Erika Alexander shows off her figure in patterned mini dress and military-style jacket

Better known for her stellar role as Maxine Shaw in the sitcom “Living Single,” and as cousin Pam Tucker on “The Cosby Show,” Erica Alexander is considered one of the most iconic black actress from the ‘80s. These days, she’s working behind the scenes to make of Hollywood a better, inclusive industry.

Erica Alexander has been in the industry long enough to know that, if she wanted to secure her legacy, she had to do more than just acting in old-school sitcoms. That’s why the beautiful 48-years-old got involved in the writing and producing side of the entertainment industry.

Just a few months ago, Erica revealed the creation of her new production company, Color Farm Media, a multi-platform business that will focus its efforts in financing and developing racially diverse content for TV, film and digital media.

Alexander wants to support creators of color, but when she talks about diversity she’s not only referring to black people, as she explained to Color Lines:

“At Color Farm, the whole idea is not just to say the word “diverse.” Diversity means many different voices and perspectives. Black, White, Latino, Asian are a given. But you also have the elderly, the disabled. I’m from Arizona and grew up in a Lutheran Church. We’re looking for those types of people who may not fit in those stereotypical ways.”

Just a few months ago, Erica was traveling around the country while being on the lookout for new talent. Her journey took her to Cleveland to meet with filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, directors and more creatives thanks to a project called “Keep It Colorful,” which, according to the actress is focused on “greenlight over 50 digital series pilots from creators of color this year.”

While on Cleveland, Erica put on her best businesswoman face and matched it with a stunning outfit that made her look casual and screamed “boss lady” at the same time. She wore a patterned mini dress that enhanced her figure with a blue embroidered jacket military style.

On March, Erica visited the radio show “The Breakfast Club,” and among several topics, she talked about black representation on television and how there was a lack of it on TV at the start of the millennium.

For her, the reason why the powers at being stopped producing shows like “Living Single,” was the fact that the African American community was starting to become more interested in college and getting a career by following the example they saw on TV.

“I think racism happened,” she said. “There’s an institutional, structured racism and bias and prejudice in people’s minds. And I think even after the huge success of “The Cosby Show,” “A Different World,” Will Smith’s show, there was no reason for them [the producers] to digress or divert themselves back to it [the lack of representation].”

She also told Jezebel that the “Living Single” actors were aware of the importance that their show had over the African American community back in the day, saying:

“It was a time where black people were magical, and it went away. Literally, they segregated TV after the year 2000. They had a few shows, Bernie Mac and Chris Rock, but for the most part, it went away until Shonda Rhimes proved, with her excellence, that we were profitable and worth betting on again. That’s shocking. And we rode the end of that wave.”

Erica’s career has had her ups and downs, but she hasn’t been alone through it, as she has been married for over two decades to screenwriter Tony Puryear, the “blackest of the white men.” The controversial man has stated in several occasions that even though he looks Caucasian, he’s a biracial man.

According to the man, he grew up in the Bronx and his family was heavily involved in the civil rights movement, so he considers himself as a black man.

Erica and Tony have been working together on a graphic novel called “Concrete Park” for years. The book has been successful among teenagers since it’s a sci-fi story centered in black characters and that takes place on the hood.

Is clear that Erica Alexander is determined to make a change in Hollywood, and we hope she can achieve all of her goals with her new production company.

Watch her whole "Breakfast Club" interview below: