Nikki Adebiyi, Founder of Bounce Black

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Last week, I had the pleasure of virtually sitting down with the one and the only Reginae Carter to talk all things friendship and sisterhood.

The conversation marks the launch of BLK‘s new Social Mode on the app, which creates space for making platonic connections as well as romantic.

Now, if you’re curious about her love life, you can read her thoughts about that on the BLK blog. Over here, we’re talking about holding it down for the girlies! Let’s get into it.

*Update: the interview video is now available to watch on YouTube at the bottom of this page*

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In your own words, who is Reginae Carter?

Reginae: I’m very fun, vibrant, feisty. I don’t play about me. I have two amazing parents who I look up to, and they have made me who I am today. The fierce, the unapologetic woman I am today. I love me. I love to love. I have the sweetest heart ever. I’m a passionate person, really passionate about people who I love and the things that I do. I have a clothing line, I’m an actress. I love meeting people on BLK. I’m just a fun person. I’m a Sagittarius, so if you know a Sag, you know!

Can we actually find you on the BLK App?

What do you think that platonic relationships and friendships have to offer that makes them worth pursuing just as much as romantic relationships?

Reginae: It’s all about having your village and knowing who you are to be around other people. You know, you gotta stand on what you believe, stand ten toes down. Don’t get around a crowd and start moving like how they move. You gotta be authentic to yourself and know who you are.

Also, be able to be a listening ear, be understanding. Understand that we all come from different lives, nobody’s going to be 100% on your side. Nobody’s going to understand where you come from. You’re gonna have to explain stuff, you’re gonna have to compromise. Just like in relationships.

I feel like friendships–me and my friends, we get into it, like “are you my man?!”. It’s real life feelings in friendships as well, and we have to carry those relationships and hold them up just like we would hold up a man.

How have your closest female friendships shaped the person you are today?

Reginae: Oh, it’s shaped me a lot! Because one thing I don’t like is a “Yes Girl”. I don’t like Yes People, especially with the attitude I have. My attitude is very, like, confident in what I want. This is want I want and this is how I’m going to do it.

My friends are the type of people that’s like ‘let me humble you’, ‘let me tell you what it is’, ‘let me show you’. And I need those people around me. I’m the same with the people around me. I’m gonna keep you on your toes, please keep me on my toes. If you see me doing something wrong, please tell me.

But also, know the approach because we’re all women. We all feel like “you’re not about to talk to me crazy”. So, it’s like, know how to approach one another and also keep the respect there. When the boundaries and the respect start to fickle, that’s when relationships start to mess up and problems start happening.

How can female friendships be a source of support during personal or professional setbacks?

Reginae: We’re all women, so we all can relate in certain ways where men probably can’t. You know, like, we get each other. We’re able to talk through with one another, and understand we’re all kind of fighting for the same thing: it’s to be seen, be known.

We have to fight for our powers, our rights. Like, we got people trying to mess with our reproduction, tell us what we have to do with our reproduction. Like, we have to stand and fight for what we want as women, and stop fighting with each other. Stand up for each other and fight with each other, not against each other.

Some people say, “Don’t mix friendship and business.” What’s your take on building professional relationships with friends?

Reginae: Like I said from the start, you have to know who you’re around and who you are dealing with. You also have to know that we’re not gonna think the same, we have to compromise. We have to understand that, you know, we’re gonna clash at times. Me and my mama clash – that’s my mama. So, it’s like, of course me and my friends are gonna clash.

But in business, it gets a little sticky just because I feel like it’s cool being in business with your friends because I wanna put all my friends on. If I have something, I’m definitely coming back and telling them “Aye, this is what we doing”. But you have to understand and know if that’s the right person to do business with. You know, you have different friends for different reasons, seasons. You know, you got friends for a reason, season or a lifetime.

So, you have to figure out which type of category you want to put that friend in. If that friend is business savvy, and you like how they do business on their own, then hey, yeah, let’s link together. But if you’re looking at them and they don’t even conduct their business right, why would you do that? But also still keep putting them on their toes. Yeah, maybe we can’t go into business together, but I’ma still support you and be there for you.

Have you ever experienced “friendship heartbreak,” and how did you navigate it?

Reginae: I had a lot of friendship heartbreaks. These girls is crazy! Honestly, I know who I am. I know who I am, and I know my worth. And I know what I bring to the table. I also know when I’m getting used.

See, I’m a little different because I got a lot of stuff on my back where it’s like people probably want to use me for it. So, growing up, I kinda was, like, on edge about a lot of people coming into my space because I don’t know if they’re there for me or what I can do, or who I know, when I’m around. So, I have to be more cautious on things like that.

Definitely, discernment is one thing that all of us should use. It’s just something that I was taught from the beginning because of who I am and my parents always taught me, like, “Aye, listen. You gotta be more on people a little bit more just because people might wanna be friends with you because of this or that.” So, definitely, discernment for everybody.

What tips or advice do you have for women seeking to be intentional with nurturing deep and lasting friendships?

Reginae: I feel like it’s okay to not agree with each other, but be able to come together and learn how to work things out. Pray together. Me and my friends do devotionals. We get each other together spiritually. You know, like, being able to really have a village like I keep saying, where it’s like it’s not Yes Men, it’s not people that just wanna be around.

No, it’s a real village that’s gon’ tell you when you wrong, pick you up when you’re down, give you a hug when you need it, put on a jacket if you’re cold. Like, those people that’s really there for you.

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Reginae Carter is an actress, entrepreneur, and media personality known for her vibrant presence in entertainment and her advocacy for self-confidence, empowerment, and sisterhood. As the daughter of hip-hop legend Lil Wayne and actress Toya Johnson, she has carved out her own lane, building a brand that celebrates independence, resilience, and authentic connections. From reality TV to business ventures, Reginae continues to inspire young women by embracing self-love, strong friendships, and the power of community.

Reginae’s clothing line, IFITIN, offers a range of women’s fitness apparel that combines style and functionality. The collection includes bodysuits, coordinated sets, and accessories, designed to provide comfort and confidence during workouts. IFITIN is available exclusively online, ensuring accessibility for women seeking fashionable fitness wear.

BLK is redefining digital connections with the launch of Social Mode, allowing Gen Z users to find friendships as well as romance. To celebrate, Reginae Carter hosted the ultimate Girls’ Night In, highlighting the importance of sisterhood and self-care for Black women. With Gen Z prioritizing friendships, BLK’s new feature makes it easier than ever to build meaningful platonic connections. To experience BLK Social Mode, download or update BLK in the App Store or Google Play Store today (US & Canada only).