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Undoubtedly one of the highest-ranked civilian honors in the country, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award appreciates the reality TV and philanthropic activities of Monyetta Shaw-Carter. The Shreveport native nicknamed “Shreveport” is building her entertainment career considering the assistance to the needy and, currently in 2024, is advocating for women’s health and community upliftment after having breast cancer.
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Monyetta Shaw-Carter’s tale, one that started from her days at Huntington High in Shreveport and is immediately being told across the nation on computer screens, is not really merely about fame but about struggles, service, and the platforms she has established for change from her own trials. And in truth, the awards she is being showered with at the moment should have come much earlier.
Takeover TV has pretty much told her life story after charting her trajectory from Shreveport’s number-one R&B station to the BET Awards and into the realms of Soul Men, VH1’s Atlanta Exes, and Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. But here’s the thing: many reality stars tend to fade away once the cameras stop rolling, but Monyetta doubled down on giving back.
We’re not talking about showing up at a charity event and getting pictures taken. She went to the back shut up in Eswatini. She is presently sponsoring 48 kids on a monthly basis. She supports Boys & Girls Clubs, League of Women Voters, and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. That is some real activism from the deep. And then came 2023-wherein she snagged the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Not bad for a gal from Huntington High.
The sting of the story relates to how she utilized her platform to make a difference after facing her own health ordeal. In 2024, Monyetta was diagnosed with breast cancer; she went on to be treated shortly after with surgery and radiation, and in May of 2025, she rang the bell signifying being free from cancer. And instead of disappearing, she, in a big way, became a face for early detection, women’s health, and resilience. And she says some others are: “Kindness is free.” “A smile is the best accessory you can wear.” “It only takes six seconds to be kind-so take the time.” These simple words laced with positivity almost seem revolutionary in a world obsessed with clapbacks and drama.
As expected, the comments then proceeded with pouring love and pride, especially from the ones that actually knew her since early on. Monyetta also commented on the honor by saying, “The love that I have for the city that made me is indescribable. That’s why I’ll forever represent it to the fullest.” And she really meant it: Shreveport is more than just the setting of her tale; it is a character. It is the place where her story started, and her heart is absolutely still there.
More comments kept flowing in from friends and fans. Reality star DaniLeigh Berry said, “Extremely proud of you beautiful,” while others like @crawfordeurenella were already tearing up: “Come on queen look how God is connected to you sis I’m truly happy for you like I know you personally. Continue blessing I know your mom and brother are smiling from the heavens above.” Having fans is one thing; having people who really feel like they’re rooting for someone they’ve genuinely gotten to know and admire is quite another.
What also keeps Monyetta apart is the career she built without ever having to disavow the humanity that attracted people in the first place. Somehow, even through all the glitz of reality TV and red-carpet glitz, she has stayed grounded in service. It’s refreshingly different. These days, celebrity philanthropy often feels so performative; hers comes across as genuine, consistent, and deeply personal.
Her urgent and necessary breast cancer advocacy in the U.S. is certainly felt for. Early detection is her main focus, another thing that quite literally may slash lives. She does it not in some cloak-and-dagger style but as someone who has come through the trenches really well. And that narrows the credibility that one cannot simply put on a mask.
Right behind tantrums and red carpet moments, there is a lingering presence-beyond awards and interviews-bridges Moses. She is comfortable on and off the records discussing policies with the League of Women Voters and life in Atlanta on Bravo. She is an author, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a survivor. She is proof that making noise and making a difference need not be mutually exclusive.
Monyetta Shaw-Carter has gone on from Shreveport to sell the idea that real success is measured not by fame but by the lives one touches. And in a culture that so often applauds visibility over virtue, that’s brilliant.
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So, yes, the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is indeed a high honor. But for Monyetta, it’s just another rung of a ladder that has always been higher than herself. Judging by her track record so far, it looks like she isn’t stopping anytime soon.
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