Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff wants to change viewers' perception of what its like to grow up "rich" in Beverly Hills (or any upscale Los Angeles neighborhood) other than what they've seen so far on the first two seasons of the "#RichKids of Beverly Hills" on E!
Taylor-Ann, the daughter of international superstar David Hasselhoff and actress Pamela Bach, hesitated to join the show when producers first approached her. She told them she didn't want to do it, but then realized the opportunity she'd be passing up and had a change of heart.
"[The show] seemed a lot about money, material things and that's just not my nature, that's not how I've been raised," Hasselhoff told Headlines & Global News in an exclusive interview. "I wanted to do the show to change the preconceived notion about people that grew up in a privileged lifestyle."
The 25-year-old TV personality acknowledges that her parents provided her a comfortable upbringing, but she works multiple jobs and doesn't depend on her father for support.
"I support myself fully right now," Taylor-Ann said. "That's because I think as a 25-year-old I should be out their helping, I should be making money on my own because that's what you do, that's how life should be."
Taylor-Ann grew up in Calabasas, Calif. with her younger sister Hayley. She describes her childhood as "completely normal" and didn't think twice about ever being in the limelight. She played soccer, competed in cheerleading and gymnastics and performed in musical theater and choir.
She transitioned her love of music into a career with Hayley. They were both writing music, and their musically-inclined father suggested they write together. The girls wrote a song called "Turn Up the Radio" and later toured around Europe together.
"We always connected on the vibe," Taylor-Ann said about singing with her sister. "We loved going to EDM concerts and seeing the great DJ fests."
Taylor-Ann is getting ready to debut her most ambitious project: a documentary on her father. She hopes to frame her father's extensive career through her own eyes while focusing on what he's been doing the last few years of his more than 40 years in show business.
"He's doing so many interesting things, I want to tell his stories through my eyes so I can show the world what it takes to be an entertainer and what it really takes to go after your dreams and keep that brand alive," Taylor-Ann said. "It's been a really cool, eye-opening experience."
She started by hopping a flight to Europe and following her dad for 24 hours a day for 10 days. She soon learned it takes a lot of stamina to jet set around the world, performing concerts, shooting television shows and meeting millions of fans.
"He has more energy than me and I have no idea how he does it," she said, laughing. "For two days, we got no sleep for 48 hours. I was just slacking on the footage," she said. "I don't even know how my dad does it and he said, 'Now you see what I do, Tay. Now you understand when I come home, why I'm tired.' I'm like, 'Okay, Dad. I don't know how you do it.'"
Completing a documentary film, working for Bellus Magazine and now starring on "#RichKids of Beverly Hills," Taylor-Ann is sure on her way to mastering how to balance several successful careers just like her father.
"#RichKids of Beverly Hills" airs on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on E!
