Shyona Says Game Wants a Woman Like Her and Rebecca But He "Isn't Ready for it"
Shyona Royston's late arrival to the She's Got Game competition spiced things up and made the ultimate decision for The Game even more difficult. The 24-year-old single mother's connection with the rapper catapulted her to the finals before she ultimately lost to Rebecca Silvera.
VH1 had an exclusive chat with Shyona about her time on the show, the kind of woman Game really wants, and what she makes of Briona's claims that the two are now together.
How did you feel going into the finale? Did it feel like yours to lose?
Shyona Royston: I felt very comfortable going in, I saw that we had a strong connection and I was just sure I was right for him, so I was definitely confident, but I was a little nervous because I know he had the stronger bonds for [Rebecca] and I.
I think he ultimately chose her for one reason, the fact that she was there longer than me, so they might had more time together or bonded more than we did. I just felt like he knew I was a stronger woman, regardless, he knows I’d have been fine. I’d have been upset, but overall he knows I am a strong woman and I can handle myself. I think he felt more comfortable knowing that he wouldn’t hurt me as much as he would hurt her.
You came onto the series a little bit late when things were already established, what was the general reaction to your arrival?
[Laughs] Obviously, they didn’t like it. I felt like the real competition definitely came in when us the three woman came in. I felt, as time kinda progressed, I felt the other women were intimidated by me, especially Rebecca for the simple fact that I was a mom and she knew he liked moms and people who were more family-oriented, so I was a strong competition. Maybe she felt like she already had it until I came, so I think overall people were very intimidated.
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Were you tentative about pursuing a relationship on TV?
I never thought I would compete for a man because I’ve never had to, but I was definitely open-minded to it, if we happen to have something and it became something more than what it was. I definitely was open-minded to it, but I didn’t have any expectations when it came to dating a celebrity. I kinda just take one day at a time.
Do you think Game has a type of woman he generally goes for?
Yes, I do. I think he is more attracted to young women that are young and wild. I don’t feel he is attracted to or maybe he is attracted to women that are stable and have their own things going on, but I just don’t think he is ready for that. I think he generally goes for young women that are kind of like the party time, that can just be involved with his lifestyle all the time.
That doesn't really seem to describe his ex Tiffany or you or Rebecca though.
I agree to that [and] I think ultimately that’s what he wants. That’s how Tiffany was, family oriented, I think he wants that, but I am not sure he is ready for that. So I think he kinda convinces himself ‘I really want this type of woman,’ which he chose, it came down to me and Rebecca, which is ultimately what he wants. But overall, he isn’t ready for it and deep down he knows that and he is trying to convince himself that he is, but really he is not.
Briona seems to be more of a wild child. Did she ruffle a lot of feathers over the course of the show?
I love her, I really do. She reminds me of my younger self and I said that a lot during the show because it’s kinda like where I am at right now in my life and see her and how she lives her life. I used to be like that. I used to be young, wild, and free, not many responsibilities, partying and doing all of that and so she reminds me a lot of my younger self. Being with her in the competition, it was like we got close, we are really good friends still, but at the end of the day, it was still a competition and I know her personality and it was a little difficult sometimes because we're both Scorpios so if butt heads it's gonna be. [Laughs] But we tend to keep it cool, we try to just be cool.
Briona has implied on Instagram that she and Jay are together, have you kept up with any of the things she's been posting on social media?
I’ve seen some of her posts. Briona and I are still friends, so I’ve definitely noticed that she posted things, but at the end of the day I know how she is and how her personality is. I mean, if that’s what it is and if that’s how it has always been, it is what it is. I don’t know, she is young and she does what she does. But at the same time, he is in the industry and he does what he does, so I mean, I don’t know how serious that is, but that’s just me personally. But if that’s what she wants to portray, that’s what it is. Personally, I'm not going to claim a man that doesn't claim me and I feel the same way for her. She's claiming him but I don't see that he's claiming her so I don't know how true it is.
Now, that it's all said and done, do you have any regrets about participating in the show?
No, I really don’t have any regrets. I think ultimately I learned a lot about myself and it was a bit of a challenge, being a way from my daughter and things like that, and my life, it was a little difficult to adapt back to my life, but I came back because I got used to it in a month. But overall, it was a really good experience and I definitely had a lot of fun and I learned a lot.
What exactly did you learn about yourself?
I guess it was a test of strengths for me because I was away, as I said, from my daughter, which I’ve never been away from her for longer than a week and the fact that I had no communication to the outside world.
Did you form any lasting friendships with any of the women from the show?
Elle and I are really, really close. We are really good friends. We talk probably the most. Jenni and I, as well, we are really good friends. And then Briona and I are really good friends. So both the three are the main three that I keep in touch with and we’re still really good friends.
What's next for you? Are we going to see you again or are you going to escape the limelight?
I’ve been into the acting world and the modeling world for a long time and I’ve been working on a lot of things. My brand that I am getting ready to launch, which is Class and Confidence that’s coming soon. I just did a web series and I was featured in an independent film. I'm also gonna be featured in a magazine next month, so I’m definitely gonna keep progressing in my career and in my life. Hopefully, eventually, I find the one and I settle down and make it happen for me, but right now I’m just focusing on my career and my daughter.
Since the show has ended, have you been on any dates?
No, not really. A lot of guys are kinda like approaching me, but I’m not really interested. It takes a certain type of person to get my attention, so guys that approached me, I’m not really interested. [Laughs]