Parents' Guide to

Tiny & Toya

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Reality show mixes edgy content, positive messages.

TV BET Reality TV 2009
Tiny & Toya Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

solissexy
solissexy Parent of 2-year-old
August 27, 2009
age 13+
I like the show tiny and toya they are real and I always like the group escape back in the day they where one of my favorite groups . Tiny is right for wanting to get back to music she's good at it. toya is a strong person to hold it to gether after all the bs from wayne anyway I like the show 100% rating from me.

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What's the Story?

TINY & TOYA follows friends Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and Antonia "Toya" Carter as they attempt to remake themselves into independent, self-sustaining women. The duo -- each best known for her involvement with a high-profile hip-hop star (Tiny was dating now-jailed rapper T.I.; Toya has a daughter by singer L'il Wayne) -- have moved into a house in Atlanta in order to support each other. Each woman struggles with her own personal challenges, which range from coping with a drug-addicted mother to the search for romance and companionship. They're also taking the opportunity to reexamine their lives, build new goals, and create a better future for themselves and their kids.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This somewhat voyeuristic series is intended to challenge the tabloid gossip that's surrounded its stars for years -- and to give viewers a chance to see both women outside of the large shadows cast by their former celebrity partners. Unfortunately, there's so much discussion about the hip-hop industry (and their roles in it) that it's hard to look beyond it. Adding to this is the women's rather luxurious lifestyle (courtesty of Tiny's former singing career and Toya's high-profile divorce).

That said, there's also something very poignant and genuine about the women's personal struggles. Their stories offer a reality check to anyone who thinks that it's easy to live in the limelight -- or that money is the solution to all problems. And, unlike many reality shows, this one offers the chance to watch two women empower themselves ... rather than allowing themselves to be objectified by men.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Tiny and Toya's choice to use a reality show to fight tabloid gossip about their lives. Do you think that's a good decision or a bad one? Do you think reality shows can be used to highlight positive behavior?

  • Also, what do you think it's like to share a life with someone famous? Do you think it's possible to be with that person without being overshadowed by their fame? Why or why not?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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