Can 'Maury' help Winona family?

Friday, April 2nd, 2010 at 2:42 pm

1270219333 Can 'Maury' help Winona family?

WINONA, Minn. — Winona residents Tirina Bryant Moynagh and her14-year-old daughter, Rhyanna, appear today in a segment of theMaury Povich show called “Sexy Teen Makeovers.”

It’s about what you’d expect from trash TV: some desperate pleasfor Maury’s help; censors bleeping out expletives; and a violentclimax, warring mother and daughter entangled center-stage, much tothe delight of a live studio audience.

“Shame,” said Tirina, who called the show earlier this monthwhen she saw a promo about promiscuous, out-of-control teens. “It’sa wake-up call to Rhyanna to take her on national TV. I want her toknow this is serious.”

Tirina hopes airing Rhyanna’s dirty laundry — literally: Tirinarips up a negligee found in Rhyanna’s closet during the segment —will set straight the Winona Senior High School freshman.

Tirina teared up talking about Rhyanna’s behavior during aninterview Friday — sneaking out, wearing trashy clothes, mouthingoff and getting bad grades.

Grounding hasn’t helped. Neither has counseling, pleading,coaxing or just about every other method Tirina has tried.

“It’s trial-and-error when you’re a parent,” Tirina said. “Let’sbe serious: sometimes a timeout just doesn’t work. The way youraised kids 20 years ago is just not the same way you do itnow.”

So that’s why the pair flew to Stamford, Conn., earlier thismonth with Rhyanna’s 15-year-old brother.

For most parents, national TV wouldn’t be an option. For Tirina,it was a last resort.

Sure, they enjoyed the limos, expensive meals, fancy hotels andfree designer clothes, all on Maury’s dime. but deep down in herheart, Tirina says it was all about saving her daughter.

“I’m not going after my 15 minutes of fame,” she said. “I justdon’t want to get to the point where I have to ID her in themorgue.”

In full disclosure, Tirina has previously starred on talk TVduring an appearance on “Ricki Lake” in 1996 for a segment called“‘Your Seams are Screamin,’ You’re Too fat to Wear that.”

The spot was later spoofed on “Late Night with ConanO’Brien.”

Tirina said the humiliation helped her tone down her wardrobe.She’s hoping the “Maury” experience does the same for herdaughter.

Rhyanna’s behavior has changed a bit since the taping, Tirinasaid. She’s sporting the new, more modest outfits courtesy of the“Maury” makeover. She’s following some of the advice from thesegment’s celebrity guest, singer and TV personality AdrienneBailon. And she even made a contact on the trip that could lead tomodeling work in France this summer — a chance for a clean start,Tirina said.

While Rhyanna enjoys the new clothes, she’s not ready to admitthere was anything wrong with her wardrobe to begin with.

“Everybody wears shorts and tank-tops,” she said. “This is thesex millennium.”

Maybe so, but has the experience helped heal the woundedrelationship with her mom?

“I don’t know yet,” she said.

Can 'Maury' help Winona family?