It’s been almost a year since I had my last drink. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that my body doesn’t respond to alcohol the same way, and due to chronic migraines I was having last year, I decided to try a sober lifestyle.
While I’m not sure if it will be forever, I can honestly say that I don’t necessarily miss drinking or how I would feel after having a few drinks.
During this time, I’ve discovered that I’m not alone in my choice to be sober. There’s the Sober Curious movement, which is for people who are interested in drinking less or not at all.
Ruby Warrington, the author of Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol, describes being sober curious as “literally, to choose to question, or get curious about, every impulse, invitation, and expectation to drink, versus mindlessly going along with the dominant drinking culture.”
There are some celebrities who have also opted for a life without drinking and have shared their journeys. Below, we have listed seven celebrities who are living a sober lifestyle.
Ari Lennox
Ari Lennox has been open about her sobriety. Last year, the R&B songstress shared multiple Instagram posts talking about her journey and how it’s helped her to be present.
"It's nice to be present. Sobriety is a very present experience...But yea sure there's the fantasy of wanting to escape all the intense stress of the world with alcohol cause boy does it work temporarily,” she wrote.
“But there's the moment the liquor stops numbing and you're chasing that feeling to no avail and you wake to see the problems of life still there," she said.
Eve
During her recent The Breakfast Club interview, Eve opened up about how drinking negatively impacted her life. And after getting a DUI in 2007, she knew she had to make a change.
“I had 56 days where I couldn’t drink, and I was so scared of that 56 days because I couldn’t remember a time where I hadn’t drank,” she said. Initially, she tried to get out of it by asking for community service instead but was told no.
“It saved my life because it was the first time I ever sat with my fucking emotions. Like why am I drinking? What am I tryna cover up? Why am I tryna numb myself? What is the problem? And I had to sit with my shit and I cried a fucking lot and I needed it.”
Blac Chyna
Angela White, aka Blac Chyna, has undergone a major transformation, which included removing tattoos and reversing cosmetic procedures.
She also revealed that she gave up drinking and recently celebrated two years of sobriety. She got on Instagram Live and celebrated with her kids, King and Dream, and her followers. In the Live, they circled around a white cake with black bows and sang “Happy Birthday.”
B.Simone
B.Simone has made many changes in her life since she began focusing more on her faith. And one of those changes includes giving up alcohol. In her podcast, Let’s Try This Again, the comedian talked about trauma bonding and how not everyone is accepting of your new path.
“I’m on my journey getting closer to God, and he convicted me of sobriety, and I’m being obedient to Him. I’m not trying to please you,” she said. “‘Cause you know when you go out, and people gonna peer pressure you. You gotta say, hmm, I wish I could, but I’m sober now.”
Jada Pinkett Smith
During a past Red Table Talk episode, Jada Pinkett Smith shared that she struggled with drugs and alcohol addiction. She recalled some embarrassing moments she encountered from drinking and drugs, which made her quit “cold turkey.”
"Once I was going for that third bottle of wine, I said, 'you've got a problem,' and it was cold turkey that day. That day I just stopped," the actress said. She has now been sober for over 25 years.
Jennifer Hudson
Chelsea Handler stopped by Jennifer Hudson's talk show, where they discussed the singer's sobriety. "Your producer backstage just told me, 'Jennifer Hudson has never had a sip of a cocktail,' and I just don't understand why that's necessary," she said.
The Oscar winner explained, "I don't knock those who do it, I just never had [the desire to drink.]
Naomi Campbell
In a May 2010 interview with British Vogue, Naomi Campbell opened up about her drug and alcohol addiction. The supermodel turned to different resources to help her with her sobriety. "The time between 1998 and 2005 was especially bad," she recalled.
"During that time I avoided looking in the mirror, because I didn't like the person who was looking back at me. To be honest, there were times I thought I wouldn't survive. I used to have a lot of problems. Amongst others I drank too much so I joined Alcoholics Anonymous to get and stay sober."
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Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole