Miguel & Nazanin Mandi Call It Quits After 17 Years Together
R&B crooner Miguel and his wife Nazanin Mandi's love is no longer the "sure thing" he once penned it to be. After being together for 17 years, and married for nearly three years, the two have officially called it quits. In a statement given exclusively to PEOPLE, a rep for the former couple shared with the outlet:
"After 17 years together, Miguel and Nazanin Mandi have decided to separate and have been for some time now. The couple both wish each other well."
Though relatively unproblematic, the couple encountered a bit of controversy over the years they spent together with their love life at the epicenter. The private pair became the subject of tabloid fodder when he spoke of his decade-long relationship with his then-girlfriend Nazanin and why he hadn't proposed.
In a 2015 interview with Hot 97, folks asked the question, '10 years and no ring?' To which, the Scorpio explained:
"I've come so far as a man and I'm just starting to feel solid where I can be like, 'You know what? I think I can hold this down legitimately.' I think now people throw things around like marriage. I just wasn't raised like that."
"I just follow my instincts. I think she's learned that and she's had to adjust and had to learn and also embrace. And I love her more for that."
There were also constant rumored allegations that Miguel was unfaithful throughout the relationship, a rumor that was seemingly confirmed when he guest-starred on her now defunct podcast, Ladies Like Us. Miguel, 35, and Nazanin, 35, shared the trials and tribulations that led to them to therapy and provided them with the tools to eventually make it down the aisle in a 2019 episode of the series.
In the interview, the actress/model noted that they were the products of their youth. At 18 and 19 at the time when they first started dating, Miguel and Nazanin didn't know how to truly be in the relationship they saw for themselves:
"First of all, you're just not, and you think you are, but you're not mentally mature to handle a serious relationship. Honestly. And it could be different for some people, but I know in our situation, no, we just were not at all. Yeah. And we weren't ready to take on what we did either."
The two spoke most candidly about the infidelity they experienced as a couple in the beginning of their relationship and did not touch on rumored affairs after Miguel got his footing in the industry. The War & Leisure singer (who, fun fact, doesn't believe in soulmates) shared that he always had love for her even if his actions didn't always show it:
"I loved her. I wasn't necessarily always in love with her at the time. And my actions showed that. Because I didn't really know, I was still discovering things for myself about me. And how to love myself and going through that, just transitioning from being a little more obscure and like all of my time and energy going into music. So a lot of the energy and time went to that and our relationship didn't get a lot of the nurturing that could have been shown to her that, that she deserved, that we deserve."
A series of breakups no doubt ensued. But the true catalyst for change with the long-time couple was the one-year break they took. Miguel wasn't ready for what Nazanin was ready for, so the pair parted ways. When they crossed paths again a year later, therapy helped them navigate their wounds as individual, in addition to as a pair:
"This is how we level up and how it becomes real because everyone comes from different kinds of realities, we see love in different ways. We appreciate and receive love in different ways. And I think it was when we saw a therapist that helped us understand, it was like an a-ha in a lot of ways. Sometimes you can hear someone but it doesn't mean you're listening. So while you're arguing, while you're explaining your point, you're just holding on to this thing that you're trying to prove."
Doing the work led to an eventual engagement in 2016. And two years later, Miguel and Nazanin tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in November 2018.
After years of putting in the work to get to their happily ever after, it seemed as though the pair was rightfully enjoying the fruits of their labor. They were indulging in marital bliss. In a 2021 interview to promote the release of his Art Dealer Chic Vol 4 EP, Miguel told metro.co.uk of their new normal:
"Our relationship has never been stronger. The majority of our pre-marriage, my albums all happened before I got married, so that meant me not being here was normal. Us being separate for weeks – no more than two and a half weeks we liked to be separated for.
"It was normal, that was the regular thing but that obviously was not the case last year. It actually gave us the opportunity to have a different level."
"We dream different and it might be because we're more in sync and more in touch on a day-to-day level on how we calibrate so we're always encouraging and doing our best to just be supportive because it's challenging. We did good. I'm proud of us."
Featured image by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
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.
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How This New Bond Repair Line Transformed One Mother's Postpartum Shedding Into The Ultimate Curl Comeback
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture
For Crystal Obasanya, her wash day woes came shortly after her son did. The beauty and lifestyle content creator had been natural for years, but during postpartum, she quickly learned about one reality many mothers can relate to experiencing: postpartum hair loss. “Sis had thinning hair. Sis had split ends,” she shared about her hair changes in a Reel via xoNecole.
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Featured image courtesy