghostface_Killah) featuring [U-God](/source/U-God)
|-
| "[Shake Ya Ass](/source/Shake_Ya_Ass)"
| [Mystikal](/source/Mystikal)
|-
| 2001
| "[Knock Yourself Out](/source/Knock_Yourself_Out_(Jadakiss_song))"
| [Jadakiss](/source/Jadakiss)
|-
| 2003
| "[You Don't Know My Name](/source/You_Don't_Know_My_Name)"
| [Alicia Keys](/source/Alicia_Keys)
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004
| "[Happy People](/source/Happy_People_(R._Kelly_song))"
| [R. Kelly](/source/R._Kelly)
|-
| "[Yeah!](/source/Yeah!_(Usher_song))"
| [Usher](/source/Usher_(entertainer)) featuring [Lil Jon](/source/Lil_Jon) and [Ludacris](/source/Ludacris)
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2007
| ''[Def Jam: Icon](/source/Def_Jam%3A_Icon)''
| Herself
| Voice role and likeness
|}

==See also==
* [Hip hop models](/source/Video_vixen)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.melyssaford.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0285783}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Melyssa}}
Category:1976 births
Category:Living people
Category:Actresses from Toronto
Category:Black Canadian actresses
Category:Canadian advice columnists
Category:Female models from Ontario
Category:Canadian infotainers
Category:Canadian people of Barbadian descent
Category:Canadian people of Russian descent
Category:Canadian people of Norwegian descent
Category:Canadian television personalities
Category:Canadian women journalists
Category:Hip-hop models
Category:Canadian women columnists
Category:York University alumni
Category:Canadian women non-fiction writers
Category:Canadian women television personalities
Category:Participants in American reality television series

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melyssa Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melyssa_Ford) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melyssa_Ford?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.