Maya Rudolph is a well-known comedian and six-time Emmy-winning actress whose career spans decades. However, before she became a household name, she was simply Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph's daughter.
Richard was a composer, while her mom, Minnie, was a legendary singer who made the classic song "Lovin' You." In 1979, Minnie passed away from breast cancer, seven years after Maya was born. The Bridesmaids star opened up to Variety about constantly being asked about losing her mom at such a young age and how it affects her.
L-R: Maya Rudolph, Richard Rudolph, Minnie Riperton, and Marc Rudolph
Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
“My whole career, people have always brought up my mom, which is wonderful. But then they also bring up the tragedy of losing my mother when I was little,” she said.
“And they ask me how old I was when she died. The other day, I said, ‘Why the fuck are we still doing this?’ First of all, if you know me and you know who I am, you already have that information. And the second thing is, who wants to be asked about their childhood trauma every time they talk about their career? I’m 52 years old, and I have survived my childhood trauma.”
With it being such a sad moment in her life, Maya doesn't understand the need to always talk about it in interviews and often wonders whether she should even answer the question. “I answer the question and then afterwards, I’m like, ‘Why the fuck did I do that again?’” she said.
“Maybe this is the day where we just go, like, ‘You can stop asking.’ It just makes a sad story. But we’re talking about great things, yeah, and humans are capable of so much more than one thing. But for whatever reason, people want to really focus on the sadness, and I’m like, ‘I good.’”
At 52, Maya has become more, in the words of Beyoncé (whom Maya frequently portrays on SNL), comfortable in her skin. Meaning she has no problem speaking up for herself when it comes to intrusive questions.
“I am a polite person, and I care about how I treat other people, obviously. And I try not to ruffle feathers. I like to be respectful," she said.
"But at a certain point, you have to stand up for yourself. It took me a long time to get to feeling more comfortable in this space, but I’m in it now.”
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Feature image by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
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Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
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Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
