27140992
South Philadelphians aren’t the type to keep quiet. That includes Aimee Landi, who knows cattiness and the occasional scuffle with a fellow female is not a rarity — especially in this outspoken area.
It’s one thing for Landi to encounter people she doesn’t like; it’s another to live with seven of them for three months.
Luckily, it makes for tantalizing TV.
While housed in a Hollywood Hills mansion, the 25-year-old former resident made reality-TV history on the Oxygen network series "The Bad Girls Club" (the show is produced by Bunim-Murray Productions, who is responsible for MTV’s "The Real World"). Since its launch, the program has become the station’s highest rated original series.
Strong personalities like Landi’s and oodles of conflict apparently lured audiences. Watchers soon will get their second dose of drama with "Bad Girls Road Trip," set to begin June 12. The six-episode series includes Landi and two other returning cast members traveling the country.
But this isn’t your typical family’s road trip — especially since Landi is on board.
"I’m outspoken, I’m honest, not afraid to speak my mind, don’t hold anything back," the former resident of 16th and Ritner streets said. "People don’t like honesty and bluntness, and I’m really blunt — to the point where people don’t like it at all."
But as "bad" as she might have been, Landi made it a point not to compromise her true personality for the cameras.
Doing the series, "I learned how many morals I actually have and how well I was raised," she said. "Some people have no respect for themselves."
Once landi’s friend informed her about "The Bad Girls Club" last year, she decided it was too enticing to pass up. Though not knowing much about the premise, in June 2006 she attended a casting call in New York City and met with a casting director.
The preliminaries included video submissions by Landi, about seven phone interviews and a final meeting in Los Angeles. Producers finally contacted the Goretti grad in August with their decision.
"I knew I was going to get it," the cast member said. "I had a feeling. This is my show. The show was made for me. [In] four days, I had to pack up my life and leave."
Venturing into the unknown (though she has friends in Los Angeles), Landi admitted slight nervousness set in.
"I know I’m a bad girl, but I’m not sure what these girls are like," she recalled thinking.
The beautiful mansion and weather complemented the sunny smiles of her housemates. However, the pleasantries soon faded.
"They were all really sweet to me, but I knew that would change in a matter of minutes," Landi said. "They thought I was evil from the second I walked in, but it’s just not me hugging and kissing people I didn’t know."
Landi initially thought the show was going to help the ladies handle their issues with other people, but that inclination went out the window once the fights began. Landi recalled getting into an altercation with former castmate Ty at the beach. According to Landi, Ty ordered her to carry a raft she brought with her.
"She felt the need that she was going to boss me around," Landi said. "Some girls think they need authority and are in charge."
When Landi refused, Ty spit in her face — and she reciprocated. A fight between the two occurred, leading to Ty being evicted.
Living in the only bedroom with three beds, Landi also had her share of issues with roommates who came and went. Some would mistakenly use her towels, others would wake up the light sleeper.
Landi eventually got accustomed to the 24/7 cameras, but that, too, got annoying at times.
"You’re not doing anything special and they’re in your face, when you’re brushing your teeth and they’re filming it," she said. "Come on now."
Cameras did catch the bad girl kissing a club promoter — considering she was in a two-and-a-half-year relationship with boyfriend Josh. The union has since fizzled, but Landi said it had nothing to do with the show.
"I was probably the slickest girl in the house," she said. "Cameras didn’t catch a lot of what I did."
The reality star responded "yes and no" when asked if she was accurately portrayed during the series. There were girls Landi actually got along with, including Deanne and Andrea.
As for the others?
"At times, I wanted to get away from those girls, and it would have probably have made a lot of those girls happy for me to leave. But I wasn’t going anywhere," she said.
Filming of "The Bad Girls Club" ended in November, and the series debuted a month later. Intended to be filmed in four months, Landi said there was so much footage it took only three months to create 22 episodes.
Craving more drama (and high ratings), producers contacted Landi for the spin-off. She immediately agreed.
Sharing a 1962 Cadillac Deville with former castmates Leslie and Zara, the girl she describes as "the one that makes out with everyone," the females are taking their attitudes on the road. They are visiting each other’s hometowns while helping cast the second season of "The Bad Girls Club." Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia and upstate New York are some of their destinations.
While in town, the girls made a stop at Geno’s for a bite to eat and Old City to see some historic sites. A visit to Landi’s family — including mom Natalia, dad Michael, and sisters Taira and Anna-Nicola — also was on the to-do list.
"If something bothers [my sisters], they will say something, but not like me where I’m constantly saying stuff," Landi said. "I don’t mean any harm by it, but that’s the way I handle every situation. I just talk."
Landi’s now living in the Big Apple, but makes frequent visits to see family. She’s hired an agent and would not mind pursuing additional TV ventures.
As for what to expect on her new series, Landi, for once, is tight-lipped. But she makes no apologies for her actions on the initial series.
"I don’t regret anything about it," she said. "I would have done the same thing, said the same thing.
"I’m actually proud of it. It showed who I am."
