Lovely Lohans!

We were lucky enough chat to Ali and Dina Lohan and got all the inside goss on their life, Lindsay and their new reality show!
Words - Alana Wulff

Q: You've got the new show, what's the whole experience been like from filming it to actually having it on air?
Dina: Oh gosh, the whole thing initially was just to diffuse the rumours about Lindsay, my family, myself and god knows what people were saying. Just to kind of show the world that we're just like everyone else. I'm a single mum and I have four kids, not just two girls who happen to be talented in the business, and my other sons are developing in sports…we're just a normal family and we kind of wanted to get the word out that we're just like you. They're actors and singers and that's what they do and it's nothing out of the ordinary.

Q: You've got one son who's at University, then Cody who is really cute and good at sport and then Lindsay and Ali who are massively talented, do you ever sit back and go, wow I've got some great kids here?
Dina: I really, really have been blessed. I always teach my kids balance and that there are so many people that are less fortunate and I just try to teach them to be nice to other people and put the shoe on the other foot. We all live in a glasshouse. I think…you have a gift and when you're talented people want to take you down. There always seems to be negative surrounding something positive and I try to teach them to stay focused.

Q: Was it weird at first having the cameras and crew in your house?
Dina: Oh my god, it was ridiculous. I can't even really watch because it's embarrassing. It's very, very weird (laughs).

Q: Ali, what's it been like recording in the studio?
Ali: I was so excited to be back in the studio because I hadn't been there in a while and then I got in and was like "whooo hooo let's start this". I was bit nervous at first because I didn't really know what I was going to sound like and I kind of wanted to impress people and stuff but it was a lot of fun and I had a lot of fun doing it.

Q: What has been the most fun over the past few months while you've been doing the show?
Ali: Vegas was pretty fun. It was a lot of fun, I love just recording basically and
everything.

Q: Is it hard doing all this and then realising you have to go to school the next day?
A: I was actually home schooled during the show. I had to get up early but it was much easier than regular school (laughs).

Q: What hurts the most when you read stories in magazines that are obviously not true about your family?
Ali: For me, it's when I see stuff about my sister. I don't really read the tabloids anymore because they're so ridiculous. It hurts you because it's your sister, it's your family. I don't read them, my mum doesn't read them. The best thing to do is just to ignore it.

Q: Has Lindsay ever given you tips or advice on the industry?
Ali: Yeah definitely. Just to stay strong, don't let the tabloids rip you apart and just keep your head up high and live out all of your dreams.

Q: Do you prefer acting or singing more?
Ali: I love both of them but right now I'm focusing on singing more.

Q: Who are your influences?
Ali: I love Rihanna and Mariah Carey, Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston... I listen to all her songs.

Q: What does it take to stay in control of everything?
Dina: I don't think anyone is ever 100% in control. We all have our meltdown days and no one is perfect. If it weren't busy, I'd be so bored. You just kind of roll with it when it hits you. It happens you know and you can't really plan and if you over plan or do anything, life will surprise you. You can't control fate.

Q: There's a lot of talk about trust in the show, does it every get exhausting trying to work out who you can and cannot trust?
A: I think the past two years were very difficult on my family when everything was happening with my older daughter. The press was twisting a lot and embellishing a lot and lumped Lindsay with a lot of other actors. Everyone is their own individual. They lumped all of these girls together. They never looked at the positive things. Britney Spears sold how many albums? She was very successful and they always delve into her negative. People don't realise how hard these kids really work and if you focus more on the positive, it would save these kids's lives because they really do work hard and they really are talented and everyone messes up.

Q: What do you hope that people get from the show?
Dina: I just hope they get the truth. Offcourse they're going to talk garbage about us but what I want is for people to say you have a dream, you have children, follow that dream, and still stay a parent and still keep your kids grounded and just do the right thing. All you can do as a mum or a dad is teach them to do the right thing and to walk in other people's shoes.

Q: What is next for you guys?
Ali: We're talking about another season. We want to go to Australia! I'm not sure…I will be following my music and release my single and my album and do concerts. My record label is releasing my single on iTunes. I'm a bit nervous about that but I'm excited too!