Iman Shumpert Reveals The Truth About Making His Marriage To Teyana Taylor Work
Love is patient. Love is kind. Anyone with a praying grandmother can probably finish the rest. The Bible has pretty much given us the blueprint to what love should be, but the Good Book never claimed that it would be easy, and in a recent interview with MadameNoire, Iman Shumpert revealed that his marriage to R&B singer Teyana Taylor is a testament to this fact.
He explained that while everything is good in their hood, there has been some assembly required when it comes to making their love work:
"We fight for it, man. Honestly. We try to always give off a good energy and keep certain things private, but we never lie about how hard it is."
Iman explained that while he and Teyana, who gave birth to their first child in 2015 and married a year later, are consistently a vibe and give us our entire lives on social media, they have had to work through their own share of conflict in real life.
"We've faced some tough times, overcome some tough stretches. Marriage is a constant body of work. You're going to be proud of it. You're going to step back and be like, 'Wow. It makes you love somebody more because you can't believe you got through certain things. You're not glad it happened, but you are glad it happened type of thing because you feel closer."
The athlete shared that it's because of their ability to grant each other grace in times of disagreement that they've been able to keep their marriage stronger than Teflon, even in times of weakness:
"We constantly trust that no matter what we go through, we're going to end up closer. You've got to fight for that. You can't be weak about it. It's going to be some stuff that can really scar you and really cut you deep. There's going to be some stuff that you just, it annoys you and you just don't want to be a part of. Your partner is going to be hurting and you as the other partner can't fix it. It's not for you to fix, it's for you to be there, for you to be a rock. You've got to be a partner and say, 'I'm going to hold it down.'"
Regardless of any disagreement that Iman and his wife have throughout the course of their marriage, the NBA player is adamant that their commitment to one another (and baby Junie) will conquer all:
"People will say they hold it down, but they don't know what holding it down is. Really, holding it down hurts a lot of times and it's because you don't all the way have an understanding. But like I said, chasing the understanding between two people, especially once a kid is involved, I could live for that. I could live for that."
As arguably one of the most fashionable couples in the game, Teyana and Iman never fail to come through giving us big Black love energy and we are here for every minute of it.
Featured image by Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com
- Iman Shumpert Says He Gave Teyana Taylor a "Hit List": Should ... ›
- Best Marriage Advice During Hard Times - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- What Teyana Taylor Wore For Secret Wedding to Iman Shumpert ›
- Teyana Taylor On Iman Shumpert Cheating Rumors: "He Know I'd ... ›
- Teyana Taylor - Wikipedia ›
- Teyana Taylor - Wikipedia ›
- Teyana Taylor Had A 3 Way w/ Husband Iman Shumpert: When You ... ›
- Teyana Taylor And Iman Shumpert's Relationship Timeline - Essence ›
- This Jaw-Dropping News About Teyana Taylor And Iman Shumpert ... ›
- Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert's Love Story In Photos - Essence ›
- Teyana Taylor Leaves Husband Iman Shumpert He Doesn't Like ... ›
- This Very Public And Awkward Exchange Between Teyana Taylor ... ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
Courtesy
Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy