Joseline Hernandez, also recognized as “The Puerto Rican Princess,” was born on November 3, 1986, and hails from Ponce, Puerto Rico. She has gained fame as a Puerto Rican reality TV figure, rapper, and actress. Her prominence escalated in 2012 when she joined the cast of VH1’s reality TV series, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, where she starred alongside Stevie J. This collaboration with Stevie J led to the creation of the 2016 spin-off, Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood. Notably, from 2020 onwards, Joseline has been a key figure in the reality series Joseline’s Cabaret, featured on the Zeus Network.
Early Life:
Joseline Hernandez’s upbringing took place in Puerto Rico’s public housing system. Born into challenging circumstances on November 3, 1986, in Ponce, she faced the loss of her biological father to a heroin overdose. Her family, including her mother Carmen, stepfather Luis, older sister Yanira, and younger siblings Jorge, Hisael, Kermit, Luis Jr., and a brother with special needs due to autism, moved to Florida when Joseline was six years old. At the age of 16, she entered the world of stripping as a means to support her family financially. This period saw her facing legal troubles, with arrests in 2003 and 2007 under the alias Shenellica Bettencourt, for charges of lewd and lascivious behavior.
Career:
In 2007, Joseline Hernandez participated in an unsuccessful television pilot for Showtime. This pilot centered around the lives of strippers at the Diamond Cabaret in Miami, where she went by the name Shenellica Bettencourt.
Turning point, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta (2012–2017):
Joseline’s encounter with Grammy-winning producer Stevie J took place during her time as a stripper at the Onyx Club in Atlanta. This pivotal meeting led to her inclusion in the original cast of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in 2012. On the show, she portrayed Stevie J’s protégé, showcasing her ambitions as a rapper, singer, and actress. The revelation of Joseline’s romantic involvement with Stevie J stirred controversy due to his ongoing relationship with Mimi Faust. The ensuing love triangle became a central narrative of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, and Joseline remained a core cast member for six seasons. This installment became the most highly-rated within the Love & Hip Hop franchise and achieved remarkable viewership on VH1 overall, with each episode attracting an average of 3.5 million viewers.